67: Chapter 67 The operating room is challenging, but not impossible.
Early the next morning.
Lu Chen was woken up by his phone ringing.
He glanced at the screen, then answered.
"Lu Chen, come to the third floor of the Administrative Building at eight o'clock. President Zeng wants to see you."
It was the voice of Director Wang from the Medical Affairs Department.
"Alright, Director Wang."
The call ended.
Lu Chen sat up and rubbed his eyes.
He had been reading until past eleven last night and had slept for less than six hours.
But his energy was still fine.
He washed his face, put on a clean white coat, and adjusted his collar in front of the small mirror in the Duty Room.
The face in the mirror was still the one that made all the female medical staff in the Hospital unable to look away.
Lu Chen felt nothing about this.
There was only one thing he cared about.
Vice President Zeng looking for him was likely related to the previous all-Hospital meeting.
At this time, at this critical juncture, a private meeting.
The meaning was clear.
Lu Chen left the Duty Room, and when passing the Nurse Station, Meng Yan was handing over the shift.
"Sister Meng, I'm going to the Administrative Building. Call me if anything comes up."
"Alright, go ahead."
Meng Yan glanced at him, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately said nothing more.
...
Third floor of the Administrative Building.
The door to the Vice President's office was half-open.
Lu Chen knocked on the door twice.
"Come in."
President Zeng Dayang's voice came from inside.
Lu Chen pushed the door open and entered.
The office wasn't big, but it was kept very tidy.
President Zeng Dayang sat behind the desk, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, reading a document in his hand.
On the coffee table next to him were two cups of freshly brewed tea.
Obviously prepared in advance.
"Sit."
President Zeng Dayang pointed to the sofa opposite.
Lu Chen walked over and sat down.
"President Zeng, you wanted to see me?"
President Zeng Dayang put down the document, took off his glasses, and looked at him.
"What are your thoughts on yesterday's all-Hospital meeting?"
Lu Chen thought for a moment.
"You praised me at the meeting, and I am very grateful."
"Praise is one aspect."
President Zeng Dayang smiled.
"What about the other aspect? Did you see it?"
Lu Chen was silent for two seconds.
"You are knocking the General Surgery Department."
President Zeng Dayang's smile didn't change.
"What else?"
"You are sending a signal to the entire Hospital."
"What signal?"
"That I am your person."
The office was quiet for a moment.
President Zeng Dayang looked at the twenty-four-year-old young man in front of him, and the appreciation in his eyes deepened.
"Not bad, you see it very clearly."
"I came from an Orphanage, and I've known since I was a child that no one treats you well for no reason."
Lu Chen's tone was very calm.
Neither humble nor pushy.
President Zeng Dayang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and set it down.
"I appreciate you, so I won't beat around the bush with you. If you have any thoughts, you can speak directly."
This was exactly what Lu Chen was waiting for.
"President Zeng, I do have an idea, but I don't know if I should say it."
"Speak."
"The Emergency Department needs an independent Operating Room."
President Zeng Dayang's hand paused.
"An Operating Room?"
"Yes."
Lu Chen sat forward.
"President Zeng, having spent this time in the Red Zone, I've discovered a very serious problem."
"Many critically ill patients require emergency surgical intervention."
"But the Emergency Department doesn't have an independent Operating Room. Every time, we have to go through the consultation process, wait for the Operating Room schedule, and wait for the surgical team to arrive."
"Sometimes, this waiting time alone is half an hour or even over an hour."
President Zeng Dayang nodded silently: "Continue."
Lu Chen continued.
"For patients with massive hemorrhage, organ rupture, or tension pneumothorax, half an hour to an hour is the difference between life and death."
"If the Emergency Department had its own Operating Room, we could complete emergency surgical operations in the shortest possible time."
"No waiting, no queuing."
President Zeng Dayang leaned back in his chair, his fingers crossed over his abdomen.
"I know about this problem you mentioned. In fact, others have brought it up before—Director Li Sen has, and Zhao Yaqin has too—but it has never been implemented."
"Why?"
"There are many reasons."
President Zeng Dayang's tone changed slightly.
"Setting up an independent Operating Room in the Emergency Department involves many things."
"Site renovation, equipment procurement, staffing, and surgical qualification approval."
"Every item costs money, and every item requires the Hospital to hold meetings to discuss and approve."
Lu Chen understood; President Zeng Dayang didn't say no.
He said it was difficult.
Difficult and impossible are two different things.
"President Zeng, I know this is difficult."
"Difficult is an understatement."
President Zeng Dayang stood up and walked to the window.
"The biggest obstacle to this matter is not money, but people."
"Are you talking about Vice President Peng?"
President Zeng Dayang looked back at him.
"You are quite well-informed."
"Sister Meng mentioned it to me."
"Old Meng has a loose tongue."
President Zeng Dayang smiled, but the smile quickly faded.
"Vice President Peng Zhao is in charge of logistics and administration. Site renovation and equipment procurement cannot bypass him. If he doesn't cooperate, this matter will be stuck tight."
"Will he not cooperate?"
"What do you think?"
Lu Chen didn't speak.
The answer was obvious.
He had already been labeled as President Zeng Dayang's person; how could Vice President Peng Zhao possibly cooperate with a proposal he put forward?
"But it's not completely without a solution."
President Zeng Dayang turned around.
"I need time to maneuver this. The attitude of the President is very important. As long as President Sun nods, even if Vice President Peng Zhao opposes it, he won't be able to turn the tables."
"Are you confident?"
"Sixty percent."
President Zeng Dayang held up six fingers.
"Not high, but not low either. The key is that you need to give me sufficient reasons."
"What reasons?"
"You have to prove that the Emergency Department has the ability to make good use of this Operating Room. Otherwise, what can I use to convince the President? A Resident Physician's idea? The President will think I'm joking."
Lu Chen understood.
President Zeng Dayang needed him to continue producing results.
More results, bigger results.
Use his strength to prove the necessity of the Emergency Department Operating Room.
"As for the issue of strength, you don't need to worry."
When Lu Chen said this, his tone was calm but very firm.
President Zeng Dayang looked at him for a few seconds.
"This confidence of yours doesn't quite match your age."
"Maybe it's because I know what I can do."
President Zeng Dayang laughed.
This time it was a genuine laugh.
"Alright, I will push this matter. You continue to perform well in your position. It takes time, don't rush."
"Alright."
Lu Chen stood up, preparing to leave.
President Zeng Dayang called him back.
"One more thing."
"Go ahead."
"If the Operating Room matter is implemented, it will be a major benefit for the Emergency Department, and for you personally as well, but I also hope you understand one point."
President Zeng Dayang's expression became serious.
"You have reached where you are today because your strength is the foundation, but having strength alone is not enough."
"In this Hospital system, if you want to go further, you need support."
Lu Chen was silent.
Of course, he could hear what was hidden in those words.
"I understand what President Zeng means."
"As long as you understand."
President Zeng Dayang's tone relaxed.
"You are currently a Resident Physician. According to the normal process, it will take at least three to five years to be promoted to Attending Physician."
"But if there is a suitable opportunity, this time can be shortened."
Lu Chen's heart beat much faster.
Attending Physician.
Intermediate professional title.
It means the formal qualification for independent outpatient clinics and independent surgeries.
It also means a significant increase in income.
To him, this wasn't just a title; it was money.
It was money that could repair the Orphanage.
It was money that could let Director Mother stop worrying about funding.
"But the premise is that you must have the matching level of skill."
President Zeng Dayang added.
"If I promote you and you can't handle it, then not only will you lose face, but I will too."
"As for the issue of strength, really, you don't need to worry."
Lu Chen said it for the second time.
President Zeng Dayang shook his head and laughed.
"Geniuses are indeed different from ordinary people. When ordinary people hear about an opportunity to be promoted to Attending Physician, their first reaction is to ask about the conditions. Your first reaction is to think I'm overthinking it."
"It's not that I think you're overthinking, it's that I feel there's no need to waste time on this issue."
"Fine, I like young people with confidence."
President Zeng Dayang waved his hand.
"Go, work hard."
Lu Chen nodded and walked out of the office.