80: Chapter 80 Peng Zhao's Lingering Fear! If the patient had died, it would have been medical malpractice!
Section Chief He Zhongfeng's lips twitched.
"President Zeng, I couldn't possibly predict what kind of patients the Emergency Department would admit that day. Adjusting the surgical roster is standard procedure."
"Standard procedure?"
President Zeng Dayang placed those few sheets of paper on the table.
"Then let me ask you another question."
"Last Wednesday afternoon, before you signed the surgical adjustment form, did you have a phone call with Dr. Ma Xu?"
Section Chief He Zhongfeng froze.
"I checked the call logs of the Medical Affairs Department office landline."
President Zeng Dayang's tone remained very calm.
"Last Wednesday at 3:52 PM, your landline made a call, and the recipient's number was the mobile number of Dr. Ma Xu from the General Surgery Department."
"The call duration was four minutes and eleven seconds."
"Four minutes later, you signed the surgical adjustment form."
The Conference Room was so quiet that the humming of the air conditioning vent could be heard.
Sweat began to bead on Section Chief He Zhongfeng's forehead.
"President Zeng, my phone call with Dr. Ma Xu was about other work matters; it had nothing to do with the surgical adjustment."
"Is that so?"
President Zeng Dayang turned to look at Vice President Peng Zhao.
"President Peng, Dr. Ma Xu is from the General Surgery Department, and Section Chief He Zhongfeng is from the Medical Affairs Department under your supervision. What is your take on this matter?"
Vice President Peng Zhao set down his thermos.
His expression was calm, but there was a hint of imperceptible irritation in his eyes.
"President Peng, this is the first time I've heard any of what you've mentioned."
This statement was true.
Vice President Peng Zhao really did not know exactly what Section Chief He Zhongfeng and Dr. Ma Xu had done.
His original intention was to find a high-level assessment or competition for Lu Chen to participate in.
By using the rules to block him, he wanted to suppress the momentum of President Zeng Dayang's push for the Operating Room.
This was a legitimate method, open and aboveboard; winning would be a matter of skill, and losing would also be justifiable.
But Section Chief He Zhongfeng and Dr. Ma Xu had acted on their own initiative, turning the matter into low-down tactics like adjusting surgical rosters and delaying consultations.
If Lu Chen hadn't been able to perform that Closed Thoracic Drainage that day, if the patient had died...
Vice President Peng Zhao didn't dare to think any further.
That wouldn't be a matter of factional infighting anymore; that would be a medical malpractice incident, something that would make the news.
"You didn't know?"
President Zeng Dayang's smile deepened.
"That means that the people you supervise, without your knowledge, arbitrarily adjusted the surgical roster, causing a critically ill Emergency Department patient to almost miss out on timely treatment?"
"That's a management responsibility, isn't it?"
Vice President Peng Zhao's expression finally darkened.
He glanced at Section Chief He Zhongfeng.
There was no anger in that glance.
Only coldness.
Section Chief He Zhongfeng lowered his head.
President Sun Guofan had not spoken the entire time.
He took the documents President Zeng Dayang had placed on the table and read them carefully.
Then he took off his reading glasses.
"This matter, whether it was a coincidence or man-made, has exposed real, tangible problems."
"First, the Medical Affairs Department's surgical roster adjustment process needs improvement. In the future, any adjustments involving changes to the Doctor on Duty must be simultaneously notified to the relevant departments and the Emergency Department to prevent any gaps in consultations."
"Second, Comrade He Zhongfeng, your handling of this matter was, at the very least, not prudent enough. The Medical Affairs Department must conduct an internal review and provide me with a written report."
Section Chief He Zhongfeng nodded quickly.
"Yes, yes, yes, President Sun, I will definitely reflect on this seriously."
President Sun Guofan looked at Vice President Peng Zhao.
"President Peng, manage the departments under your supervision yourself."
Vice President Peng Zhao nodded without speaking.
"Additionally."
President Sun Guofan picked up another document.
"I have reviewed several revised drafts of the proposal for an independent Operating Room for the Emergency Department previously submitted by President Zeng Dayang, in conjunction with several typical cases recently admitted by the Emergency Department."
He paused.
"Especially the Closed Thoracic Drainage case from last week, which fully demonstrates that the Emergency Department needs to possess independent surgical intervention capabilities when facing sudden, critically ill patients."
"I agree with this proposal in principle."
President Zeng Dayang's lips curled up slightly.
"For the specific equipment procurement and site renovation, the logistics department should come up with an execution plan as soon as possible. I want to see progress within two weeks."
"Very well, President Sun."
Vice President Peng Zhao picked up his thermos and took a sip of water.
The water in the thermos had already gone cold, but he did not show any emotion.
He simply noted down the names of Section Chief He Zhongfeng and Dr. Ma Xu in his mind.
Idiots.
I told you to find a competition to block someone, but instead, you went straight to tampering with the surgical roster.
If someone had died, I would have been the first one investigated.
The meeting ended in a stifling atmosphere.
The department heads filed out one by one.
When Director Li Sen walked out of the Conference Room, President Zeng Dayang called him over in the hallway.
"Old Li."
"Hmm?"
"Regarding the Operating Room, the President has nodded. I'll keep an eye on the logistics department; it can be put into use within three days at the earliest."
Director Li Sen glanced at him.
"You had been prepared for a long time?"
"The equipment arrived last week, and the site renovation was actually basically completed. It was just waiting for an official approval."
President Zeng Dayang smiled and patted his shoulder.
"I said before, the best counterattack is to make yourself stronger. Once the Operating Room opens, the hardware of the Emergency Department will step up a level. Even if Vice President Peng Zhao wants to make a move, he'll have to weigh the consequences."
Director Li Sen was silent for a moment.
"Your maneuvering in the meeting today was truly impressive."
"You flatter me."
"But only this once."
Director Li Sen's tone changed.
"If there is another time where you use patient safety to make a point, I don't care about your schemes—I will flip the table."
President Zeng Dayang stopped smiling.
"Old Li, I understand you, but you must believe that I also hope such things never happen again."
"I hope so."
Director Li Sen turned and left.
President Zeng Dayang watched his retreating figure and shook his head.
This man, he's had this temper his whole life.
But it's precisely because of this temper that he is trustworthy.
...
10:00 AM.
Emergency Department.
After Director Li Sen returned from the Administrative Building, he called Zhao Yaqin and Zhou Ze directly to his office.
"The matter of the Operating Room has been approved by the President."
Zhao Yaqin's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"The logistics department is already finishing up the final touches; the equipment is in place, and the site renovation is almost done. It can be officially put into use by noon at the latest."
Zhou Ze pushed up his glasses.
"So fast?"
"President Zeng Dayang had made preparations in advance, just waiting for this approval."
Director Li Sen sat down and opened a file.
"I will be responsible for the daily management of the Operating Room. Zhao Yaqin will serve concurrently as the medical coordinator for the Operating Room; you will handle the specific rostering and personnel arrangements."
Zhao Yaqin nodded.
"Director, what types of surgeries will the Operating Room primarily undertake?"
"In principle, it will mainly handle surgeries of the Emergency Surgery Department, including Debridement, Suturing, Laparoscopic Appendectomy, Closed Thoracic Drainage, and emergency exploratory laparotomy, etc. Any emergency surgery that cannot wait for a specialist consultation, provided we have the capability to handle it, should be prioritized to be completed in our own Operating Room."
"Understood."
Director Li Sen glanced at Zhao Yaqin.
"How much do you think Lu Chen can take on?"
Zhao Yaqin thought for a moment.
"He has already proven himself with Laparoscopic Appendectomy and Closed Thoracic Drainage, not to mention Suturing."
"If there is a senior physician present to supervise, I believe he can serve as the primary surgeon for most surgeries of the Emergency Surgery Department."
Zhou Ze added from the side.
"I've been working here for fifteen years, and to be honest, his surgical skills are better than most young doctors I've seen."
Coming from Zhou Ze, these words carried significant weight.
Director Li Sen nodded.
"Alright. After the Operating Room is officially put into use at noon, have Lu Chen go and familiarize himself with the environment and equipment first."
"Very well."