A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 466

91. Neurosurgery Head (2)

“Ugh. My head is killing me.”

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination rubbed his temples with his index fingers.

It had clearly started 30 minutes ago.

After seeing ‘that document,’ a heavy headache began to torment him. It felt like a stone, not an eraser, was rolling around in his head.

“Is something wrong?”

Kim, the assistant manager sitting next to him, asked, looking at the Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination.

“Something wrong? Why? Do you think you can solve it for me if I tell you?”

“Wouldn’t it help to relieve your mind if you just talked about it?”

“It’s about the outstanding payments.”

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination shook his head. It wasn’t just banks or financial companies that had outstanding payments.

Hospitals had them too.

Patients who couldn’t afford surgery or hospitalization would sign promissory notes to pay the medical bills later and then be discharged.

However, the amount of those outstanding payments had far exceeded the limit.

It was clear that it would be brought up at the next meeting.

“It seems like there are many long-term overdue cases. Can’t we take a stronger approach?”

“If it were that easy, I would have done it already…….”

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination’s answer was mixed with a deep sigh.

“If we just try to solve it with the law, we might get torn apart by the media. They’ll say that heartless, money-grubbing hospital guys are demanding money from patients.”

“…….”

“We had a patient who reported us to the media before.”

“Still, shouldn’t we get the money we’re owed?”

“Even if we sue, most of them just lie down and say they don’t have any money. We lose our image and don’t get the outstanding payments, so it’s a complete loss.”

He thought his mind would be relieved if he complained to Assistant Manager Kim, but it was the opposite.

It only made him feel worse.

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination felt the urge to sweep all the objects on his desk onto the floor with both hands, like the chairmen in dramas often do.

It meant he was frustrated.

“Um… Head. Do you have a moment?”

A newly hired intern approached the Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination with a dazed look.

“What is it, Gu Hyeon?”

“Actually… the Head of Neurosurgery said he would like to see you.”

“Huh? The Head of Neurosurgery?”

The eyes of the Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination widened.

His eyebrows shot up like mountain peaks.

It was rare for a department head to visit the Office of Planning and Coordination directly.

No, it was the first time it had ever happened while the current head was working there.

What was his ulterior motive?

“Didn’t the Head of Neurosurgery just take office today? Maybe he’s just coming to say hello?”

Assistant Manager Kim said, as if reading the Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination’s mind.

However, the head did not agree.

Doctors didn’t want to get involved with administrative staff.

Whether it was because they felt uncomfortable, or because their fields of work were different.

Or maybe it was because of their sense of privilege as doctors.

“First, escort him to the reception room. I’ll be there soon.”

“Yes, sir.”

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination deliberately wasted about 5 minutes doing other things. Only then did he move to the reception room.

The Head of Neurosurgery.

Seo Jun-hoo was drinking the green tea that the Office of Planning and Coordination staff had prepared.

He already knew what Jun-hoo looked like, but he looked even younger in person. Depending on how you interpreted it, he could even pass for a resident.

“Nice to meet you, Head Seo. I’m Kang Seon-pyo, the Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination.”

“I’m Seo Jun-hoo, the Head of Neurosurgery.”

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination extended his hand first, and Jun-hoo took it.

The two men stood facing each other in awkward silence for a while.

It was Jun-hoo who broke the ice first.

“It looks like you have a headache?”

“How did you know that?”

“Because you’re frowning and rubbing your head with your hand.”

“I have a problem I need to deal with.”

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination smiled awkwardly.

“It’s fate that we met like this, so let me take a look at your head for a moment.”

Jun-hoo readily got up from his seat.

He moved behind the Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination.

To be honest, the head wondered why Jun-hoo was doing this.

He wasn’t going to give him a CT scan or an MRI, so he doubted what Jun-hoo could do for him in this place.

Thwack!

Jun-hoo’s palm went up to the top of the head’s head. At that moment, his head felt hot, as if a contrast agent [a substance used to improve the visibility of internal body structures in medical imaging] had been injected.

The embarrassing thing didn’t end there.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Jun-hoo poked various parts of the head’s head with his index finger, as if he were poking holes in a paper window.

He also massaged the stiff muscles in the back of his neck to loosen them.

After finishing his work, Jun-hoo leisurely returned to his original seat.

“How do you feel now?”

“I thought you were playing a joke… but I guess not. My head feels as comfortable as if I’ve had a thorough cleaning. This is amazing!”

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination laughed hollowly.

He had no idea what was going on.

But one thing was certain.

Jun-hoo’s hands were magic hands.

* * *

Watching the Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination’s face brighten, Jun-hoo smiled inwardly.

He had used Internal Energy Brain Angiography [a technique to visualize blood vessels in the brain using internal energy]. He had used Pressure Point Acupressure, also known as martial arts massage. He even used acupressure to activate the brain.

Would you believe that all of this happened in just 2 minutes?

Although he hadn’t learned the new martial arts that had recently been combined with modern medicine, the speed of his existing martial arts and examinations had become dazzlingly fast.

Jun-hoo’s growth had slowed down.

But it hadn’t stopped.

“Where did you learn such an amazing massage?”

“I learned it here and there from people around me. If it’s a stress headache, it’s good to acupressure these spots.”

Jun-hoo told him a few acupressure points, and the Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination listened seriously.

He even pressed the spots with his fingers.

“By the way, what brings you to the Office of Planning and Coordination, Head? It’s rare for a department head to visit the Office of Planning and Coordination.”

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination’s eyes lit up with curiosity.

“To be direct, I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor on our first meeting? What kind of favor?”

“I want to see the statistical data related to neurosurgery. Bed turnover rate, patients’ admission and discharge periods, patient readmission rate, reoperation rate by doctor…….”

Jun-hoo took something out of his gown pocket and handed it to the Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination.

It was a piece of paper that listed all the statistical data he had just mentioned.

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination didn’t say anything. He kept his mouth shut and scanned the paper that Jun-hoo had handed him.

What was the head thinking?

Was he thinking that Jun-hoo was being rude by suddenly coming to him and asking for a favor?

Was he bewildered?

Or was he feeling unpleasant?

But Jun-hoo believed that the head would grant his request.

“Why do you need these?”

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination looked straight at Jun-hoo and asked. The friendly look in his eyes, like a neighborhood uncle, had turned into the look of the Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination.

“Because I need it to run the neurosurgery department.”

“It’s not difficult to extract the data for you. But I don’t know if it will be meaningful.”

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination shook his head from side to side.

He tapped the paper with his index finger, as if he were playing marbles.

“Head Seo. You’re more proactive than I thought. I thought you were just visiting to say hello after your new appointment…….”

“…….”

“Now that I see it, you had an ulterior motive.”

“Of course. It would be rude to visit someone who’s busy without a purpose.”

“Haha.”

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination nodded and drank the coffee that the Office of Planning and Coordination staff had brought him earlier.

Had he studied hospital management separately?

The statistics that Jun-hoo wanted were related to the neurosurgery department’s profitability or patient satisfaction.

But he didn’t think that the neurosurgery department would change drastically just by checking the statistics.

Except for gastroenterological surgery and orthopedic surgery, no surgical department in the hospital was making a profit.

This was because the fees were too low compared to the difficulty of the surgery.

“You’ll definitely be disappointed if you get the data. There won’t be anything to improve.”

“…….”

“If we could improve the lacking areas by looking at the statistics, why would the neurosurgery department’s situation be the same until now?”

“That’s because the previous head was incompetent.”

“Incompetent?”

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination only blinked at Jun-hoo’s blunt remark.

Wasn’t this like changing lanes without signaling [making a sudden change without warning]?

To openly snipe at the former head.

He had guts like no other.

“You said you could provide the data, so I’ll just ask for the data. Managing the department is my responsibility.”

“You were appointed head at a young age, so I know you’re good. But.”

“But?”

“If you’re too enthusiastic, you’ll be more frustrated.”

“The greater a person’s ambition, the greater their actions. I’m going to completely overhaul the neurosurgery department.”

Jun-hoo revealed his ambitious aspirations.

When he was a resident, he had no choice because he was low in rank, but now the situation was different.

Jun-hoo was the head.

He had enough power to take control of the department and run it.

Jun-hoo didn’t want the neurosurgery department to be treated like an ugly duckling [a neglected or unappreciated entity] that drained the hospital’s finances.

So he wanted to dramatically increase the department’s profitability.

If the profitability increased, his voice would become stronger, and if his voice became stronger, he would be able to handle more things.

Also…….

As a surgeon, he had already received enough recognition, so now he had the desire to be recognized as a manager as well.

“Have you thought of any specific ways to solve the problem?”

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination asked in a dissatisfied voice.

He still distrusted Jun-hoo.

“Goals aren’t achieved with ambition alone.”

“It won’t be fun if I tell you now, so check it out yourself later. See how the statistics change after I take office.”

“Haha. This is…….”

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination scratched his head.

He seemed to have a lot to say, but he was forcibly holding it back.

“So how long will it take to get the data?”

“Since you came in person, I’ll process it as soon as possible. I’ll contact you again in 2-3 days.”

“Thank you.”

Jun-hoo smiled brightly.

It was definitely worth giving the Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination Pressure Point Acupressure before getting to the point.

It was clear that his closed heart had opened up after he relieved his headache.

Anyway, the first task he had to do as head was over.

As soon as the neurosurgery statistics arrived, he would analyze them and come up with a plan.

-The neurosurgery department will stand at the top in terms of surgical department profitability and patient service.

That was Jun-hoo’s grand ambition.

It might sound like pie in the sky [an unrealistic or overly optimistic idea] to others, but to Jun-hoo, it was a clear goal that he could reach right away.

“Then I’ll be going now. I’ll visit you often in the future.”

Jun-hoo said goodbye first and left.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination stared blankly at Jun-hoo’s receding figure.

Then he smiled bitterly and crossed his arms.

“I guess he hasn’t met the professors in the neurosurgery department yet. That’s why he’s saying such reckless things. A fearless rabbit jumping into a thicket full of vipers [a dangerous and hostile environment]…….”

The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination felt genuine pity for Jun-hoo.

* * *

After leaving the Office of Planning and Coordination, Jun-hoo went straight to the operating room on the 3rd floor.

“Head. What brings you to the operating room?”

A passing nurse recognized Jun-hoo first and asked.

“Don’t you have any surgery scheduled yet?”

“No. I don’t have a schedule.”

“Then what’s the matter…….”

When Jun-hoo told her the reason, the nurse nodded as if she understood. Then she printed out the neurosurgery surgery schedule and handed it to Jun-hoo.

Jun-hoo quickly scanned the schedule and immediately entered the observation operating room of operating room number 2.

From the structure of the operating room to the surgical equipment.

The operating room at Busan Shinwon University Hospital was not much different from the main hospital in Seoul.

Well, it would be strange if it were different.

There were 20 minutes left until the surgery.

The resident and scrub nurse who had arrived earlier were busily preparing for the surgery.

The busyness was vividly conveyed even from outside the glass window.

Going in and out of the supply room.

Carrying the dressing cart from time to time.

The patient arrived.

The anesthesiologist arrived and put the patient under general anesthesia, etc.

Jun-hoo watched the scene intently.

Jun-hoo’s second schedule was to observe the surgery.

It was to check the surgical skills of the surgeons at Busan Shinwon University.

There was nothing more important than the surgeon’s surgical skills in assessing the level of the department.

Beeeeeep.

A moment later, the operating room door opened and a man entered the operating room.

According to the schedule, the surgeon’s name was Kim Han-sang.

He was an associate professor who had worked in neurosurgery for the longest time.

His major was brain tumor surgery.

Jun-hoo predicted that Kim Han-sang and he were destined to become enemies.