Chapter 17 — On my first day as Director, I was kicked out of the cafeteria by the resident doctor

Chapter 22 One week after To Nha Lam left, the hospital returned to peace. At least it's peaceful on the surface. After adjusting the surgery schedule of the Bone and Joint Department, Tham Ba Quan led the team to take over daily work. Phuong Tri Vien switched to outpatient examination, sitting in the clinic every day, not on the operating table. Neither he nor I mentioned another word about To Nha Lam's story. We occasionally meet at home and only say things like "Rice is in the pot", "The clothes are out to dry". Like two strangers living under the same roof. On the eighth day, things had a new change. Han Man walked in holding a complaint form.

“Director Co, the outpatient clinic received a complaint letter.”

“Complaint to whom?”

“Complaint to Phuong Tri Vien.”

I took it and tried it out. The complainant named Vuong Thuc Phan, 71 years old, suffered from knee osteoarthritis. The content of the complaint is: Phuong Tri Vien examined her in less than 3 minutes, did not prescribe any tests, only told her to go home to recuperate. This is not a serious complaint. When there are many patients, 3 minutes to examine one person is a common occurrence in many hospitals. But when placed on Phuong Tri Vien, this is somewhat unusual. Phuong Tri Vien is famous for being meticulous when performing surgery, and when performing outpatient medical examinations, he has never done anything too quickly. He's not the type of doctor who takes 3 minutes to send a patient away. Unless he's completely not in the mood.

“What is the number of outpatients at Phuong Tri Vien this week?”

Han Man flipped the notebook.

"On average, 23 people a day. Before, when he was in the clinic, there were an average of 45 people a day."

“Reduced by half?”

"Yes. Furthermore, a few old patients who came back for follow-up examinations deliberately registered his number, saying that Director Phuong's examinations have changed recently, and he's somehow absent-minded."

I put the complaint form on the table. Phuong Tri Vien is depressed. A surgeon who had been doing surgery for 15 years was suddenly forced to sit in the clinic prescribing medicine. For him, this was not a demotion, but a skin peeling. But this was caused by himself. I shouldn't be soft-hearted. But after all, I have lived with him for 9 years.

“Han Man, please help me make an appointment with Tham Ba Quan.”

“What time?”

“Today, after work.”

At six thirty in the evening, Tham Ba Quan arrived.

“Director Co, what's going on?”

"Old Tham, I ask you a question. If Phuong Tri Vien returns to the operating table, do you think it will be good for the Bone and Joint Department?"

Tham Ba Quan was stunned.

“Director Co, this is…”

"I'm not trying to insinuate anything, I'm asking for your opinion. How is the surgery situation in the Bone and Joint Department these days?"

Tham Ba Quan sighed.

"To be honest, it's a bit overwhelming. Since Phuong Tri Vien left, I can handle a portion of the complicated surgeries, but there are some types of surgeries that really don't reach his level. Last week, there were two difficult cases that had to be transferred to the Provincial People's Hospital, and the morale in the department is not very good."

"If Phuong Tri Vien participated in the surgery as a normal Senior Deputy Doctor, not holding a management position, could you accept it?"

Tham Ba Quan thought for a moment.

“Professionally, there is no problem. But psychologically... before he was the Dean, now let him be my assistant, will he accept?"

“That's his problem, not yours.”

"Okay. If you have already decided, I have no opinion.”

The next morning, I told Han Man to call Phuong Tri Vien to the office. When he walked in, he looked even skinnier than a week ago. He sat down, his eyes a bit misty.

"The Department of Bones and Joints recently had to transfer two difficult cases to the Provincial Hospital. Tham Ba Quan couldn't handle it."

His eyes moved slightly.

“I intend to restore your surgical rights.”

He looked up at me.

“As a Senior Deputy Doctor, he went to the operating table and did not restore his management position. The surgery schedule is allocated by Tham Ba Quan, you just have to do the surgery."

“This is not about you. This is for the patients. It is not the way to have complex surgeries in the Department of Bones and Joints transferred to the provincial hospital forever.”

He looked at me, pursed his lips and then released them.

“Thanh Ninh, you…”

“In the office, call me Director Co.”

He stopped.

“Director Co, thank you.”

“Don't thank me. Just do your duty well.”

He stood up. When you get to the door, stop for two seconds.

“Do we want to eat together at noon?”

“Eating in the cafeteria is fine.”

"Okay. Eat in the cafeteria.”

When he walked out, his pace was much more steady than when he walked in. Han Man outside saw him coming out and walked in to ask a question.

“Have you made up?”

"Are not. Just adjusting work.”

“But when he came out, he was smiling.”

“That's his problem.”