My Medical Skills Give Me Experience Points

Chapter 1372 544: Gaining a New General Like a Tiger With Wings, Taking on Side Gigs_2

Pharmacological differentiation has almost reached Level 6.

Currently, pharmacological differentiation is his weak spot. Because it's only at Level 5, equivalent to the level of an associate chief physician, in clinical diagnosis, it's sometimes not even as good as Jiang Wei.

Being the team leader, having such an important domain as pharmacological differentiation being surpassed by a subordinate nurse challenges his authority.

Therefore, he is very eager to elevate pharmacological differentiation to Level 6.

Moreover, this medical skill plays a decisive role in prescribing medications and various clinical treatments. To become a true renowned doctor, one cannot have a shortcoming in this field.

That day, when Zhou Can had just finished work, Jiang Wei approached him mysteriously.

"Boss Zhou, how about we go out to pick up a private gig together?"

Having worked together for so long, they've built a certain foundation of trust between each other.

Zhou Can didn't think too much, casually asking, "Which hospital's gig is it?"

As his fame has grown, there are many hospitals inviting him for consultations. These cases often have some specific complexities requiring other doctors' help for diagnosis.

The common trait is that they are difficult to treat.

Some patients have connections with upper-level leadership, so no one dares to neglect them. There might be some confidence, but it's small. Even with no confidence due to various reasons, they can't be sent away and must be resolved internally.

Or the hospital wants to conduct a high-difficulty surgery to allow in-house doctors to learn by observing and to boost the hospital's reputation.

In the end, it's all for benefit.

Zhou Can is particularly busy with work, and coupled with his relatively low physician level, to avoid unnecessary trouble, he generally declines politely.

He doesn't lack money, so he naturally doesn't bother picking up such private gigs.

Except for a few trusted individuals.

For instance, the Provincial People's Hospital, after witnessing his skills the last time, recently the department head of neurosurgery personally called him, inviting him over for an interventional surgery.

It was quite successful.

Not only successfully removing the intracranial thrombus for the patient, but also placing a coil, successfully repairing an intracranial aneurysm that could rupture at any moment, despite extremely poor vascular conditions and an unfavorable intracranial environment.

Jiang Wei has been part of his team for over a month now.

She has always been well-behaved, and there's never been a hint that she's short on money. Plus, her attire and perfume are not cheap.

This sudden approach to Zhou Can for a private gig was somewhat unexpected.

"It's a second-tier hospital, the patient is a fifty-three-year-old old lady with some background connections. Currently, she has severe lower limb swelling, found to be completely blocked superficial varices. I recall when you first interviewed at Tuya Hospital, you performed such a surgery. When an old colleague approached me, I didn't think twice before accepting." She explained in detail.

"Given the patient's background, shouldn't she be referred to a top-tier hospital for surgery?"

Zhou Can questioned her.

"Uh... Ultimately, it's a matter of pride! The dean of that second-tier hospital wanted to please the old lady's son, hence made guarantees with full confidence. I suspect that the son's official rank is not very high, or else he wouldn't be taking his mother to a second-tier hospital looking for acquaintances. They could just as well go to a large hospital for treatment. Besides, superficial varices aren't a major condition; perhaps they thought nearby treatment would be more convenient."

Her explanation was reasonable.

Zhou Can nodded in agreement.

"I'm actually not proficient at such surgeries. If you really want this private gig, and the counterpart is reliable, I can introduce you to a General Surgery doctor."

Despite Zhou Can having a high regard for Jiang Wei, getting complete trust from Zhou Can just a month into their interaction is nearly a dream.

For sudden and unexpected private gigs, Zhou Can would certainly not put himself at risk.

But refusing directly could potentially upset Jiang Wei.

The best solution is to help her find a doctor willing to take the private gig.

At Tuya Hospital, Zhou Can knows almost all the chief physicians across various departments.

Some who need money, or are a bit proactive, are very willing to take on private gigs.

Earning such extra income is legitimate.

Regarding taking gigs, it's not just offers from outside hospitals that can be accepted; sometimes even departments within the same hospital, especially the Emergency Department, can offer gigs too.

For instance, when a patient arrives at the Emergency Department needing rescue late at night, and requires assistance from a Cardiology doctor, a call is made to request the Cardiologist's emergency visit.

Because it's outside normal working hours, ten out of nine Cardiologists would likely be resting at home.

After receiving a call, taking a taxi or driving oneself to the hospital are the two most common transportation methods.

Sometimes just the taxi fare can exceed two hundred.

The doctor from the Emergency Department requesting help has to tip the visiting Cardiologist with a gift. It's important to clarify that these gifts are legitimate.

Some new doctors, being inexperienced, might offer a gift too small to cover even the visiting doctor's travel costs.

If the department head or supervising doctor finds out, they quickly scramble to remedy this.

They'd parcel together a bigger gift and apologize to the visiting doctor, explaining that the newcomer was uninformed and asking for forgiveness. If they don't, how can they expect the doctor to respond next time when called upon in the middle of the night, after struggling for hours and receiving a gift that doesn't even cover travel costs?

"Alright then! The surgery is around eight tonight, although earlier would be better. I'm not worried about the reliability of the person you introduce. As one flies with a phoenix, so must they be a fine bird. Your surgical skills are strong, so whoever you introduce can't be lacking."

She hesitated for a second or two before agreeing.

Zhou Can promptly called to help her connect with a General Surgery doctor.

Associate Director level, perfect for the surgery.

To add, inviting a chief physician for a visit versus an associate chief level incurs a significant cost difference.

Using an ox cleaver to slaughter a chicken is often wasteful.

Doctors referred by acquaintances for surgeries are chosen based on the scale, complexity, and cost of the operation. For a surgery with a total cost of five thousand, would one really offer an excessive gift to a chief, risking loss for the hospital requesting help?

A thousand would obviously be insufficient.

Yet offering two thousand might make the hospital incur a loss.

There are quite a few nuances here.

Moreover, don't introduce unreliable acquaintances. Otherwise, if you send a doctor over, and the other party interrogates them extensively, as if examining a spy, you'll find it hard to have them respond to future calls.

…

Around eleven that night, Zhou Can received a WeChat message on his phone.

From none other than Hee Hansheng from General Surgery.

"Dr. Zhou, thank you for introducing the private gig. The experience was great, the surgery was very successful. Let me invite you for a cup of coffee, as a token of gratitude."

Hee Hansheng was promoted to associate chief last year.

His economic situation is average.

Nonetheless, his surgical skills are quite strong.

He was very pleased to have this private gig.

Back when Zhou Can was rotating in General Surgery, Hee Hansheng was in a critical period aiming for full professorship. Thanks to Zhou Can joining Professor Liu's team, successfully assisting him in securing qualifications to establish a subdepartment.

Professor Liu successfully attained full professorship, while not long after, Hee Hansheng achieved associate professorship.

It's worth mentioning that full and associate professorships are determined from above, but each hospital department has a limited number of slots.

Weaker departments, or departments with low influence, struggle more for full and associate professorships.

Many doctors dislike anesthesiology.

This department, aside from being busy and prone to sudden deaths, also faces difficulty in achieving full and associate professorship.

Hee Hansheng has long regarded Zhou Can as a lucky star, maintaining a great relationship with him.

Being very sensible, after successfully taking the order, he immediately offered Zhou Can something as an introduction fee.

"Your kindness is noted, but I'll kindly decline the gift! How is that old lady's situation?"

Zhou Can intentionally inquired about the patient's situation.

Wanting to see if Jiang Wei's private gig introduction was reliable.