Lu Xuan looked at him, somewhat puzzled as to why Ji Yongfeng suddenly mentioned going to the city's Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.
If it were Hu Meiqiao talking to him about this, he would have felt it was normal.
But Ji Yongfeng was just an unfamiliar patient to him, and this sudden suggestion left Lu Xuan somewhat bewildered.
Faced with Lu Xuan's questioning gaze, Ji Yongfeng seemed to be mumbling to himself: "I just feel that with Dr. Lu's capabilities, sitting here seeing patients is a bit of a waste of talent."
Lu Xuan wasn't suspicious of him and smiled, saying: "It's the same treating patients anywhere."
"Besides, as a recent graduate from Zhijiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, here I can at least see patients independently, but if I went to the city's hospital, I'm afraid I could only work as an assistant."
Upon hearing this, Ji Yongfeng paused, sighed, and said: "That's indeed a problem, but in my view, any profession should be judged based on ability, not seniority. Capable people should be placed in important positions, not sticking to conventions."
Lu Xuan chuckled and didn't respond. What Ji Yongfeng said made sense, but reality was quite the opposite.
To gain the opportunity to see patients independently in a large hospital, he would at least have to be a licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor.
And to qualify for that, with his academic background, he would have to work in the medical field for two years before he could take the exam.
The crucial point is, all the assessments for Traditional Chinese Medicine still use the methods, regulations, and policies of Western medicine, which isn't an easy thing for someone deeply rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine to pass smoothly.
For a traditionally trained Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor like Lu Xuan, these assessments aren't too difficult, as he was exposed to them in school.
But for many traditionally trained practitioners, passing these Western medicine assessments is tough for most.
Many veteran practitioners running their own clinics have basically only qualified as practicing doctors. As for positions like chief doctor or associate chief doctor, they don't even dare to dream about it.
The method of assessment used in Western medicine isn't something non-academically trained Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors can grasp quickly.
Especially for some veteran doctors, even with ample time, they might not be able to figure it out.
Let alone the assessments.
Thinking of this, Lu Xuan felt that wanting to change the current state of Traditional Chinese Medicine was a long and arduous task, and the light in his eyes dimmed slightly.
A deep sigh arose from his heart.
"Sigh..."
Just as Lu Xuan was worrying about the future of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji Yongfeng's voice sounded again in his ear: "Dr. Lu, you should think about it. I believe with your ability, working in a large hospital is only a matter of time.
As for your concerns, the country is paying more and more attention to Traditional Chinese Medicine now, and since rules are made by people, they can naturally be changed."
"Thank you for your kind words."
Lu Xuan instinctively cupped his hands in gratitude.
"Old Mr. Ji, please sit for a moment. I'll get the medicine for you."
"You go about your business, don't mind me."
Ji Yongfeng waved his hand.
Lu Xuan then got up and walked towards the herbal pharmacy.
In no time, Lu Xuan came back with the medicine and instructed: "I've prescribed three days of medicine for you. Once you've finished it, I think you can throw away that crutch you're holding."
Lu Xuan made a joke.
Ji Yongfeng never expected Lu Xuan to be so confident in his own prescription, and while he was puzzled, he was also more curious about whom Lu Xuan had learned his medical skills from.
And what kind of teacher could produce such an excellent student.
"Then I shall take Dr. Lu's words to heart. I've wanted to get rid of this crutch for a long time."
After speaking, he smiled, stood up, and took the prescribed three bags of medicine to leave.
"Old Mr. Ji, let me see you off."
Seeing that Ji Yongfeng had difficulty moving, Lu Xuan got up, intending to escort him downstairs.
However, just as Lu Xuan was about to move, Ji Yongfeng stopped him: "No need, I'm not that old and immobile yet."
With that, he turned and, using his crutch, left the Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic.
"He's quite a stubborn old man."
Watching Ji Yongfeng leave, Lu Xuan returned to the clinic and sat down.
However, he hadn't been seated for long when there was a knock at the door.
Lu Xuan instinctively looked up and saw someone with a medical record standing at the door, momentarily frozen.
A patient?
So many registrations today?
Without time to think further, Lu Xuan welcomed them in.
...
Fourth floor.
Director's office.
Hu Meiqiao looked at the recent registration information, especially the appointment information for the Traditional Chinese Medicine department, and she couldn't help but wonder if she was seeing things.
Previously, the most registration appointments were usually for the child health department.
In the past few days, the child health department still had the most appointments, but for this Thursday and Friday, the situation had changed dramatically.
The Traditional Chinese Medicine department, which used to have the fewest registrations, had suddenly surpassed the child health department, taking the top spot for appointments.
"All fifty available appointment slots were booked, and in addition to those who might come in person, there could be no fewer than seventy people coming to see Lu tomorrow."
Hu Meiqiao was secretly astonished.
"The incidents involving Zhang Song and Li Qinxue have had a significant impact."
"It seems the matter of an assistant needs to be resolved quickly."
Seeing seventy people a day might not sound like much. In large hospitals, a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor can see seventy patients in a morning, but that's because they have assistants, and they don't have to handle the herbal dispensing themselves, they just have to focus on attending to patients.
That's not the case at this Health Center; it's just Lu Xuan managing the Traditional Chinese Medicine department.
Forget about seventy patients in a morning; even seeing seventy patients in a day seems challenging to her.
While thinking about it, there was a sudden knock at the door.
Hu Meiqiao looked up and saw that Cheng Gaowen, the head of the child health department, was standing at the door.
"Gao Wen, what brings you here, is something up?"
Cheng Gaowen walked into the office, sat across from Hu Meiqiao, and said with a smile: "Director, I wanted to ask you about something."
"Go ahead."
"I heard that the hospital plans to recruit for the Traditional Chinese Medicine department?"
Hu Meiqiao nodded, saying: "That's right, the recruitment information has already been sent through the district health bureau's personnel department, but as you know, given our Health Center's situation, without formal staffing positions, we might not be able to find anyone in the short term."
"And the situation is quite urgent now..."
"What's the matter?"
"I reviewed the appointment information for the Traditional Chinese Medicine department tomorrow, and from estimates, including those who might register in person, there will certainly be no fewer than seventy people," Hu Meiqiao said helplessly.
"Seventy people?"
Cheng Gaowen was taken aback: "So many?"
"Yes."
"There's no way Lu can manage all those people on his own."
Hu Meiqiao sighed, saying: "I think so too, but right now, we don't have anyone who understands Traditional Chinese Medicine at the center, and hiring someone quickly is difficult. If we approach other hospitals, they might not be interested in sending anyone to our small Health Center, and the district health bureau might not want to assign anyone for us; I'm quite worried."
"By the way, Gao Wen, you didn't come here just to ask about this, did you?" Hu Meiqiao asked.
Cheng Gaowen thought for a moment and said: "No, but it's related to it."
At this point, Cheng Gaowen revealed her true purpose: "You see, I have a niece who was admitted to the graduate program at Zhijiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine this year. Since the school requires an internship over the summer,
I was thinking, why not have her intern at our Health Center as an assistant for Lu? It's only for two months, and we wouldn't need to pay her a salary or anything.
This way, you'll have more time to hire someone. What do you think?"
"You're talking about Kenan, right?"
"Yes."
"She got into the graduate program, that's wonderful!"
Hu Meiqiao congratulated her, then frowned slightly: "It's doable, I have no objections, but I'm just worried your niece might be unwilling, given that we're just a Health Center."
"Since the director has agreed, I'll take care of it,"
Cheng Gaowen said, patting her chest: "I assure you I'll get it done."
After expressing her gratitude, she stood up with a smile and left.
Interning at the Health Center, her niece might indeed be reluctant, but it depends on whom she will be assisting!