Director Zhao, head of the Medical Affairs Department, had just returned from a weekly meeting when an aide reported that he had received a phone call. Nandu Affiliated Hospital One was requesting a consultation from Sanboâs Orthopedics specialist, Doctor Yang Ping.
The scanned copy of the consultation invitation had been sent over. The aide printed it out and handed it to Director Zhao for review.
âMust be some kind of mistake?â Director Zhao reacted instantly.
In the medical field of Nandu Province, Nandu Affiliated Hospital One holds a dominant position. Nationwide, it also ranks among the best. High-profile individuals like Director Han from the Orthopedics department, with his strong individual capabilities and reputation within the circle, are occasionally invited to join consultations and case discussions at Nandu Affiliated Hospital One. This is seen as a personal honor.
Normally, itâs not Nandu Affiliated Hospital One inviting Sanbo for consultations, but the other way around: Sanbo regularly invites experts from Nandu Affiliated Hospital One for consultations.
The orthopedics department of Nandu Affiliated Hospital One is top-tier nationally.
Now they are inviting Doctor Yang Ping for a consultation, could there be a misunderstanding? Director Zhao, since his promotion to Chief Physician and working in the Medical Affairs Department, was well-versed in these matters.
Even though Yang Ping did impress everyone with his replantation of amputated fingers, it was unlikely that a young doctor excelling at this procedure would be invited to Nandu Affiliated Hospital One for consultations.
Looking at the brief case description on the consultation invite, the patient was indeed a professional athlete with left Achilles tendon laxity.
The consultation invitation clearly indicates that the inviting party is Nandu Medical University Affiliated Hospital One. The invited party is Sanbo Hospital of Nandu Province, and the doctor being invited is Yang Ping, an Orthopedics Specialist. There seemed to be nothing amiss.
âPlease confirm if there has been a mix-up. Doctor Yang is just a Specialist, yet he has been invited to Nandu Affiliated Hospital One for a consultation.â Director Zhao was cautious. A misunderstanding could lead to an embarrassing situation.
âI called the Medical Affairs Department at Nandu Affiliated Hospital One to confirm. Thereâs no mistake. Theyâre inviting Doctor Yang Ping from our Orthopedics Department.â The aide too, was a seasoned professional.
Director Zhao took a closer look at the consultation invitation and saw Nandu Affiliated Hospital One Dean Su Qingyunâs signature. Did he notice Yang Pingâs potential during his last consultation at Sanbo and now wants to recruit him?
Yang Ping indeed had potential and had made several remarkable contributions. Not to mention his stunning five-section replantation surgery that even gave Director Zhao goosebumps, shouting âgood ladâ.
Recently, at the major consultation held at the Overseas Chinese Building, he proposed an innovative idea that even Professor Su greatly admired.
This matter required careful consideration. If Yang Ping was poached, not just Han Jiangong, but even Dean Xia would skin him alive.
If things looked amiss, then there was usually a trick involved. Zhao felt something was suspicious and decided to take the consultation invitation to discuss it with Han Jiangong. Sanbo was currently in need of personnel, they couldnât afford to have someone undermine their team.
Despite being a simple and honest person, Director Zhao was tactful. Otherwise, he wouldnât have been able to hold his current position.
He called Director Han. The moment he returned to his office after the meeting, Zhao, with the consultation invitation in hand, hurried over without skipping a beat.
Upon entering, Zhao locked the door and without even taking a sip of Director Hanâs Longjing Tea, he took out the invitation and placed it on his desk.
âOld Han, take a look!â
Director Han was confused by Zhaoâs urgency. They had just met at the hospital-wide morning meeting earlier and Zhao didnât mention a word about it. Now, in such a rush, Director Han was left wondering what was going on.
Taking a look at the consultation invitation from Nandu Affiliated Hospital One, it invited Yang Ping to participate in an Orthopedics consultation the following Tuesday.
âWhatâs the problem?â Director Han was completely confused.
Zhao was now even more anxious: âOld Han, why arenât you worried? Look, Nandu Affiliated Hospital One is inviting one of our junior attendants for a consultation! With Su Qingyun about to be promoted to academician, and a large number of professors in their orthopedics department receiving special government subsidies, why would they invite a Specialist from us for a consultation? This is a blatant attempt to poach our staff.â
He was so infuriated that he took a sip of tea to calm himself down.
âThis is outrageous! Su Qingyun has had a good reputation in the circle all along, with principled actions. How could he land himself in a situation like this?â The more Zhao thought about it, the more furious he became.
If they had secretly asked their Human Resources Department to start a dialogue, it would be understandable. But in this style, isnât it a blatant act of aggression?
âDonât panic. Theyâre just invited for a consultation. Isnât this a good thing, inviting our people for consultations?â Director Han was not worried at all.
âDo you really think so?â Zhao couldnât comprehend Director Hanâs intentions.
Director Han reassured him, âDonât worry. Even if they try to poach him, Yang Ping wonât be easily swayed if he doesnât want to leave; if Yang Ping himself wants to leave, we canât keep him either. In my opinion, this might not be as complicated as it seems. My guess is that Su Nanchen is interested in becoming friends with Yang Ping. Didnât you notice at the dinner table the other day that the two wouldnât stop chatting, like they were old friends meeting after a long time?â
âMaking friends? Itâs only a case, the two of them could have discussed it privately, over the phone, or via WeChat. Why do they need to formally issue a consultation order?â Old Zhao still felt that there was something wrong.
Director Han looked at the consultation invitation again and flicked it with his finger: âThis is purposely giving Yang Ping an opportunity to make himself known, promoting him! Praising him! Didnât you notice? Only Su Nanchen would know about Yang Pingâs capabilities from private discussions, but a consultation like this is different, with one consultation order issued, Yang Pingâs skills would be showcased at both Sanbo and Nandu Affiliated Hospital One. Look, the invitation is personally signed by Su Qingyun, is it necessary for him to sign a consultation for orthopedics himself? Without his signature, this type of consultation invitation would not be able to be issued, it is probably the first time in the history of Nandu Affiliated Hospital One to invite a chief physician from another hospital! Su Qingyun really has an eye for talent, heâs broad-minded, no wonder Nandu Affiliated Hospital One developed so rapidly in his hands!â
âIf itâs really as you say, then I can rest easy. Our hospital is currently in a crucial period of development, we must guard against other peopleâs intentions,â Old Zhao thought carefully and felt that what Han Jiangong said made sense.
âIâll call Yang Ping in for a briefing and let him prepare,â Director Han picked up the phone and Director Zhao opened the door.
As soon as Yang Ping entered the directorâs office, he saw a paper in Director Hanâs hand and Director Zhao staring at him, he started wondering if he had done something wrong.
âDirector Han, Director Zhao!â Yang Ping greeted them, maintaining a calm demeanor on the surface, but his mind was already analyzing countless possibilities.
âSit! Xiao Yang!â Director Han said kindly, with a smile on his face.
Eighty percent chance itâs good news, Yang Ping made a judgment. He had figured out Director Hanâs moods from his facial expressions before.
âWhat do you think this is?â Director Han didnât give an outright explanation, but showed the consultation order to Yang Ping.
Yang Ping took it, it was an inter-hospital consultation invitation from Nandu Affiliated Hospital One, signed by Su Nanchen and Su Qingyun, and stamped with the seal of the Medical Affairs Department of Nandu Affiliated Hospital One.
Oh, so it was this matter. Su Nanchen had mentioned the consultation via WeChat yesterday, and even sent the patientâs information over the platform.
Yang Ping was initially taken aback, him being invited to Nandu Affiliated Hospital One for a consultation? Impossible.
After Su Nanchen sent over the information, he didnât explain much. Yang Ping therefore interpreted this âconsultationâ as a case discussion on WeChat.
He didnât expect the hospital to send an official inter-hospital consultation invitation today. This procedure is typically for inviting professors, Su Nanchen, youâre giving me too much face.
Before Yang Ping could say anything, Director Han spoke: âPrepare yourself, Iâll give you leave next Tuesday afternoon, go for the consultation, speak as you normally would, and show them your capabilities.â
âDirectorââ Yang Ping wanted to explain, as this consultation request bypassed Director Han in favor of him, seemed somewhat inappropriate.
However, on second thought, there was no need to explain. What kind of person was Director Han? He was the type who was laid-back and open-minded, not someone who was narrow-minded.
âYes! Director, I will certainly do you and the hospital proud!â Yang Ping confidently declared.
Director Han laughed: âI love hearing that.â
âShould I arrange for the hospital to dispatch a car for his transportation?â Director Zhao felt that this would also raise his stature.
Nandu Affiliated Hospital One inviting a chief physician from Sanbo for a consultation was an unprecedented event.
Yang Ping quickly declined: âPlease donât fuss over it, I can go by myself, itâs just a consultation.â
Yang Ping disliked causing trouble. Going to Nandu Affiliated Hospital One for a consultation and having the hospital arrange a car was too ostentatious. Being low-key was more suited to his personality.
âLetâs go with what Xiao Yang says, if he doesnât want a car then donât send one, let him do it however he wishes, perhaps Su Nanchen will come to fetch him,â Director Han understood Yang Pingâs temperament.
With this matter set, Old Zhao also felt relieved. As long as itâs a normal consultation, itâs a good thing, and Sanbo has hope.
He and his old colleagues had been with Dean Xia through thick and thin for more than ten years, laying this foundation. If these youngsters could make a name for themselves, he would feel proud upon retirement. Even when meeting classmates and peers, he could brag a little while playing mahjong.
Yang Ping replied to Su Nanchen on WeChat: Received the consultation invitation, deeply grateful, I will be there next Tuesday afternoon at three oâclock to attend the consultation.
Since theyâve invited me and given me such great face, I should go confidently.
This week, heâs only performed three surgeries because Director Tian was on an outpatient shift alone. Director Han only worked half-day outpatient shifts a week, and that was located on the first floor of the Orthopedics Department. They couldnât compete for patients with other departments, so the patient volume was quite low.
Tomorrow is Saturday, and Yang Ping remembered about accompanying Xiao Su for shopping.
He checked the balance in his bank account. Since coming to Sanbo, his income had become much higher than before. Apart from rent and utilities, he didnât have many expenses, and had a balance of tens of thousands in his account.
Although Xiao Su was very good, she didnât overspend. But it was better for him to be prepared.