Surgery Godfather-Chapter 471 - 429: A handful of Peanuts and Beer

Though Professor Liang didn’t achieve his aim, after talking with Yang Ping and seeing the strong support from Dean Xia and Director Han for Yang Ping, he felt reassured and cherished Yang Ping even more.

What he termed as ’cooperation’ was really an attempt to help Yang Ping in certain areas.

Perhaps, this child, he can freely experiment here. It might not work in Xiehe, their limits may be more rigid.

So, Professor Liang no longer insisted on bringing Yang Ping into his department.

Director Hu continued to study at Sanbo Hospital, displaying significant interest in Yang Ping’s cases.

Moreover, he wanted to wholly participate in Yang Ping’s treatment of pediatric scoliosis through external fixation. He wanted to see how Yang Ping could complete this miraculous correction.

Having dealt with other matters, Dean Xia almost forgot the information he meant to relay to Yang Ping: "Do you still remember that ’Bao Ruffian’?"

The ’Bao Ruffian’ didn’t spark any memories. After all, Yang Ping had relatively good recall.

"That’s the ’Bao’ something or other who conflicted with you and assaulted people with a crutch," Director Han explained.

It was Bao Junhao. How could he not remember him? He was arrogant and imperious. Accompanied by his ridiculously matched mother, Yang Ping simply couldn’t tolerate him.

Reminded of this, Yang Ping immediately recounted his encounters with Bao Junhao in the United States to Director Han and Dean Xia.

The two of them listened as though it were a tale. How incredible that they would cross the Pacific, only to run into Yang Ping after months of waiting.

With no outsiders present, Dean Xia and Director Han shared hearty laughter.

"His family will send an apology letter to the hospital tomorrow. Moreover, his father is willing to make a donation for patient economic relief. In future cases where ’Sanwu’ patients, poor patients, and those unable to afford hospital fees arise, this relief fund can provide monetary assistance." After laughing, Dean Xia got back to the point.

This is a good thing. Every repentant person should be given another chance.

Although coverage is now quite high, many doctors have still encountered patients who try to evade payment, especially ’Sanwu’ patients. They’re a big headache.

Whenever patients evade payment or owe money, it’s the doctors who suffer. Charges are deducted from the treatment group, from group leaders to bed-attending doctors in proportion. Real money is deducted from salaries and bonuses.

Dr. Guo, the in-charge of the Trauma Orthopedics department, had to eat instant noodles for a continuous month due to a patient who escaped without paying after ripping out his catheter.

These incidents, sometimes coming after tiring all-night surgeries, not only save lives but also extract a painful cost. The lighter cases last a month, worse ones several months, doctors work for the patient.

Patients who evade payment come in various forms. Some are ’Sanwu’ patients who are genuinely helpless. Some have family but are impoverished and lack health insurance or business insurance.

In spinal surgery, a high-paralysis patient fell from a high place. With several children recognizing their father as a great burden, they clearly expressed their wish not to need him anymore and to leave him permanently in the hospital.

The patient, informed of the news, washed his face in tears daily and relied on doctors and nurses for his three meals a day.

Thus, in hospitals, human nature, both its beauty and its ugliness, is exposed without warning, particularly in ERs and ICUs, where life and death hang in the balance.

You never expect human nature to be so ugly. Neither do you dream it could be so beautiful.

Abandonment, persistence, love, unfeelingness – it’s all on show every day.

For example, it’s not unusual for children to squabble over property rights in the ward while a loved one is on their deathbed. A doctor declaring there is hope only to charge a patient’s fee, after which a horde of filial children disperse in all directions. And all these ’children’ are well-educated.

Patients without medical or commercial insurance are encountered by every hospital, in every department, naked to the world.

For example, the high-profile gods of Sanhe, are presumably without health insurance, nor would they have commercial insurance.

Most of the migrant workers coming into the city to work can be seen everywhere. Those who enter the factory generally have no problem.

Those who do odd jobs, who find work wherever they can, for example those who form their own small team for renovations, mostly lack health insurance, let alone commercial insurance because they lack the awareness of need. Many of this group of migrant workers don’t even have a residence permit, so how could they know about health insurance? Even if some do, they often unwillingly save their limited cash unwilling to spend it, confident that misfortune will not befall them.

These small construction teams purely gamble on luck. If nothing happens, everyone’s fine, they earn a bit of money, and return home happily for the New Year.

But once an accident occurs, the contractor will generally pay those who are financially capable and not badly injured.

Some, on their first day at work, barely remembering names, fall and fracture a vertebra, paralyzed in bed, suffering from substantial medical expenses. The boss himself having run out of money, has no choice but to run away.

Having this relief fund for cases of fee evasion and payment arrears means that doctors won’t need to resort to eating instant noodles, and they won’t need to look at the red deficit on the computer every day, stressing and worrying.

Bao Yulou is quite magnanimous, donating thirty million. The crucial point is not the amount, but that he pinpointed the pain point of donation. This shows he put thought into it.

Annual countrywide hospital expenses from fee dodgers amount to around four billion, with Sanbo Hospital reaching four to five million annually, but the civil affairs department only allocates tens of thousands for this cause to Sanbo Hospital, which only suffices for minor expenses.

Essentially all hospitals follow this convention, leaving these expenses for the doctors to cover – deducted from wages and bonuses.

Thanks to Bao Yulou’s donation, the establishment of this fund, regardless of how rascally his son may be, shows sincerity. He is earnest in his apology.

"Looking at his son and wife’s attitude, if they are indeed well-behaved, should we help him with the surgery?" Dean Xia said.

Director Han took over the conversation: "Depends on his behavior. As long as the patient is not violent and our personal safety can be ensured, we doctors are naturally willing to treat them. However, if there is no improvement in the patient’s behavior, we are sorry, they should seek treatment elsewhere. It’s not a matter of life and death." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Dean Xia and Director Han both were too busy to have a proper chat with Yang Ping that day.

Now that they had some free time, Director Han suggested going up to the rooftop of the Twin Towers to enjoy the breeze and have a chat.

Indeed, it suddenly occurred to everyone that they were still in the hospital’s open-air parking lot.

This suggestion was immediately agreed upon by Director Han. The two elders acted like young students, eager to go up to the rooftop for a chat.

Without further ado, the three of them took the elevator directly to the rooftop of the Twin Towers.

The rooftop was a helipad, accessible by elevator.

The air on the rooftop was good. They found a place to sit down and slowly started chatting.

Director Han somehow had a few bottles of Wong Lo Kat in his hand. Everyone got one, and they drank as they chatted.

Dean Xia summarized some recent matters. All were related to Yang Ping. His promotion to the post of Associate Chief Physician seemed to be going smoothly, the procedures were underway and would likely be resolved within the year.

For the Overseas Chinese Foundation, Dean Xia had sent a formal email to the governing board, hoping that the foundation would set up a special research fund unit to serve Yang Ping’s research and accept directed donations for Yang Ping’s research project.

Usually, the board would agree to accept directed donations and establish a unit, as it doesn’t involve any other issues.

For this, Dean Xia had made dozens of trips to the provincial government, persuading the leaders to agree with this approach. Establishing a new fund would be difficult. Since Sanbo Hospital had a close connection to the Southeast Asian Overseas Chinese Foundation, he was familiar with the foundation’s operations and used it to expedite the process, quickly and steadily.

The Sanbo Hospital, after being established by rich Overseas Chinese businessmen from Southeast Asia, in order to maintain its steady development, set up a foundation to provide continuous support for doctors’ education, equipment purchases, and infrastructure.

Therefore, the chances of successfully setting up a research fund group are quite high.

Once it’s established, they can announce it to the public and accept directed donations. How much money they can receive depends on Yang Ping’s capabilities.

This kind of directed donation depends on Yang Ping’s attractiveness. As long as people were willing to fund the cause, nobody could stop them.

As for establishing the Surgical Research Institute, it’s an internal hospital matter. All they have to do is hold a meeting to discuss it. There’s no suspense about its establishment.

The things Dean Xia had noted down back then were now being systematically implemented.

"Yang, if there’s anything else you need us to do, let us know. We might be old, and our thinking might not keep up with you youngsters, but we can handle logistics for you. After all, experience matters," said Director Han, telling Yang Ping to be free with his requests.

Dean Xia remembered another thing: "Yang, I will set up an office for your Surgical Research Institute. This will be a special office, which will handle everything outside of your technical domain - logistics, public relations, legal affairs, clerical work, and more. For instance, even if you scratch a car while driving, a single call from you will send someone from the office to pick you up and handle the aftermath. If there are any legal disputes, a lawyer will work with the hospital’s legal department to resolve them. This office is your logistical support, allowing you to focus solely on research, surgeries, and patient care."

"Furthermore, the security department will establish a dedicated security team for your Surgical Research Institute’s operations."

Dean Xia had thought of everything, and there were many things Yang Ping didn’t even consider. Without today’s conversation, he would have remained clueless.

"If there is anything that needs arranging at home, feel free to say. Don’t be polite, like arranging for relatives to work at the hospital, or helping them set up a shop nearby. Just mention it without hesitating. I have set a special ringtone for your calls on my phone. You should work happily and wholeheartedly here," said Dean Xia, as he took all the minor details into account.

With such a work attitude, it’s no wonder that he is both a national model worker and among the top hundred deans in the country. He even received an award at the People’s Hall.

"We are here to take care of all your needs. Don’t feel pressured. Do not feel the urge to produce results quickly. Let it happen naturally and go at your own pace," Director Han warned Yang Ping, afraid he would feel pressured.

"Right! Go at your own pace," Dean Xia agreed.

"What was that famous quote from an Italian poet?"

"Follow your path---"

"Right, that’s the one."

"Shall we get some peanuts and beer up here?" Dean Xia seemed energetic.

Director Han said, "Why not get some?"

"Let’s go for it---I’m in a good mood today!" Dean Xia picked up his phone, but put it back again.

"You both rest up here, and I will go get it." Yang Ping didn’t want to dampen their moods.

"Young people should naturally move around more. We’ll rest here, let him go. Get us chilled beer," Director Han directed Yang Ping.

"Should we invite Old Zhang to join us?"

"No need, his wife keeps a close eye on him."