Chapter 7
Meanwhile, Daeho’s expression remained calm and composed.
Vice Director Han Seunghoon looked at the photo on his phone again with a satisfied smile and added,
“This is Chogok-ri village, and this was when he was a public health doctor. We met as if by fate. No, we were destined to meet.”
“……”
“By the way, what’s Dr. Choi up to these days…”
Han Seunghoon asked unexpectedly.
Daeho was lost in thought for a moment.
He almost answered carelessly but stopped just in time.
“Abandoning family… doing unpaid medical work in Africa…”
Coincidentally, Han Seunghoon was still absorbed in the photo.
He suddenly looked up and asked Daeho,
“Richard, what did you say?”
“Nothing, just talking to myself.”
“Ah, I see. Well, let’s leave today’s conversation at that.”
With the conversation stalled, the atmosphere naturally began to disperse.
Daeho spoke up.
“Vice Director.”
“Yes?”
“You know that if I get called from Johns Hopkins, I’ll go, right?”
“Of course. We agreed on that beforehand.”
Han Seunghoon smiled warmly.
Daeho bowed politely.
“Thank you for your kind words today.”
“Actually, visiting doctors usually just observe, but this time I persuaded the Ministry of Health and the Medical Association so you can actually perform treatment.”
“Thank you for your effort.”
“No, no. Let’s get along well from now on.”
“Of course.”
Daeho said goodbye and left the vice director’s office.
His expression wasn’t very bright as he headed to the elevator.
“How does he even know someone here?”
The reason Daeho chose Chunghyo Hospital among many Korean hospitals was simple.
Yet, Vice Director Han Seunghoon turned out to be a hidden challenge.
Daeho stopped in front of the elevator with unwavering eyes and repeated to himself,
‘I will follow my own path.’
Ding!
The elevator arrived, the doors opened, and Daeho stepped in confidently.
Emergency Medical Center
The back door of the emergency room opened, and Daeho stepped inside.
“Oh dear, I’m dying here! Hey!”
“Look at this place! People have been waiting forever, and all they say is wait!”
Patients and guardians shouted everywhere.
The medical staff didn’t ignore them.
They quickly ran to patients who were in pain.
“Where is it? What’s hurting?”
“Dr. Kim, check the CT schedule, and scan this patient first as an emergency.”
“Nurse Park, neurosurgery call, hurry!”
Clatter, patter.
The staff rushed around, trying to relieve patients’ pain.
Daeho stood on the side, observing.
“The emergency room has several zones… that area is…”
Since he would be working here from tomorrow, he wanted to take his time and look around.
But the more he observed, the more serious his expression became.
No, it was darkening.
In a short time, he noticed some problems.
‘This isn’t right.’
The emergency treatment system lacked structure.
Current emergency care focused only on pain relief and basic tests.
The staff were too busy shouting and running around.
It was a complete waste of time.
Daeho shook his head.
‘I can’t judge from one side.’
It was too early to make assumptions.
Soon, Daeho reached the nurse’s station.
It was a large space, filled with monitors, matching the size of the ER.
About ten nurses were busy, probably during shift change.
“Dr. Jo, did you prepare the meds?”
“Nurse Park, the CBC test is out.”
“Yes, Chunghyo University Hospital ER. Transport? One moment…”
They all seemed absorbed in their own work.
Daeho glanced inside the nurse’s station.
“Charts are here, tablets next to them, meds in the back… okay.”
He was trying to figure out the station’s layout.
Then, a nurse approached with an annoyed expression.
“Excuse me, you can’t be looking in here like that!”
“Oh, sorry. I was just curious.”
“Ha… are you a guardian again? What’s the patient’s name?”
The nurse asked abruptly, looking tired and slightly irritated, her long hair dull and frizzy.
Daeho noticed her ID card around her neck.
Nurse Lee Suyeon
He quickly took out his own staff card and showed it.
Swish.
“Oh? Ah! Dr. Richard, are you… the doctor coming from the U.S.?”
