Super Doctor - Chapter 140

Director Qu, brimming with excitement, issued his mobilization orders to the team. Though the other two doctors, Wu Yue and Li Yuqing, weren’t present, he was certain they’d be just as thrilled when they heard the news.

For junior doctors, having their names listed as co-authors on a national-level research paper was a career-defining opportunity. Compared to the provincial publications typically required for promotions, this kind of work would guarantee smooth advancement all the way to associate chief physician—maybe even chief physician.

And if they secured a ministry-level (or higher) research grant, every doctor in the emergency internal medicine department would get a share of the credit, giving them a significant edge in future career moves.

As for Director Qu himself? Leading a national-level project would cement his reputation as a top-tier expert in the field. Success here would elevate him from “well-known specialist” to “renowned authority” overnight.

Eager to adjust the patient’s treatment plan, Director Qu turned to Qian Xuebin. “Xiao Qian, is the medical report ready?”

Suppressing his excitement, Qian Xuebin glanced at the nearly completed report and smiled. “Almost done, Director.”

“Good, hurry it up,” Director Qu urged, then paused. “Actually, never mind. Grab a fresh chart—I’ll take over this patient personally. It’s better this way.”

Qian Xuebin froze, his enthusiasm doused like a bucket of ice water. If he remained the primary physician, his name would rank just below Director Qu’s in the eventual study—a major career boost. But if Director Qu took charge? He’d be relegated to the bottom of the credits.

Yet he had no grounds to object. If he had spotted the diagnosis earlier, Director Qu wouldn’t have stepped in. But now, everyone saw the takeover as justified. With so much riding on this case, no one would risk leaving it in less experienced hands.

Swallowing his frustration, Qian Xuebin handed over the patient records.

Director Qu began rewriting the treatment plan, frequently consulting Xu Ze—whose grasp of Guillain-Barré syndrome seemed even deeper than his own. Xu Ze, drawing from his comprehensive knowledge, offered insights that repeatedly surprised Director Qu.

Unconsciously, Director Qu began treating Xu Ze as a peer, discussing therapeutic strategies as equals. The young man’s suggestions were not only logical but often innovative—things Director Qu hadn’t even considered.

This new generation really thinks outside the box, Director Qu marveled. Far more adaptable than us old-timers.

Once the treatment plan was finalized (plasma exchange and immunoglobulin therapy, as standard), Director Qu double-checked the orders—then, to the astonishment of Qian Xuebin and Zhang Qi, handed the chart to Xu Ze. “Anything to add?”

Xu Ze shook his head with a smile. He’d already subtly covered all the key points.

Satisfied, Director Qu sent the orders to the nursing station.

…..

By 1:00 PM, the team broke for lunch. Over the meal, Director Qu insisted on treating—though Zhang Qi excused himself afterward to rest before his night shift.

Xu Ze and Director Qu returned by 2:30. Though plasma exchange wouldn’t show immediate results, both kept checking on the patient, hopeful for early signs of improvement.

Meanwhile, Qian Xuebin—still rattled from the morning’s events—found himself swamped. While the morning had seen only one admission handled by Director Qu and Xu Ze, three new patients arrived during lunch alone.

As he struggled with the third patient’s orders, another emergency case arrived. Director Qu, now confident in Xu Ze’s skills, delegated the assessment after a brief glance.

Xu Ze, eager for the experience, took charge. The patient, a man in his thirties, reported worsening abdominal pain and vomiting over several days—now unbearable.

Examining him, Xu Ze noted diffuse tenderness, particularly at McBurney’s point (the classic marker for appendicitis), with rebound tenderness confirming peritoneal irritation.

Textbook appendicitis, he thought, ordering bloodwork and an ultrasound.

Thirty minutes later, the results confirmed his suspicion: elevated white blood cells (15,000, 85% neutrophils) and an ultrasound showing a shadowed area—likely a suppurative appendix requiring surgery.

But then came the snag.

In the ER, surgical cases had to be transferred to the general surgery department. Yet Xu Ze had no idea where that was—or the proper transfer protocol.

Under the family’s increasingly impatient gaze, he had no choice but to seek Director Qu’s help.

The director, researching Guillain-Barré syndrome on the office computer, burst out laughing at Xu Ze’s dilemma.

“Xu Ze, your clinical skills are solid, but how’d you miss this?” he chuckled. “Surgical cases go straight to the ER’s surgical side across the hall! But since you’ve already done the work…”

He scribbled an admission form. “Just give this to the family and have the nurses arrange transfer to General Surgery on the 15th floor.”

Nearby, Zhang Qi and Qian Xuebin stifled laughter. For all his medical prowess, Xu Ze clearly lacked hospital workflow basics.

Where did this little genius even come from? they wondered.

Qian Xuebin, especially, smirked inwardly. If Director Qu keeps giving him free rein, more blunders are inevitable. Maybe next time, it’ll be something truly embarrassing…

Meanwhile, Xu Ze flushed with chagrin.

Back in virtual training, he’d handled everything—stitches, infections, even minor surgeries. At the rural clinic, he’d managed patients start to finish without departmental divisions.

But here, in a major hospital’s rigid structure? His all-in-one approach had just caused a rookie mistake.

Handing the forms to the family, he braced himself for the inevitable gossip among nurses and surgeons:

Guess who just tried to admit a surgical patient to Medicine?