Doctor: Picking Up Attributes in the Hospital-Chapter 407 - 355: Officially Becoming Deputy Director (Part 2)
A twenty-five-year-old deputy director, especially in a top-tier national hospital like Eastern Hospital, is truly groundbreaking.
So now, many people are watching Zhao Heng.
Among them, Liu Meng, as a member of Zhao Heng’s ward, is particularly concerned about this matter. Even before the official appointment, Liu Meng has already started calling Zhao Heng "Director."
"I’m going out for a while; call me if there’s anything."
Zhao Heng pondered for a moment before saying.
He thought for a while; lately, there had been no medical disputes in the ward, so the Medical Department calling him probably had to do with the appointment as deputy director.
Although it took just over two months from being a surgical instrument assistant to reaching the deputy director position, Zhao Heng’s current level made him more than qualified for the role.
Before long, Zhao Heng arrived at the Medical Department. As soon as he entered, the Head of the Medical Department, Liu Xuedong, stood up with a smile, greeting him warmly.
In Liu Xuedong’s view, Zhao Heng’s future seemed limitless. Becoming a deputy director in his twenties, with a well-connected mentor like Gao Jun, gave him a strong likelihood of eventually becoming a director, vice president, or even president of the hospital.
"Director Liu."
Zhao Heng greeted him.
"Little Zhao, no, I should now call you Deputy Director Zhao."
Liu Xuedong said with a smile.
Zhao Heng was a bit bewildered by Liu Xuedong’s sudden enthusiasm, but he quickly realized it was likely due to his appointment as deputy director being finalized.
It was apparent that his mentor Gao Jun had helped immensely. Although Zhao Heng’s own achievements and skills already made him well-suited for deputy director, Gao Jun had done a lot to expedite his appointment.
"Have a seat, have a seat, come, have some tea."
Liu Xuedong made Zhao Heng a cup of tea, and they sat on the sofa together.
Within Eastern Hospital, the Head of the Medical Department, like Liu Xuedong, wielded far more power than the average person might imagine. Most doctors and nurses felt uneasy when they saw him, given that the Medical Department managed their performance, bonuses, and professional title evaluations, among other things.
"Director Liu, has the appointment been finalized?"
Zhao Heng took a sip of tea and asked.
Although he had anticipated this moment, when it actually happened, it still felt somewhat surreal to Zhao Heng.
"We just received the notice from the hospital committee; the appointment has been finalized. Next, we just need to complete the formalities."
Liu Xuedong said, beaming with a smile.
"At your age, becoming a department leader, Deputy Director Zhao, you are the first. Congratulations."
Pausing, Liu Xuedong added.
His feelings were a mix of congratulations and envy.
When he was Zhao Heng’s age, he was still running errands behind senior doctors.
"You flatter me, Director Liu. I am still young and have much to learn."
Zhao Heng said with great humility.
Becoming a deputy director at the age of twenty-five was already quite conspicuous, so Zhao Heng knew he needed to be discreet.
"Deputy Director Zhao, in our hospital, deputy directors automatically join the hospital committee as reserve members. The monthly committee meeting is tomorrow morning, and you must remember to attend."
Liu Xuedong reminded Zhao Heng.
Becoming a deputy director was, of course, more than just a matter of joining the hospital committee as a reserve member.
Simply put, at the deputy director level, one is part of the hospital management.
Ordinary doctors work day and night shifts, admit patients, and write medical records, which are not required of a deputy director.
Though deputies need to be on-call, most of the work is delegated to junior doctors, while deputies mostly oversee and handle complex cases juniors cannot solve.
Moreover, performance and bonus factors significantly exceed those of junior doctors.
For instance, a department deputy director at Eastern Hospital earns at least more than one million annually, which includes salary, bonuses, and other income sources.
For example, given Zhao Heng’s current medical proficiency, a remote consultation charges at least three thousand as a base fee, which is on the low end.
Most critically, this position grants a certain level of authority within the hospital; apart from major figures like directors and the president, no one else could easily dictate his actions.
"The committee meeting? Is it optional?"
Initially, Zhao Heng was quite pleased to become deputy director, but upon hearing about a meeting the next day, it gave him a headache, as he was extremely busy and had no time to waste on meetings.
Even in the department’s morning meetings, he usually wrapped them up within fifteen minutes.
"Generally, when newly appointed as a deputy director, showing up at the committee meeting is expected."
Liu Xuedong replied.
He understood that young people like Zhao Heng dislike meetings the most.
"I understand, Director Liu."
Zhao Heng nodded, thinking that just showing his face wasn’t a big issue.
Afterward, Liu Xuedong explained several follow-up processes to Zhao Heng, including a hiring procedure within the hospital.
Leaving the Medical Department, Zhao Heng still felt a bit excited.
Having a deputy director title at Eastern Hospital is basically reaching expert level within the industry. It usually takes others at least twenty to thirty years to reach this level, so in a way, Zhao Heng had leapfrogged.
Returning to the ward, as soon as Zhao Heng came in, Liu Meng eagerly asked, "Is the appointment official now?"
"Yes."
Zhao Heng nodded.
He couldn’t quite understand why Liu Meng was so invested in his becoming deputy director; maybe it was because Liu Meng thought once he assumed the position, it would also elevate her to an attending physician.
For Liu Meng, who had struggled in the emergency department for years, it indeed mattered a lot.
"We’ll have to start calling you Director Zhao from now on."
Liu Meng said with a smile.
A director like Liu Xuedong would, in formal occasions, naturally use Zhao Heng’s official title. However, in informal settings, especially within the ward, calling him Director Zhao was acceptable.
Adding "Deputy" always sounded a bit awkward.
With Zhao Heng’s appointment as deputy director, Liu Meng, Li Yang, and Tian Zhen were naturally delighted. But it also signified that this ward would soon need more staff.
This was also one of the topics discussed between Liu Xuedong and Zhao Heng earlier. Currently, the ward had only four doctors, including Zhao Heng, which was too few.
At least three more formal doctors would be needed to adequately staff the ward.
Moreover, doctors like resident Liu Meng would later have fellows and interns assigned to her.
And for attending physician Li Yang, even more residents, fellows, and interns would be assigned to him.
Including Zhao Heng, the ward would need at least seven doctors; with each doctor managing at least two trainees, the entire ward, including nurses, would require at least thirty people.
Of course, this represents the standard staffing for a ward at Eastern Hospital. Previously, as the ward was newly established, they couldn’t accommodate fellowships and interns, so Zhao Heng hadn’t brought them in yet.
Now with Zhao Heng officially becoming the deputy director, this staffing would be thoroughly implemented.
Take nurses, for instance; at least five or six more would need to be brought in.
Moreover, as mentioned by Liu Xuedong earlier, the hospital would subsequently allocate another twenty or thirty beds to Zhao Heng, bringing the total to forty or fifty. Managing so many patients naturally required such a scale of staffing.
"I’ll host a gathering tonight; let’s all get together."
Zhao Heng smiled and said.
The people currently in the ward were considered the founding core team. With him formally stepping into the deputy director role, the ward was poised for a period of rapid expansion.
