Practicing Medical Skills in a Small Clinic-Chapter 60: Master Level Respiratory Internal Medicine Diagnosis
No matter what it is, the first time always holds greater value and significance.
When buying clothes, people always want new ones. Cars, houses, wives—if people have the means, they want the first-hand experience.
Rescuing a heart attack patient for the first time is intensely stressful, a matter of life and death.
Just now, rescuing Boss Zhao seemed much more poised and calm.
Saving a life grants a reward of 50 life points, which made Li Jingsheng feel very satisfied.
Looking at the 272 life points balance, Li Jingsheng again felt like a ’nouveau riche.’ 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
He’s about to start spending lavishly again.
Without hesitation, he directly added 121 life points to his level experience.
Level: Senior Resident Physician 500.9/1000.
The feeling of advancing to a Senior Resident Physician is truly exhilarating!
From head to toe, it feels like being immersed in a hot spring.
Just two words, incredibly comfortable.
The level he had been yearning for was finally upgraded to Senior Resident Physician.
Now, he’s no longer the ’rookie’ junior resident physician.
If you are an undergraduate medical student, it usually takes three years of formal practice to become a Senior Resident Physician.
Li Jingsheng was a bit unfortunate; his title automatically upgraded to Senior Resident Physician long ago, but his actual skill level was still at the junior resident physician level.
Such a phenomenon of clinical skill and title mismatch exists in major hospitals.
This is because the current title evaluation for doctors still follows a four-only principle.
Only degree, only papers, only awards, only research projects, and ’titles.’
For senior titles, no matter how poor your surgical skills are or how low your clinical practice level is, as long as your degree, papers, and research projects meet the standards, and you have enough work experience, you can basically get it.
On the other hand, those capable doctors may struggle because they are too busy treating patients and diagnosing to find time for research or writing papers.
Eventually, they might retire as just an attending physician.
The country is now aware of this issue and is beginning to break the four-only principle, but it will take time.
"Spending over a hundred life points to upgrade the level, it was worth it! At least it’s no longer an empty title."
He carefully felt the changes after the upgrade, noticing that his clinical thinking seemed more enriched and flexible, and his comprehensive grasp of various medical theories had reached a new level.
It felt as if the level was like a Martial Artist’s Inner Strength.
Invisible and intangible, yet it determines whether a punch is just fancy footwork or a forceful blow.
The foundation determines the height of growth.
Building a house, the more solid the foundation, the higher the floors can be.
Now having the level of a Senior Resident Physician, no doubt there will be new changes in diagnosis, medication, treatment, and rescue in clinical practice. Even writing papers and conducting research will benefit.
Upgrading a level is expensive, but it’s particularly worthwhile.
"Now I can finally upgrade my pulmonary diagnostic skills to the next proficiency level."
Li Jingsheng has been eagerly waiting for this moment.
Without any hesitation, he gladly spent 1 life point to upgrade his pulmonary diagnostic skills.
A familiar warm current surged throughout his body, making him extremely comfortable.
Diagnosis: Pulmonary Medicine Master Level 100.9/500.
Entry Level roughly corresponds to the level of a standardized training physician or junior resident physician.
Proficient Level is equivalent to a Senior Resident Physician level.
Master Level is already at a junior Attending Physician level.
Internal medicine diagnosis is the most challenging; every rank requires years of diligent study of medical textbooks, rigorous research into various cases encountered, and repeated analysis of a patient’s condition and medical history.
It is essential to frequently learn from senior doctors with higher skill levels.
Especially doctors at or above the rank of associate chief physician, whose clinical diagnostic thinking can greatly inspire younger doctors.
Because skill improvement is so difficult, at slightly larger hospitals, the doctors sitting in clinics are at least Attending level.
Li Jingsheng’s current title is Senior Resident Physician, and his doctor level has reached this grade, yet his pulmonary diagnostic skills have already achieved a junior Attending level.
This means he is already able to attend solo clinics in major hospitals.
A small clinic with such a highly skilled young doctor will soon bring patients continuous pleasant surprises.
"Oh, this small clinic is good; it cured my persistent cough."
"Damn, those doctors at that hospital really don’t know what they’re doing? They charged me over seven hundred bucks for tests and treated me over two thousand, yet the illness kept recurring. Then I came to Sunshine Clinic, and Dr. Li cured me for less than two hundred bucks."
...
This is no exaggeration.
The Attending level pulmonary diagnostic skill is already a top-ranking existence in a slightly larger community health service center.
After upgrading the Pulmonary Medicine diagnosis, Li Jingsheng had 150 life points left.
This time, he cautiously saved them for unexpected needs.
After experiencing the skill upgrade restrictions due to doctor level last time, he felt it was prudent to save at least 1000 life points.
With that many life points, unless faced with particularly challenging cases, temporarily upgrading one or two medical skills should be sufficient.
Now it was nearly three in the afternoon, and customers were gradually entering his small clinic to buy medicine or seek consultations.
With the Attending Level Pulmonary Medicine diagnostic skills, Li Jingsheng found it noticeably easier to treat patients with various coughs, colds, and fevers.
He could now diagnose more intuitively and efficiently by analyzing the patient’s sputum, listening to lung and heart sounds, and combining the four main physical signs and patient history.
Compared to the anxiety of diagnosing cold and cough patients in the past, he now felt like he was using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
Most patients visiting the small clinic had minor ailments.
There was no challenge at all.
He felt it was a bit unsatisfying.
The newly upgraded Master Level Pulmonary Medicine diagnosis was already capable of tackling more complex respiratory diseases.
"It’s so hard for a small clinic to encounter a challenging respiratory disease patient! God, please send me a patient with a higher difficulty respiratory disease! Let me experience just how powerful the Master Level Pulmonary Medicine diagnosis really is!"
Li Jingsheng prayed silently.
He was actually just bored.
Patients were easily dealt with; he sold a couple of boxes of medicine to send them off or administered some injections.
There was no challenge at all.
At nearly four-thirty, he was still waiting for a challenging patient, but instead, he received a call from Best Medicine Company in Shanghai.
"Boss Li, congratulations! With Manager Hu’s efforts, the headquarters finally approved your account. To be honest, even larger private hospitals don’t get this treatment so quickly."
Qiu Shaofeng brought him big news.
"That’s great! Thank you, Manager Hu, and thank you all!" Li Jingsheng felt a great relief hearing the account was successfully opened.
Now, he wouldn’t have to beg and plead with anyone.
"No need to thank me. If you really want to express gratitude, you can thank Manager Hu in person next time. He likely sought out the deputy director at headquarters to get your account opened before five in the afternoon."
Qiu Shaofeng emphasized Manager Hu’s efforts twice, showing his knack for interpersonal skills.
This word would surely reach Manager Hu’s ears and make him feel appreciated.
"By the way, it’s almost five in the afternoon. Let’s quickly talk about placing the order for the drugs! I’ve already helped you submit the procurement list, starting from the lowest tier. Don’t mind; this is how all our clients operate. By the end of the month, headquarters will do an accounting. If your last month’s order volume reaches 300,000, they’ll settle at the third-tier pricing, and the funds will be directly credited as rebates to your account with us, which can be used to offset future payments."
Such techniques definitely come from a sales background.
This tactic kept clients tightly bound.
"I’ve sent you the quote, and you can check it immediately. If everything is fine, please try to transfer the funds to the company account before five. Then, I’ll push the headquarters to handle the rest for you."
Qiu Shaofeng continued.
"Okay, thank you, President Qiu! I’ll check the quote right away."
After ending the call, Li Jingsheng eagerly opened his email and saw the quote.
The total was 27,580 yuan.
About 2,000 yuan lower than he had budgeted.
Brother Qiu was right. If he got this batch from Litong Pharmaceutical Company, it would not only be over 2,000 yuan more expensive, but the quality wouldn’t be guaranteed either.
The first time he ordered, President Tian took advantage of his inexperience and gave him many medications with only about six months of shelf life left.
Best Medicine made everything clear in their contract.
They aimed to offer clients the best cooperative experience on all fronts.
After confirming everything was correct, Li Jingsheng transferred the payment.
"President Qiu, the transfer is complete. Please check it."
"Alright, thank you for your support!"
Qiu Shaofeng replied almost instantly.
In less than five minutes, he sent over a screenshot.
"The company’s accounting review has been submitted, and the invoice should process before five. Delivery will be arranged to your location."
"Thank you, thank you!"
With that, Li Jingsheng was completely at ease.
Now, he just had to wait for the delivery.
If the goods arrived by tomorrow morning, that would be fantastic.
The new stock was all premium quality, promising a better experience for his customers.
He could almost envision the wealth rolling in.
