The Enhanced Doctor-Chapter 656 Some have neglected the anesthesia department

Liu Banxia was in high spirits, humming to himself. Although his humming sounded out of tune to others, he himself felt quite pleased.

Amidst life's hardships, he had finally seen a glimmer of light. He felt things weren't as difficult as he'd imagined; once he started taking action, there were actually many things he could do.

The surgery this morning had proceeded as expected. The patient's obesity added a certain degree of difficulty to the procedure.

However, overall, it was smooth sailing, a standard procedure for rectal cancer and pelvic exenteration surgeries. He had Liu Yiqing and Su Wenhao assist him, allowing them to get a feel for it.

The medical profession is much like a craft. For those still developing and unpolished, like them, regaining their 'feel' is crucial. Otherwise, they can become rusty and prone to errors during surgery.

DING! Surgery mission completed.

Earned 400 experience points, 200 proficiency points in Suturing Skill, 200 proficiency points in Dressing Change Skill, and 1 Glory Point.

Mission Grade: Flawless. Earned 500 experience points, 200 proficiency points in Suturing Skill, 200 proficiency points in Dressing Change Skill, and 4 Glory Points + 1 additional Point.

Looking at the rewards, his mood became even brighter.

Now, he eagerly anticipated his Suturing and Dressing Change Skills leveling up to five. When combined with his Diagnosis Skill, all the surplus experience could be converted into Glory Points. Wouldn't he become incredibly wealthy then?

"Banxia, you should try to participate in more morning surgeries. This one saved a lot of time, allowing us to have lunch punctually," anesthetist Li Liwei said as they waited for the patient to wake up.

"I'll do my best in the coming period. Apart from my scheduled surgery days, I'll try to be available whenever there's nothing else pressing," said Liu Banxia.

"But this is just temporary. After all, I'm only one person and can't ensure all surgeries are completed this much faster. Everyone's been working hard lately. Any thoughts from your side?"

Li Liwei shook his head with a smile. "The only thought is to hope for fewer unexpected incidents during surgery. Otherwise, who knows how long things could be delayed."

"By the way, has the patient with delayed bleeding from yesterday woken up? Any signs of complications? We assisted in both of his surgeries."

"He's still in the ICU; he should probably be awake by now. It's just unfortunate that he encountered such a thing," Liu Banxia replied.

"Luck is such an important factor. Some people might get beaten up extensively and come out without a scratch, while others might fall once and lose their life."

"It's the same with complications. Even now, many are unpredictable and poorly understood, often just statistical probabilities. True medical progress will be when we can genuinely prevent them."

"Banxia, I don't think our generation will witness such medical miracles. Especially in neurosurgery, the chances of complications are really high," Li Liwei mentioned.

"This isn't like television dramas where, no matter how severe the injuries, patients are up and about, ready for action right after surgery. The more severe the injury, the higher the likelihood of sequelae and complications."

Liu Banxia nodded in agreement. Indeed, compared to other surgical fields, neurosurgery has the highest incidence of complications.

The human brain is truly amazing. Even the slightest pressure can cause permanent damage. Yet, sometimes, even if a foreign object penetrates it, there might be no issues.

Just then, the patient began to stir, and Liu Yiqing hurried over to check on him.

"His vital signs are very good. Let's send him back to the ward," Li Liwei said with a smile after observing for a while.

"Liu Yiqing, Su Wenhao, I'm giving you the task of speaking with the patient's family. Consider it a reward for your performance in this surgery," Liu Banxia said.

"Thank you, Teacher Liu," the two responded in unison.

A successful surgery and the chance to deliver good news to the family—that was a true reward.

"Want to come over to our Anesthesiology Department for a bit?" Li Liwei asked with a grin.

"Sure. We're going for lunch soon anyway, and there's nothing else pressing," Liu Banxia nodded.

This was a small chance to slack off, he thought. Otherwise, back in the main hall, he'd have to get back to work. Even though he performed surgeries quickly, standing for so long was still tiring.

"Yo, Comrade Old Wang, taking it easy today?" Liu Banxia joked upon seeing Wang Lei.

"Well, well, has the sun risen in the west? To what do we owe the honor of President Liu gracing our Anesthesiology Department?" Wang Lei quickly retorted.

"Took some effort, right? I dragged him over as soon as he got off the table. I need to use the restroom; you two chat," Li Liwei said.

"Why the rush?" Liu Banxia asked curiously.

"How can I not rush? This isn't like the inpatient department. If an emergency surgery comes up, we might not even get a chance to use the restroom," Wang Lei replied casually.

"Comrade Old Wang, do you think targeted recruitment and training for the Anesthesiology Department is feasible? Didn't you mention this before?" Liu Banxia asked.

Wang Lei glanced at him and nodded. "At present, I think that's about the only thing that could attract people."

"Anesthesiologists are sought after in any hospital. For experienced ones, I don't think our hospital's recruitment plan holds much appeal."

"Actually, a significant part of the attraction is the job security—the 'iron rice bowl,' so to speak. That's our biggest advantage compared to private hospitals; in other aspects, we really can't compare."

"It takes a very long time to train an anesthesiologist. The interns we have now? Don't expect them to stay. They've already signed contracts with other units. They're only here for intensive, last-minute training."

"That's why I've been thinking: could we apply to the hospital administration to relax the policies for anesthesiologists a bit? Perhaps recruit some undergraduates?"

"True," Liu Banxia said. "Indeed, graduates nowadays, with their combined medical degree and residency certifications, can start working immediately, saving the time of further standardized training. But so few graduate each year. What do we have to compete with other hospitals for?"

"Big cities and large hospitals offer much better conditions than ours. Binhai City is decent, but it's not particularly strong."

"Have you mentioned this to the director yet?" Liu Banxia asked.

Wang Lei shook his head. "Not yet. The director has been quite busy lately, right? He also has to consider the deputy director matter, so I haven't gone to add to his troubles."

"Uh… you've heard about that?" Liu Banxia asked curiously.

Wang Lei rolled his eyes. "We're the Anesthesiology Department! We coordinate with all the surgical departments for their operations. Of course, our channels for news are plentiful."

"Or did you think we just hole up in the operating room, focusing only on anesthesia, oblivious to world affairs? Naive, too naive! Anyway, you have to buy me a pig's trotter for lunch today."

Liu Banxia chuckled. "That's a deal. We definitely need to eat. And yes, I used to go to your place for meals quite often back in the day."

"Good that you remember. Now I have to work hard to get all those meals back from you," Wang Lei said leisurely.

"Actually, I think your idea is pretty good," Liu Banxia said. "The only thing is, from a personnel perspective, it's a long-term commitment. But as a plan for cultivating a reserve team, it's perfectly fine."

Wang Lei nodded. "That's also an important point. But the most critical problem right now is that even Grade A Class Three hospitals are short of anesthesiologists."

"Especially in the last two years, private hospitals have developed rapidly, and they don't pull any punches when poaching staff. Even if some anesthesiologists incur penalties for breaking contracts, the private hospitals are willing to cover those costs."

"Take me, for example. If I felt I couldn't take the stress anymore, or worried I might die from overwork one day, I could find a job at a private hospital with lighter work and better pay anytime."

"It's probably just because I've been at Second Hospital for too long. I'm used to the people and things here, a bit set in my ways, and not keen on struggling in a new environment."

Liu Banxia nodded in agreement.

For an anesthesiologist of Wang Lei's caliber, it wasn't a matter of finding a job, but of choosing one. Especially since anesthesiologists were in short supply at every hospital, it made them even more sought after.

"So, will you help push for this?" Wang Lei asked.

"Even if you discuss it with me, you're the one who needs to bring it up with the director first. The most I can do is offer support from the sidelines," Liu Banxia said with a smile.

"It's not that I'm trying to shirk responsibility. But since I was recruited through an exceptional process myself, if I were to propose this, it might cause others to get the wrong idea."

"I'll definitely support you on this. In my view, as long as someone has the skills, that's what matters. Qualifications and academic background only reflect one's learning to a certain extent; they don't measure a person's true capabilities."

"Old Wang, you and Banxia should go eat first," Li Liwei interjected, walking in from outside. "An emergency intestinal perforation case just came in. I'll handle it."

"Can you handle it?" Wang Lei asked.

"No problem, I'm not too tired today. You have two major surgeries this afternoon, and there's no telling when they'll finish. You should rest up." With that, Li Liwei walked straight out.

"Sigh… with so few anesthesiologists to support so many surgeons, it really is exhausting for you guys," Liu Banxia remarked with emotion.

"Good that you understand," Wang Lei said. "We have so many operating rooms here. Even if you gave me two more anesthesiologists, it would only alleviate the pressure somewhat."

"But who knows who might move on to bigger things in the future, right? So, we still need to prepare. If we wait until we're desperate to find people, it'll definitely be too late."

"Okay," Liu Banxia nodded. "You find an opportunity to mention it to the director, and I'll back you up when I get the chance."

This was a serious matter; Wang Lei wasn't joking. The workload for anesthesiologists was indeed very high, a fact Liu Banxia realized he might have somewhat overlooked in his own work.