Disaster (4)
Knock. Knock. Knock.
When I knocked, I heard a voice telling me to come in.
When Choi Ki-seok entered the office, hospital director Na Sang-cheol was sitting at his desk reading a newspaper.
“Hello, hospital director.”
“What is happening at this hour?”
“I have something urgent to tell you.”
Na Sang-cheol, who read Choi Ki-seok’s expression, put down his glasses and burst into laughter.
“You seem like a hero who sacrifices his life to save the Earth. Could it be that there was a MERS patient in our hospital?”
“yes. That’s right.”
“ha ha ha. The joke was too much…”
Na Sang-cheol could not finish his sentence.
I realized that the atmosphere surrounding Choi Ki-seok was unusual. Since there are so many major cases in thoracic surgery, there are a lot of topics to discuss, but I never would have guessed that the topic would be MERS.
“Sit there.”
Na Sang-cheol and Choi Ki-seok, their faces changed, sat on the sofa facing each other.
“Let me explain in detail what happened this afternoon.”
Choi Ki-seok described in detail the process of discovering infected people, the process of isolating them, the contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and finally, the story of being diagnosed with MERS.
Meanwhile, Na Sang-cheol listened to his story in silence.
Occasionally he let out a sigh as heavy as a rebar, but it did not enter into the explanation.
“You’re going crazy and jumping around. “Thanks to you, now is the time for the hospital to see the light of day.”
“I also feel regretful. However, it is more important to take action to prevent the number of MERS infections from increasing.”
“What does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say?”
“I will speak a little harshly. Shut up and stay still. “They said there would be no additional infections because the confirmed cases were isolated early.”
“That’s better.”
“Hospital director!”
Choi Ki-seok’s voice rose slightly.
The hospital director’s intention behind his words was visible at a glance.
Isn’t this how they are deceiving the countless patients and guardians who visit the hospital?
“I know what you’re trying to say. But please break my stubbornness this time. The control center has a point, right? Your isolation was truly a godsend. “There will be no additional infections.”
“….”
“And take a look at this.”
Na Sang-cheol got up, took the paper on the desk, and handed it to Choi Ki-seok.
Statistics for the past year included outpatient inflow rates and hospital profit details.
“The graph has been rising vertically since you came. Our hospital starts now. “But are you going to throw cold water here?”
“….”
“If it were you, would you want to go to the hospital where there were MERS patients? What will we do with the losses from the ward closure? That means it’s best to follow what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. “Then we will all be happy.”
Na Sang-cheol put his hand on Choi Ki-seok’s shoulder and gave him a deep look, and Choi Ki-seok lowered his head with his mouth shut.
“Hospital director.”
“okay. Have you made up your mind?”
“Even if I die or wake up, I cannot agree with the hospital director’s opinion.”
Na Sang-cheol’s expression distorted, but Choi Ki-seok did not stop talking.
“I don’t think we should harm others for our own personal gain. “Have you ever thought that the additional infections that spread from our hospital could infect your family?”
“….”
“If you only think about yourself, you will be punished one day. “The world is always plus or minus zero.”
“under. “What do you really want?”
“We are broadcasting on the news that there is a confirmed case of MERS at Sewon Hospital and closing the digestive surgery ward.”
“The damage will be severe. “The government may retaliate.”
“I will take 100% responsibility for any damage incurred to the hospital. As the hospital director knows, I have a lot of money. “Mayjo’s stock is at its peak these days.”
Na Sang-cheol laughed for the first time at Choi Ki-seok’s joke.
I forgot about it for a while.
Choi Ki-seok is the majority shareholder of Mayjo Clinic, the best hospital in the United States.
“If the government were to retaliate, it would only be to catch the culprit and reduce the amount when billing for treatment. “You won’t be able to do anything that will put the hospital out of breath.”
“What about the patients?”
“There may be people who stop receiving treatment because of MERS, but they will return over time. Our thoracic surgery and cardiology departments are such attractive places. “If no additional infections appear during these two weeks of incubation, the recovery period will be faster.”
“Phew….”
Na Sang-cheol sighed and looked up at the ceiling. Then, I took the cell phone that I had kept in my robe in my hand.
“It’s burdensome to decide on my own. “I will try to contact hospital director Jo Ji-hwan.”
“If it is more convenient for you, you may do so. Hospital director Cho probably has the same opinion as me anyway.”
“her. Don’t you know what kind of person Hospital Director Cho used to be? “If my old personality comes out, the hospital will be revealed, right?”
“well. Hospital Director Cho has not changed from before to now.”
The call was connected while Choi Ki-seok said something meaningful.
When Na Sang-cheol told the story of what happened at the hospital, Jo Ji-hwan shouted and gave instructions.
The voice was so loud that even Choi Ki-seok could hear it even though he did not switch to speakerphone.
[Open the hospital and close the wards immediately! Change Manager Choi.]
“I understand. Manager Choi.”
“I changed my phone.”
[You did it again this time. Oh my gosh, you’re bringing a MERS patient into our hospital… I don’t think you are a fanta of this world.]
“Do you really mean that the MERS patient appeared because of me?”
[You can’t say absolutely no, right?]
Jo Ji-hwan paused and continued speaking.
[I hope Manager Choi takes the lead in matters related to MERS. Regardless of whether it is the other person, the hospital director, or the government, handle it as you wish without worrying about what others think.]
“….”
[The only thing we have to worry about is the patient.]
“I will keep that in mind.”
Choi Ki-seok talked with Jo Ji-hwan some more and then hung up.
“This is what happens in the end.”
Na Sang-cheol sighed and leaned against the sofa.
Looking at his expression, it seemed like he was secretly expecting Jo Ji-hwan to give instructions to follow the command center’s instructions.
Sewon Hospital’s reputation and popularity are growing like a snowball.
It was not Choi Ki-seok who did not understand his desire to ask about this incident.
There was no other way than to think that I was just unlucky and that heaven had given me a revelation telling me to take a slightly longer route.
“Since Hospital Director Cho has given permission, I will handle all matters related to MERS.”
“Do whatever you want. “I’m tired so I have to get off work first.”
“Let’s go out together.”
After leaving the office, Choi Ki-seok called reporter Park Kwang-soo.
He was a person I had known since I was an intern at Uijin University, and any incident related to Choi Ki-seok was always featured on the front page. In addition, he was regularly publishing columns on improving treatment in thoracic surgery.
“Reporter. It has been a while since we last met.”
[Mr. Choi, no, you are now Manager Choi. I enjoyed your appearance on Schritel. The chemistry with Teacher Jeong exploded?]
“Hahaha. thank you Rather, I want to give you a scoop.”
[It’s a scoop, so I’m really looking forward to it. Have you developed a new surgery?]
“Actually, it’s not good news, it’s bad news. “Currently, three MERS-confirmed patients are being treated in isolation at Sewon Hospital.”
“Ah… MERS.”
Park Gwang-soo sighed at Choi Ki-seok’s words.
* * *
Late that evening.
Breaking news was delivered through public broadcasting news.
It was the first news that additional infections had occurred in addition to the MERS confirmed cases previously announced by the government.
The location where additional infections occurred is Sewon Hospital.
It was shocking that the number of infected people was as many as three, but there was an even bigger shock.
[I was on the phone regarding a confirmed MERS patient, but the head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refused to disclose the hospital. The reason was that revealing the hospital would cause public fear.]
Inside the cathode ray tube, Choi Ki-seok stared at the camera and spoke clearly.
[Then why did Mr. Choi not follow the command center’s instructions?]
[MERS is a feared disease. No cure has yet been found, and infection and mortality rates are high. It’s natural to be afraid. What we really need to fear is not allowing any more infections. For that purpose, we decided to open the hospital to the public.]
[I see. [Let me ask you another question.]
The reporter changed the topic.
[I would like to hear an overall story about patient management and the hospital situation.]
[Currently, the gastrointestinal surgery ward, where an infected person occurred, is being closed. If you look overseas, there are reports that patients in other wards who had no contact with the infected person were also infected with MERS. I, the staff, patients, and their guardians are all suffering together.]
[What is happening to places other than the gastrointestinal surgery ward?]
[All wards are operating normally, but outpatient treatment is scheduled to be temporarily suspended starting tomorrow. The period is estimated to be approximately 2 weeks, which is the incubation period of MERS.]
[I think the hospital will suffer significant losses. Do you have any preparations for that?]
[You don’t have to worry about that.]
[Finally, please say a word to those who are watching the news.]
[Prevention is more important than treatment. I hope that everyone will focus on their hygiene and health and that we will all be able to get through this time safely together.] [
This concludes the interview with Choi Ki-seok, Chief of the Thoracic Surgery Department at Sewon Hospital.]
Other MERS news followed immediately after the breaking news.
* * *
Not long after MERS landed in Korea.
The power of MERS continued to grow. Among them, what played the most decisive role was the fact that a confirmed case of MERS was discovered at Samjung Seoul Hospital.
Samjeong Seoul Hospital.
This is a university hospital ranked among the top five in the country. There were as many as 10,000 people visiting for treatment each day, and the number of hospitalized patients was also enormous.
Since a confirmed case of MERS occurred in a place like this, the aftermath was needless to say.
As a result, the government sent an epidemiological team to Samjung Seoul Hospital and confirmed that the fifth confirmed patient was infected with MERS at the hospital where the first confirmed patient was admitted.
[Why on earth did the government not disclose the hospital where the first infected person occurred?]
[What is the reason for the delayed response?]
[Disclosure of the hospital is now necessary.]
Despite being criticized by public opinion and the public, the government still refuses to disclose the hospital. did.
As MERS patients spread uncontrollably based on Samjung Seoul Hospital, Choi Ki-seok’s courageous disclosure of the hospital received new attention.
It was about the positive effects of information disclosure.
If it is revealed that the hospital has MERS patients, people will naturally avoid going to that hospital. As a result, the MERS infection rate naturally decreases.
After Choi Ki-seok’s bold decision, several hospitals additionally revealed that they had MERS outbreaks, and the government eventually raised the white flag.
The public list of hospitals was announced through a formal briefing.
Time has passed and ten days have passed since the first MERS confirmed case appeared.
The number of MERS infected people increased to 30, and deaths began to appear.
The horror is not over yet.
