The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 186

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 186

 

“What? You want me to focus on pediatric patients?”

 

Even though she had successfully placed 20 acupuncture needles on a child who was crying loudly when entering the clinic.

 

Seon Nayeon asked back with a face that showed she had never even thought about it.

 

“Have you never considered it even once?”

 

Honestly, the fact that she was surprised was more surprising to me.

 

With the ability to instantly calm a child that even the mother couldn’t control?

 

“We don’t really have many pediatric patients at our Oriental Medicine Clinic. Although it’s been less than 6 months since we opened, we’ve only had 2 pediatric growth patients.”

 

Seon Nayeon tapped her face with her finger, looking troubled.

 

But my thoughts were different.

 

“Are growth patients the only pediatric patients? There are also musculoskeletal patients like just now, and various conditions like rhinitis, loss of appetite, atopic dermatitis, etc.”

 

“Hmm… Aren’t those conditions each specialized fields rather than pediatrics?”

 

“Of course, but pediatrics isn’t a specialized department for nothing. And whether it’s conditions or pediatric characteristics, the knowledge part can be learned through study. Doctor Seon, you have a much more amazing advantage than that.”

 

“Me?”

 

She tilted her head.

 

“Children listen to you, Doctor. The ability to make them receive acupuncture and take medicine is irreplaceable.”

 

Of course, the typical role of a doctor is diagnosis and treatment.

 

But from a guardian’s perspective, persuading a child to come to the hospital and explaining symptoms is just the tip of the iceberg.

 

Especially when herbal medicine needs to be taken long-term, they have to battle with a child who doesn’t want medicine morning and evening for an entire month.

 

Even after initially deciding to give medicine for 6 months, they get exhausted and give up.

 

“Is that so?”

 

Seon Nayeon still had a face that said she didn’t quite understand.

 

“But it’s not like I have some special know-how that makes kids listen well. Of course, my son has only listened to me since he was little, but that’s because I’m his mother… Oh, come to think of it, my son’s friends would throw tantrums in front of their own parents but immediately listen when I told them not to do something.”

 

“That’s talent.”

 

I said firmly.

 

If doing something easily that others find difficult isn’t natural talent, then what is?

 

“Maintaining adult authority while having intimacy with children is absolutely not easy. You either get looked down upon or end up scaring them.”

 

“…Now that you mention it, that’s true. Whether it’s mothers’ gatherings or guardians like just now, I wondered why they were like that, either yelling and scolding or being dragged around by their children. I guess it was strangely easy only for me.”

 

There are people who read dozens of parenting books and struggle with children for years but still can’t do it well, while there are people like this who instinctively form relationships well.

 

“You don’t dislike children, do you?”

 

“Of course not! I love them so much! They’re cute just to look at, and they listen well too!”

 

Even if she had talent but disliked them, it would have been disappointing, but since she even likes them, the direction became clear.

 

I could somewhat picture how to restructure the Oriental Medicine Clinic.

 

“You’ll sign the contract, right? Let’s stamp it and continue our discussion.”

 

“Oh, of course. I made up my mind from the beginning!”

 

Convinced by my words, Seon Nayeon stamped without hesitation.

 

I too had planned to proceed with the contract if she had passion after meeting her in person.

 

Whether the doctor is interested and tries their best to treat patients. Sincerity always reaches patients.

 

It’s impossible to draw out motivation from someone who lies down saying “go ahead and try to teach me,” but technical and experiential analysis can be filled in.

 

Trends and such, I was confused at first too but I followed along!

 

After finishing the treatment observation and sending the staff home.

 

I remained with Seon Nayeon and began a full-scale meeting.

 

“Should we advertise in local cafes to increase pediatric patients?”

 

“No. Let’s start with in-clinic advertising and blogs. Advertising in places that aren’t your own space costs a lot of money and has risks.”

 

“Ah, in-clinic advertising.”

 

“Our network has a designer we always work with. I’ll help you plan the content together.”

 

“Thank you!”

 

This was a designer we’d been outsourcing to since Chu Miyoung started running Instagram, and we often commissioned in-clinic advertising posters when promoting new treatment areas.

 

“That’s so great. It puts my mind at ease. I have no sense for interior design, so I’ve been using what the previous director set up.”

 

For that, it’s quite excellent though?

 

Compared to the Korean Medicine Doctor who transferred it to me, this was really decent.

 

Of course, the key money amount was incomparable.

 

“People who come for other treatments often see the in-clinic ads and ask things like ‘would this treatment be good for my child?’ Then you just need to consult them thoroughly and treat the child well when they actually bring them. As cases gradually accumulate, people will naturally appear who write posts in local cafes without you asking.”

 

It’s not deliberately doing reputation management or viral marketing, but if you treat patients earnestly every moment, promotion happens naturally.

 

You connect with patients who have the tendency to share good things rather than keeping them to themselves.

 

Although we haven’t done any local cafe promotion, Our Oriental Medicine Clinic is mentioned quite often, and while more than half recommend me, Hwang Sanghun and Lee Ahreum’s names also come up frequently.

 

“I understand. I’ll trust and follow you. We’ll handle advertising that way, but for pharmacopuncture and chuna techniques…”

 

Right, that’s the problem.

 

Other things like studying or advertising can be done remotely without any problem, but there are limits to teaching hands-on techniques.

 

“Since you’ve already opened your practice, it won’t be easy to make time, but let’s do our best. Until things are somewhat set up, let’s meet every weekend for a while.”

 

“Really? Doctor Han will personally oversee it?”

 

Seon Nayeon was surprised again.

 

“Of course?”

 

If she were from another branch as a vice director, I’d leave it to that director, but is there another way in this case?

 

Having a separate education committee? Hmm… it’s not that scale. Even teaching directly doesn’t achieve 100% transmission, and if it goes through another person, there will definitely be mutually disappointing parts.

 

Actually, efficiency aside, I find it quite enjoyable to observe and consult directly like this, so I don’t really want to hand it over to someone else.

 

“I’ll come to Gwangju every Sunday for a while, so please make time for me.”

 

“I’ll go to Busan every weekend!”

 

Seon Nayeon shouted at the same time I spoke.

 

“The decoction room setup is all done anyway and I’m free these days. I’ll come.”

 

“What are you saying? Of course I should come visit you! How can I make you come and go?”

 

Hmm, is that so?

 

I’d been used to house calls since my days tutoring college students, so I hadn’t thought about it that way.

 

“Then let’s take turns going back and forth depending on the situation and our energy levels. First, next week, Director, please come to Busan for the observation.”

 

Since it didn’t really matter to me, I stopped the argument at a reasonable point.

 

“Yes, I’ll leave early in the morning. Please take good care of me!”

 

“Let’s make it work well. Fighting.”

 

Wouldn’t she get tired after going back and forth a few times anyway?

 

‘It’s really farther than I thought.’

 

As soon as I returned to Busan, that thought became much stronger.

 

I had to drive round trip since taking the train would require stopping by Daejeon…

 

‘Aaaagh!’

 

I had countless urges to abandon my car on the highway and fly up using lightness skills.

 

* * *

 

But contrary to my concerns, Seon Nayeon traveled back and forth to Busan without a single complaint about it being difficult.

 

Though she was probably saying it to reassure me, she even added that she enjoyed having alone time while traveling such a long distance.

 

“I have a family, so I should do at least this much. My husband commutes 3 hours round trip every day, you know? I also used to go back and forth to Seoul every time I attended lectures.”

 

From what I heard, her husband had apparently opened his practice quite far from downtown Gwangju.

 

Hoping his wife wouldn’t have a difficult commute, he had paid expensive deposits and key money, but things got unexpectedly complicated and she ended up having to travel long distances for a while.

 

“Come on, let’s work hard today too. There’s always a period of hardship before sprouting, isn’t there?”

 

“I think so too.”

 

Since she always had bright, sparkling eyes, Lee Ahreum and Hwang Sanghun also wanted to help her as much as possible.

 

Lee Ahreum in particular became friends with Seon Nayeon instantly.

 

“Director Seon, I really respect you!”

 

“Oh, no! It’s not that amazing…”

 

“I’m secretly scared when pediatric patients come in. Children find treatment burdensome, and guardians are always evaluating with their eyes since they want to provide the best treatment.”

 

“Ah, there’s no bad intention. I understand a little better because I’ve been in that position before.”

 

Lee Ahreum taught pharmacopuncture separately when I was busy, while conversely trying to learn pediatric treatment know-how from Seon Nayeon.

 

“I want to contribute something too, but I have no talent for teaching.”

 

Of course, it wasn’t easy.

 

There’s no need for that right now anyway!

 

She’ll pay the network membership fee once her income stabilizes, so why does she keep trying to do things for us?

 

“For now, just comfortably receive help, and gradually participate in study presentations and manual improvements too.”

 

“Yes! I’ve already seen some pediatric rhinitis patients while putting up clinic advertisements. I’ll try presenting once I build up cases!”

 

Her enthusiasm was overflowing, making me excited too.

 

“Director, you’re doing so well.”

 

“Now we don’t have to worry about thrust either.”

 

“Could I ask for lumbar pharmacopuncture just once?”

 

“Of course, Dr. Hwang!”

 

Perhaps thanks to the directors at our Oriental Medicine Clinic praising her every time she came, her confidence grew day by day.

 

Seon Nayeon really worked hard.

 

She recorded all her initial consultations herself, and sometimes sent me transcripts of treatments she felt were lacking after work.

 

I, as well as directors from other network branches, participated in feedback and admired her passion.

 

– You’re amazing. I’m realizing how complacent I’ve become.

 

– What are you saying, Director Chu. It’s thanks to your help with the blog that I can do this!

 

– We should also work hard while remembering our initial intentions.

 

Chu Miyoung and Jeon Minji were also greatly impressed.

 

– I’m doing this because my business is struggling, so it’s natural. What’s more amazing is how you all step up for someone else’s affairs. For me, meeting Dr. Han and all of you is truly an incredible opportunity!

 

Yu Gyeonghun spoke with a slightly moved expression.

 

– That’s right. Meeting Dr. Han is an incredible opportunity for us too. No, the expression ‘fateful encounter’ would be more fitting.

 

– Fateful encounter?

 

“…That’s just how it is.”

 

I quickly cut off Yu Gyeonghun’s words.

 

I didn’t want to explain martial arts novel clichés here.

 

– Isn’t Seoul closer than going to Busan? If you want, come observe at our Oriental Medicine Clinic once in a while too.

 

– My goodness, thank you. Professor!

 

Going this far, naturally, Seon Nayeon’s Oriental Medicine Clinic gradually improved.

 

Changes appeared not only in her subjective treatment satisfaction but also in objective indicators like return visit rates and sales.

 

Originally, thanks to the location, initial visits weren’t few, but as referred patients increased, initial visits gradually increased as well.

 

* * *

 

When Seon Nayeon returned from Busan, it was already late Sunday evening.

 

She was inevitably tired, but seeing her husband come out to the foyer to welcome her made her smile naturally.

 

“Honey, did you learn a lot again today?”

 

“Yes. I think I’ve mastered cervical and lumbar acupuncture now. As my confidence grows, I’m finding it more and more enjoyable.”

 

“That’s wonderful. Seeing you work so hard gives me strength too.”

 

“Thank you for saying that. It must have been hard taking care of Jaemin alone, right?”

 

“It’s something I should naturally do. How much did you suffer when I was getting established? Goodness, compared to when he was little and wouldn’t listen and caused all sorts of trouble, helping with elementary school homework is nothing at all.”

 

Her husband was supporting Seon Nayeon so she could focus entirely on her work.

 

Even when the clinic wasn’t doing well, he believed she would surely succeed.

 

Even though she stayed at the clinic every evening these days for additional study and went away every weekend, he never complained once.

 

“Mom, you’re back now? Dad grilled mackerel for us. Eat!”

 

Her son seemed a little dissatisfied, but he had grown enough that they could communicate reasonably well now.

 

As her husband said, they had quite a hard time raising this kid into a proper person.

 

Compared to the days when he would constantly refuse to eat, refuse to go to kindergarten, threaten to run away from home, and lie down in the street demanding they buy him a game console, he was like a perfect gentleman now.

 

“Mom, here’s water!”

 

“Yes, thank you.”

 

Seon Nayeon finished her week with a heart always grateful to her family.

 

And Monday came around again.

 

She went to work at the clinic as always and attended to her patients.

 

As Director Hanyewon had said, the proportion of pediatric patients was increasing quite a bit just through internal advertising, the blog, and referrals.

 

The mother and daughter who visited early this morning were one such case.

 

“My child cries every night and won’t sleep, but I have no idea what the cause is. The other mothers say this place takes such good care of pediatric patients… and the night crying symptoms on your blog seemed somewhat similar to my child’s condition, so I brought her here.”

 

The girl who supposedly cried every night looked perfectly fine on the outside.

 

The child’s mother was beyond exhausted, with fatigue and depression clearly written all over her complexion.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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