The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 236

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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 236

“Oh, would you really do that for me?”

Even though it was a somewhat presumptuous request, Jang Jungjae looked visibly pleased.

Since he said he had watched our clinic’s YouTube videos several times, he seemed to have faith in me.

“Ooooh~ Consulting?”

Young Master Chungpung whistled.

“Ah! Do I need to pay a consulting fee? How much would it be?”

I had no intention of taking money at all, but because of Young Master Chungpung, Jang Jungjae became quite tense.

I waved my hand dismissively, saying it wasn’t necessary at all.

“No consulting fee. This isn’t a network membership pitch~.”

I was curious and wanted to see it myself, and it could be considered a kind of hobby.

If it were our network’s business, I would give my all until it was established, but this wasn’t that kind of situation.

I just wanted to take a quick look and offer my opinion. Whether he accepted it or not was entirely his choice.

“I happen to be on vacation until tomorrow. If I stop by in the morning before heading down, it would work out perfectly.”

“Whaaaat! Your precious vacation!”

Jang Jungjae was very moved.

“Cheongpung, do you want to come get treatment?”

“Uh, I have to go to work.”

“Will it be too late when you finish?”

“I’ll get treatment from Dr. Kim!”

Young Master Chungpung ran away.

He said his back hurt too, so I thought it would be good for him to see a treatment session.

But it would be troublesome to move around when Kim Chunsik was right in front of his company.

“Let’s talk more about this tomorrow when I visit the clinic.”

“Ah! Right! I have so much to say about this balance patch! What are we supposed to do with melee DPS…!”

“You should have developed the Sichuan Dang Family from the start.”

“Argh! Give back the World’s Greatest Family!”

I decided to visit Jang Jungjae’s clinic alone.

Today, I talked extensively about games with the people who had gathered.

* * *

Indeed, even after talking late into the night, we never ran out of topics.

Time flew by as we discussed everything from new balance patches to each sect’s characteristics and predictions about new raids.

After dropping off Kkyu Kkyu and promising to meet Jang Jungjae tomorrow, I went to Hwangseoyeong’s house.

She had gone on a trip but said I was welcome to use her place.

And the next morning.

“Oh, even the clinic name is classic.”

I arrived at Jang Jungje Korean Medicine Clinic.

I had searched for it on my phone’s navigation and received directions, but there weren’t any particular reviews on the map app.

…There was no parking lot either.

I should never bring a car to Seoul again.

‘Do patients walk here?’

It was a 15-minute walk from the station.

It was in a commercial building, not an apartment complex, and there were many clinics visible right when you got off at the station.

In Seoul, this distance could hardly be considered near a station.

‘Ah, there’s a market.’

Still, it was near a market. Markets are sometimes more important than subway stations when choosing a clinic location.

This is because elderly patients who use the market often visit clinics while they’re in the area.

It wasn’t right in the middle of the market, but just cross the street after coming out.

There was quite a bit of foot traffic nearby too.

Plus, it was on the first floor.

Honestly, the location was much better than our clinic’s.

“Oh my.”

And when I found the place following the map, I could see a newly opened clinic right next door.

Unlike the weathered sign of Jang Jungje Korean Medicine Clinic, this one was sparkling bright.

They had arranged eye-catching primary colors as complementary colors in the design, with “365 Night Clinic” written in large letters.

With this setup, even if someone came looking for Jang Jungje Korean Medicine Clinic using the map, their eyes would be drawn to that place, wouldn’t they?

I clicked my tongue and entered the clinic.

“Wow, you bought figures of every type?”

Various character figures displayed on the cabinet in the waiting room caught my eye.

Not only were there small figures of Jungyeon Online characters that were at yesterday’s pop-up, but also characters from various famous RPG games.

“Ah, yes. I have a collecting hobby. I’ve been collecting since I was young.”

How should I put it, it felt ‘genuine.’

For someone like me who only deals with in-game items made of 0s and 1s, merchandise is a story from a distant world.

“Gasp! Do you think patients might get a bad impression when they come in?”

I had just mentioned it out of curiosity.

But Jang Jungjae, who had been proudly showing them off, got startled again and began worrying by himself.

“No, not at all. There’s nothing bad about it. Let’s observe the treatment first and then talk.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you very much!”

Although it’s a bit unbalanced with the signboard that elderly patients prefer, that alone isn’t enough of a factor to make patients turn away.

I shook my head and entered the examination room.

Fortunately, I brought my gown for volunteer work.

Just like when observing other branches, I asked for permission in the examination room and treatment room to observe patient care.

From 9 AM to 10 AM, a total of 4 patients came during that one hour.

All were over 65 years old.

“Hello there~ How is your back feeling~?”

As expected, Jang Jungjae’s tone was very kind and warm.

“It’s gotten much better. I think it’ll be completely healed if I get just a little more treatment.”

“You had quite a severe strain, but since you’ve been coming regularly, the progress is good~. Let’s try treating it three or four more times~.”

“Three or four more times? Can’t it heal faster? I have to take the bus unless I come when going to the market.”

“Haha. We’re going the right way, so let’s be a little patient and continue treatment.”

His treatment skills were also good.

While there’s no Korean medicine doctor who can’t treat back problems, I could tell from watching him accurately locate and needle the psoas muscle with long needles.

Looking at the records, this was the third treatment.

Even with a severe sprain, if such significant changes were appearing at this stage, the effects were definitely clear.

“You’re really excellent at acupuncture.”

After seeing the four morning patients, we sat in the examination room for a brief conversation.

“Haha, I’m not bad at it. I think I’m at least average.”

“No. Your acupuncture is definitely above average. Top 10%.”

Even though I spoke honestly, Jang Jungjae seemed very embarrassed.

But actually, I hadn’t brought it up to praise him.

“But do you only do acupuncture? It seemed like the patient wanted other treatments too.”

While the speed wasn’t slow compared to the symptoms, the patient could easily feel frustrated.

He had explained well enough, but subjectively it was healing too slowly… she might consider getting injections at an orthopedic clinic.

If it were me, I would have recommended herbal acupuncture.

Since elderly patients often feel burdened by treatment costs, even if you don’t recommend it from the start, it’s usual to bring it up when they request additional treatment, explaining the cost and giving them options.

“Ah, we’re a Saengjim Oriental Medicine Clinic.”

“Huh? You don’t have herbal acupuncture at all?”

There weren’t any notices about herbal acupuncture posted on the clinic walls, but I thought they would at least have it.

I was going to recommend putting up at least one advertisement in the clinic, but they don’t have it at all.

“It’s a bit troublesome to manage. The staff would probably hate extracting herbal acupuncture too…”

“You don’t do Chuna manual therapy either, right?”

“Ah, yes. We haven’t bought the equipment yet… and at my age, it might be physically demanding…”

Hmm.

This isn’t going to be easy.

While they call it ‘Saengjim Oriental Medicine Clinic’ meaning they only do raw acupuncture without Chuna or other specialized treatments, usually even such clinics have at least herbal acupuncture.

They’re really competing with just the basics.

“Oh, a new patient is here.”

Just as I was about to say something about this,

A new patient came in.

“Wow, what a precious new patient. These days, completely new patients are extinct – maybe one or two come per week.”

Jang Jungjae was very pleased and checked his appearance.

One or two new patients per week?

…That’s the level of our clinic’s early opening days, before referral patients accumulated.

“Hello…”

“Hello~ What brings you here today~?”

Jang Jungjae opened his eyes wide, which had only been 2/3 open until just now, and put his whole heart into the treatment.

‘The treatment is kind too, really good.’

Yesterday at the pop-up store, his sleepy eyes were only 1/3 open.

But when a patient was in front of him, he was as enthusiastic as when playing games.

This would be enough to give a feeling of warmth, attentiveness, and caring.

“Yes~ Elbow problems do tend to take a long time originally, but if you get consistent treatment, you’ll get better. Let me guide you to the treatment room~.”

Ah, but elbow problems really don’t heal well with acupuncture alone.

It would be nice if they had bee venom acupuncture, thread embedding, or at least herbal acupuncture.

“Hmm… A few people stop by like this in the morning before going to the market, then there’s a long gap again.”

After the elbow patient, there was a continuous lull in patients.

I waited until lunch time, worried about interrupting our conversation, but it was very, very quiet afterward.

From 9 AM to 1 PM lunch time, during those 4 hours, 1 new patient and 7 returning patients came all morning.

“Is this about the average number of patients per day usually?”

Even though two people are seeing patients, it’s not fair to compare with our clinic that hits triple digits almost daily.

But even for a neighborhood clinic, this was on the low side.

“At busy times, 30-40 patients came. But ever since Mulchippaengpaeng moved in next door, it’s been consistently under 20 patients. Sigh… Should I really start doing night consultations?”

Jang Jungjae let out a deep sigh.

“Yeo Po thinks I’m amazing, but haha, this is the reality. On days when I see single digits and go home, my shoulders feel so heavy that I’m depressed even when I turn on games.”

Single digits means days when you see fewer than 10 patients, a single-digit number.

Having experienced that myself in the early days of opening my clinic, I could understand his self-loathing.

“Since it’s really just acupuncture, I think Mulchippaengpaeng affected me more severely.”

Whether it’s obesity, women’s diseases, skin conditions, or mental disorders, if you have a specialized field, patients seeking treatment in that area will look for clinics known for that specific field, regardless of nearby competitors.

But by choosing the mundane musculoskeletal treatment field and sticking only to acupuncture, he lost many patients to nearby clinics that offered something more at similar prices.

Young patients who don’t have time and seek faster recovery methods, patients who want additional treatments – there wasn’t much to satisfy their needs.

“Yes…”

Jang Jungjae nodded, agreeing with the assessment.

Twenty patients a day.

For a clinic with high revenue per patient through Chuna manual therapy and pharmacopuncture, 20 patients would be sufficient for operation.

But with only acupuncture and cupping, and more than half the patients being over 65, it was really difficult.

For patients over 65, there’s a system where they only pay 10% out-of-pocket if the total treatment cost is under 20,000 won, so it’s an unwritten rule to adjust billing to match that amount.

In other words, including insurance claims, the treatment fee per patient is 20,000 won for those over 65 and slightly over 30,000 won for younger patients.

Initial consultation fees are slightly higher, so averaging 25,000 won, 15 patients would bring in 375,000 won per day.

With 5 days of treatment per week, that’s around 750 per month.

If the net profit were 750, there’d be no problem enjoying a happy gaming lifestyle…

But after paying monthly rent, staff salaries, miscellaneous expenses, and taxes, what remains is far less than what a vice director makes.

“Should I buy physical therapy equipment after all? Night practice? Do you happen to recommend any machines? Preferably under 10 million won…”

Jang Jungjae squeezed his eyes shut and asked me.

“I can’t recommend equipment. I don’t have any either.”

“Ah, I’m sorry! You said you don’t use them either!”

He handled patients skillfully during consultations, but made unusually many verbal mistakes in front of me.

He’d blush over things that weren’t even real mistakes.

“Should I just close down and look for employment?”

“Calm down. Don’t go that far. Let’s try what we can do first. That’s why I came, right?”

I patted the dejected Jang Jungjae’s shoulder, then clapped my hands to focus his attention.

“In my opinion, there are three major areas for improvement. Of course, without adding night practice, weekend practice, or Mulchippaengpaeng.”

Jang Jungjae straightened his shoulders and nodded.

An attentive attitude. I liked it.

“First, when you look at your clinic, what comes to mind?”

I asked Jang Jungjae.

He must have some idea himself.

“Hmm…”

Jang Jungjae thought for a moment.

Then he spoke.

“Ah, are the figures the problem after all? Maybe they’re only pretty to me and not so great…”

…He was completely off the mark.

I clearly said earlier that the figures weren’t necessarily bad!

“Not the figures! Starting with the sign!”

“Ah.”

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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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