The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 343

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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 343

Industrial accident patient?

This refers to a patient receiving treatment through industrial accident compensation insurance, one of the four major insurances.

All workplaces employing one or more workers must mandatorily join industrial accident compensation insurance.

If a worker dies, gets injured, or falls ill due to work-related accidents, the state compensates on behalf of the employer using industrial accident insurance funds.

The reason An Myeongja asked if industrial accident patient treatment was possible at our Oriental Medicine Clinic was because not all hospitals provide fully covered treatment.

The process works by treating patients at designated industrial accident medical institutions, then the hospital bills the Industrial Complex for treatment costs, so patients must visit designated facilities.

“Yes. Industrial accident treatment is possible. Did something happen to your nephew?”

It was around last year, I think, when a patient who regularly visited Im Suchul’s Oriental Medicine Clinic wanted industrial accident treatment, so we looked into getting designated.

It was a system where you submit various documents and the government scores them to grant designation, so we registered while we were at it.

Though not that many patients have come so far.

“That’s right. Oh my… He got his wrist crushed by a hammer, can you believe it?”

I thought it would be an accident since proving correlation for long-term illnesses to get industrial accident recognition isn’t easy, but just hearing about it was horrifying.

“That’s terrible. When did this happen? Was there a fracture too?”

“About a month ago? Fortunately, the bone didn’t break.”

“That’s fortunate. Then it would be best to start treatment as soon as possible.”

If there had been a fracture, surgery might be necessary depending on the condition and we’d have to wait for bone union first, but if not, it was better to treat as quickly, extensively, and frequently as possible.

“Oh, I’ll go home today and tell him right away. He’s been worrying a lot since it’s not getting better.”

At the talk about possible long-term aftereffects, An Myeongja was already getting anxious and fidgeting with her phone.

It should be in a condition that can improve.

* * *

Jeon Byeongho was a sincere family man who got a job in production at a mid-sized company right after graduating high school and had been working there for 30 years.

There were many times when work was hard, and countless moments when he wanted to quit, but he had worked diligently with a sense of responsibility.

His workplace had no special holidays other than legal annual leave, so he had never properly rested until now.

This time off due to the accident was probably the longest he hadn’t gone to work since his honeymoon.

“Ugh…”

Of course, it wasn’t enjoyable at all.

What would he do if he didn’t go to the factory? His wrist ached from morning to night, making it impossible to do anything.

“Husband, are you okay?”

“Sigh… How can there be no sign of improvement?”

“Should I feed you?”

“No. I’ve been eating with my left hand anyway.”

Jeon Byeongho put down his spoon for a moment and waved his left hand.

Following the doctor’s advice, he hadn’t used his right hand at all, but the pain hadn’t decreased even a bit.

Bang!

Thinking about that moment still made him break out in cold sweat.

It was an accident that happened so instantaneously.

Jeon Byeongho was a considerably skilled worker with long experience, and had always kept safety first in mind while working.

Using various tools at the factory, he never forgot that he was doing dangerous work.

But unfortunately, while doing joint work with someone who hadn’t been there long and was inexperienced, this wrist-crushing accident occurred.

Without any chance to avoid or prevent it.

‘Though it wasn’t actually crushed.’

The sound was so intense that he thought all his bones had shattered.

He was so surprised and in pain that he didn’t even have the strength to get angry.

Jeon Byeongho was transported to the hospital as is.

“There’s nothing wrong with the bone.”

“Oh, is that so? Then will it heal without problems? How long will it take?”

“Hmm… The swelling is severe for a simple contusion. Let’s see how it goes for about a month.”

Fortunately, it wasn’t a fracture.

Jeon Byeongho was greatly relieved.

He thought that although it would be difficult for a few days, if he rested well and received treatment, he could return to daily life.

– Ah… You’re applying for industrial accident compensation? Right, hmm. You should. A month? Got it. I’ll talk to the factory manager too.

He immediately reported the situation, and the Work Supervisor conveyed that he could rest starting the next day.

Though he didn’t seem to like it much.

– How are you doing? Has the industrial accident claim been approved?

“Not yet, but the doctor says there shouldn’t be any problems. My wrist is still the same.”

The Work Supervisor would call every few days to ask about Jeon Byeongho’s condition.

“By the way, how is the person who was working with me? He must have been very shocked.”

– Oh, that guy. He quit.

“What?”

– He suddenly said he was quitting, so I’m in trouble too. Ugh, he says it’s personal circumstances, but seeing an accident right in front of him must have been scary. And he’s the one who caused the accident!

He felt strangely bitter.

He thought the guy was someone who wanted to work hard.

‘Whatever, it’s not like he did it on purpose.’

It was uncomfortable not getting even a word of apology, but Jeon Byeongho let it go.

Fortunately, this incident was a work-related accident unrelated to negligence, and the industrial accident application was approved without difficulty.

– It’s been approved, hmm.

It was called temporary disability benefits, where 70% of his usual monthly salary came from the industrial complex, and medical expenses were covered.

Since the situation had turned out this way, Jeon Byeongho decided to take a full month off.

He was told not to use his hand, so he didn’t use it at all.

He applied cold compresses daily as instructed.

He diligently took the prescribed painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and muscle relaxants.

He also went for physical therapy every morning.

“How have you been feeling this week?”

“The same.”

Yet there was hardly any improvement in his wrist.

“How is your wrist feeling today?”

“Still no significant change.”

“Hmm… In that case, let’s also proceed with injection therapy.”

When he received injections containing steroids and local anesthetics, the pain was slightly reduced.

But fundamentally, it didn’t feel like it was being resolved at all.

And these weren’t injections he could keep getting indefinitely.

As a result, when the month that the doctor had initially mentioned passed.

“You said your pain intensity was about 8 out of 10 initially, how would you rate it now?”

“Exactly the same as before.”

Jeon Byeongho’s wrist had barely healed.

It wasn’t that he wanted to say this, but the doctor’s expression didn’t look very pleased.

“There’s no more treatment I can offer. Since it’s a simple contusion, it’s difficult to argue for the necessity of surgery.”

The initially planned treatment period had ended.

The doctor said he would apply for an extension of workers’ compensation if the patient wanted, but he was lukewarm about it, as if there were no other options.

“Then what happens to me? If the industrial complex rejects it, I can’t receive treatment?”

“Well, continuing treatment with health insurance later wouldn’t be a problem… You could also claim for residual disability.”

“Disability? You mean my wrist will remain like this permanently?”

“We can’t know that yet. Let’s observe for now.”

“But we’ve been observing for a month already…”

Jeon Byeongho considered himself more patient than average.

But with no improvement like this, he was frustrated to death.

Perhaps because his tone had unintentionally become argumentative, the doctor’s eyes also narrowed.

“No, thank you. I’ll see you next week.”

As the originally discussed sick leave period was ending, the factory also contacted him.

– What are you going to do? You can come in next week, right?

“I’d like to, but my wrist hasn’t healed at all. Even if I try to work, I can’t. I’ve decided to apply for an extension of workers’ compensation treatment.”

– Don’t overdo it and just come back, okay? It’s hard to find short-term replacement workers too.

Was he being treated like he was faking illness?

The Work Supervisor might have his own position, but hearing this while he was in pain made him feel like he might explode.

“Why are you making such a fuss when it’s not even company money paying for the treatment!”

Jeon Byeongho, who swallowed his words for fear of being fired, could only complain to his wife.

“They say if a company is classified as having frequent industrial accidents, the insurance premium rate goes up.”

“Is there such a thing?”

“I don’t know why they’re acting like that. Anyway, we have no choice, so let’s focus on treatment. You need to get better.”

It was a company he had worked at for a full 30 years.

Since he thought he had been loyal in his own way, he also felt betrayed.

“Oh, Aunt. How have you been?”

While he was stuck in this limbo, unable to do this or that, his aunt called.

Since she had taken care of him in childhood while his parents worked, Jeon Byeongho never forgot to check on his aunt whenever he called his parents.

She had been living alone ever since his uncle passed away, and with her difficult personality, she was somewhat of a concern.

Last time he contacted her, she had gotten acupuncture at some illegal place… When he looked into what was going on, fortunately it was a place that had been shut down.

– Oh, I went to that Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic you mentioned before.

“You went there?”

He had told her it was a place he had reported, but why did she go there?

For a moment, Jeon Byeongho’s vision went white.

– Yeah. Getting lots of acupuncture there really makes me feel like I’m coming back to life. I’ve lived like this for 30 years, but it’s on a completely different level from any acupuncture I’ve ever had in my life.

“Ah, so you went there for treatment.”

– That’s how it ended up happening. I feel like I’ve gotten twenty years younger. I’m going to keep getting treatment there.

At least that was a relief.

She hadn’t said anything strange, but had simply received normal treatment.

From her talk about feeling younger and such, it seemed like she had become fixated on this clinic this time.

“I’m glad to hear you’re getting better.”

– You should come too. Our clinic director will treat that wrist of yours well.

“Ah, I can only receive treatment at workers’ compensation designated hospitals.”

Even until he hung up the phone, he had no intention of going to the clinic.

Jeon Byeongho basically preferred orthopedic clinics.

He did feel slightly inclined to switch to another hospital because the doctor made him uncomfortable, but he didn’t really consider acupuncture.

Nevertheless, he immediately searched for Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic.

He was very worried that his elderly aunt might have gone to another strange place.

‘Ah, it’s a Network Korean Medicine Clinic. Did you go to the Busan headquarters?’

Fortunately, it seemed to be a legitimate Korean medicine clinic.

It was quite famous, with many articles about it.

“They even served as Olympic team doctors? Oh….”

They were also collaborating with Sowon General Hospital, which I had been thinking of visiting, and I noticed columns written by doctors from there.

What impressed me most were the interviews with gold medalist Kim Ijin and idol Ha Dohyeon.

If a knee that hadn’t healed for a long time got better, maybe my wrist could too….

‘I hope it’s a designated industrial accident hospital.’

When his aunt brought news the next day that industrial accident treatment was possible, Jeon Byeongho already knew this fact through his research.

* * *

“Hello, I came through my aunt’s introduction.”

An Myeongja’s nephew, Jeon Byeongho, was a very gentle person.

My tension about a somewhat unusual person’s family member visiting seemed pointless.

“Welcome. Oh my, you seem to be quite seriously injured.”

The start of diagnosis is ultimately visual confirmation.

Jeon Byeongho’s wrist showed clear swelling and dark bruising.

“How is it when you bend and extend?”

“Even just this much is difficult. Actually, it aches even when I’m still.”

“When I press here.”

“Ah, that hurts.”

I sequentially checked the range of motion and performed palpation.

The range wasn’t completely restricted, but the ligament and tendon damage was severe enough to cause intense pain with even slight movement.

“Let me take an ultrasound.”

I pointed to the thin shadows visible in the ligament and tendon areas and said.

“The ligament thickness is uneven and swollen, plus there’s a lot of inflammation.”

“Is this serious?”

Jeon Byeongho frowned.

I scanned the same area on my own wrist to explain.

“Normally it should be smooth and uniform in thickness like this, but as you can see.”

“It’s all bumpy….”

“Yes. All of this is inflammation.”

“I guess it hasn’t healed at all.”

“We don’t have previous images to compare, but it’s true that the condition isn’t good.”

Recognizing that the internal structure was seriously damaged at first glance, Jeon Byeongho grimaced.

“Even if the bones are fine, something is definitely wrecked… I’ll need consistent treatment, right?”

“Yes. With this condition, it’ll take over a month even with daily treatment.”

I wanted to tell him it would heal quickly, but not all conditions in the world were like that.

I conservatively estimated the prognosis.

“The previous hospital also said a month, but I’m still like this. The treatment period I was given is almost over… What do you think about working while receiving treatment? Should I quit my job?”

But Jeon Byeongho was getting too far ahead of himself.

I had estimated a month thinking he would rest during treatment, but why was he considering quitting his job?

“Has the extension period passed? They usually just give warnings for a few days.”

“The company seems to dislike it. The hospital also said they didn’t know if an extension would be possible….”

“With symptoms this severe, it should generally be approved. It doesn’t matter if the company dislikes it. It’s a system where the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service approves based on the doctor’s opinion.”

I couldn’t say it was 100% certain, but just looking at the surface of his wrist, the swelling, redness, and bruising were a complete mess.

The imaging clearly showed damage, and with subjective pain as well as sensory abnormalities and range of motion limitations making not just work but daily life difficult, how could they tell him to end treatment?

“Is that so?”

“Yes, just because it’s a contusion doesn’t mean it’s fixed at exactly one month. If the previous hospital’s doctor hasn’t written the medical opinion yet, I’ll apply for you. If approval is denied, then we’ll consider other methods.”

Only then did hope appear on Jeon Byeongho’s face.

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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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