Taeho raised a hand and brought the discussion to a close.
“Both of you took excellent approaches. In an actual situation, Dr. Lee Chaerin is right.”
Kim Dohyeon’s expression stiffened for an instant. Lee Chaerin, on the other hand, wore a subtly triumphant look.
“Dr. Kim Dohyeon’s point has merit, too. But the most frightening thing in an emergency room is an unpredictable, sudden change. You never know when a trauma patient will go into shock, or when airway obstruction will occur.”
Taeho slowly looked around at the applicants as he spoke.
“This is the final question. If you later found out there had been an error in the treatment plan you’d just made, what would you do?”
As expected, Lee Chaerin was the first to raise her hand.
“I would report it to a superior immediately. Then I’d review it with the entire team and analyze where things went wrong. I think it would also be necessary to improve the system by creating a checklist to prevent the same mistake from happening again.”
Kim Dohyeon followed right after her, unwilling to be outdone.
“If it were me, I’d switch to Plan B on the spot. There’s no such thing as a perfect plan. I think it’s more important to acknowledge the mistake and correct it quickly. Patients don’t wait for us.”
After that, the answers came naturally in the order they were seated.
“I think I should first apologize to the patient and their family. Explain the situation honestly and…”
“No, that could become a legal issue, so you shouldn’t apologize carelessly. You should consult the hospital lawyer first…”
“I think that’s too defensive. The medical staff might be misunderstood as trying to hide their mistake.”
“What matters is preventing recurrence. We need to analyze the cause of the mistake and turn it into educational material…”
“It would depend on the situation, but patient safety comes first, so I’d take corrective action immediately…”
The eighth applicant spoke last.
“Honestly, if the mistake wasn’t discovered, I think I’d want to pretend I didn’t know. As a human being. But that wouldn’t be right. I would do my best to correct the mistake.”
Taeho nodded as he listened to the applicants’ answers.
‘Lee Chaerin is principled and systematic, just as expected. She’s the type to approach things step by step: report to a superior, review with the team, improve the system. She’s unlikely to make mistakes, and I think she’ll be good at leading team members. Kim Dohyeon, on the other hand, is bold and efficient. He seems to have an excellent ability to find breakthroughs in complicated situations. He has the quick judgment needed in an emergency room.’
Taeho reached his conclusion.
‘As expected, Lee Chaerin and Kim Dohyeon stand out by far. They both pass.’
Taeho nodded with a satisfied expression.
The fact that there would be more young doctors like Lee Chaerin and Kim Dohyeon, with backbone and ambition, meant the hospital’s competitiveness would rise as well.
***
Three applicants were seated in the pediatrics interview room. On the far left sat Seo Yeonhui, a graduate of Hanguk University with an elegant air; in the middle sat Park Jeongmin, a Yeono University graduate with sharp features; and on the far right sat Hwang Jiman, a graduate of a regional medical school.
Hwang Jiman was clearly different from the other two. A loose suit that looked as if it had been borrowed, worn-out shoes. Perhaps because he was nervous, he kept patting his knees with his hands.
After asking the three of them several questions about medical knowledge, Taeho spoke for the last time.
“In pediatrics, communication with guardians is especially important. I’ll give you a scenario. A three-year-old boy comes to the emergency room with a febrile seizure. The seizure has already stopped, but his mother is extremely anxious and keeps crying, asking if something is wrong with her child’s brain. How would you respond in this situation?”
Seo Yeonhui confidently raised her hand first.
“I would first tell the guardian that I understand how she feels. Then I would reassure her by calmly explaining the characteristics and prognosis of febrile seizures. I would also explain, with medical evidence, that observation is more important than unnecessary tests.”
Park Jeongmin answered right after her.
“If it were me, I’d first examine the child’s condition in detail and let the guardians see it for themselves. I’d reassure them by saying, ‘Look, he’s conscious and his responses are normal.’”
At that moment, Taeho looked at Hwang Jiman.
“What do you think, Dr. Hwang Jiman?”
Hwang Jiman looked flustered for a moment.
“Ah, well, um…”
He began speaking haltingly.
“To be honest, I’d like to first ask why the mother is so anxious.”
Seo Yeonhui and Park Jeongmin looked at Hwang Jiman with puzzled expressions.
Hwang Jiman continued to stumble over his words.
“M-my nephew had something similar happen, you see. Back then, my older sister… She really looked like she was going out of her mind.”
He adjusted his glasses, which had slipped crookedly down his nose, and spoke.
“Even though the doctors all said he was fine, the mother kept feeling anxious. What if something had been missed? What if the child had another seizure? Thoughts like that.”
Taeho looked at Hwang Jiman with interest.
“Go on.”
“So I… I think I’d sit beside the mother and look at the child with her, and say, ‘That must have been really frightening.’ And take enough time…”
Hwang Jiman stammered. The more he did, the redder his face became.
“I would explain slowly, too, I mean, in words the guardian could understand. And I’d tell her specifically what to watch for at home, and what situations would require coming back… Phew.”
Hwang Jiman’s face flushed as if it might burst, and he could not finish his sentence. He seemed quite embarrassed himself, even letting out a sigh.
Seo Yeonhui frowned slightly, and Park Jeongmin had an expression that said, What is this?
Finally, Hwang Jiman spoke in a small voice.
“And I’d like to give her my contact information, too. If she has any questions at home, she can contact me anytime…”
Taeho deliberately asked with a stern expression.
“But Dr. Hwang Jiman, giving out your contact information would place a heavy personal burden on you, wouldn’t it?”
Hwang Jiman flinched and answered.
“It would be burdensome. But when mothers call at dawn… it’s often because it really is urgent. If one phone call at that moment could keep them from having to go to the emergency room… wouldn’t that be better?”
Seo Yeonhui could not hold back and spoke.
“But if you do things that way, the boundaries become unclear. I think there needs to be an appropriate distance between medical staff and patients’ families.”
“Ah. That may be true. But… I think it would be all right as long as I can handle it.”
Hwang Jiman lowered his head as he answered.
Taeho nodded and said,
“All three of you gave good answers. We’ll contact you individually with the results in three days. Thank you for your hard work today.”
With that, the interviews that had continued all day were finally over.
***
Two days later, Taeho handed the list of successful candidates to Kim Mihyeon, the head of the administrative department’s personnel division.
“Please prepare to announce the hiring results.”
“You worked hard, Director.”
Kim Mihyeon took the list and skimmed through it on the spot. She, too, was very interested in the results of this medical staff recruitment.
Kim Mihyeon’s eyes widened. She checked the list once more, then looked at Taeho.
“Director.”
“Yes?”
“Dr. Hwang Jiman in pediatrics? This person is…”
Taeho looked puzzled.
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“Well…”
Kim Mihyeon flipped through the document folder as she spoke.
“Among the pediatric applicants, his credentials are the most…”
She trailed off, then straightened her posture again.
“Dr. Seo Yeonhui is from Hanguk University and has experience in pediatric hematologic oncology, and Dr. Park Jeongmin is from Yeono University and specializes in pediatric emergency medicine. But Dr. Hwang Jiman graduated from a regional medical school, has no special experience, and I heard he stammered during the interview as well.”
Kim Mihyeon could not understand why Hwang Jiman had been chosen over doctors with such impressive credentials. Not only the personnel division, but other staff members as well, had predicted that among the fifty-two applicants for this recruitment, Hwang Jiman would be the first to be eliminated.
Taeho smiled faintly.
“And?”
“Yes. I was wondering if perhaps you wrote it down incorrectly by mistake…”
“Chief Kim. Is Nayeong doing well at school these days?”
When Taeho suddenly asked about her daughter, Kim Mihyeon was flustered as she answered.
“Yes. Thankfully, she’s doing well.”
“What kind of doctor do you want when your child is sick? A doctor with good credentials, or a doctor who genuinely worries about her?”
Kim Mihyeon hesitated for a moment, then spoke carefully.
“Of course sincerity is important, but isn’t a skilled doctor more important? No matter how kindhearted someone is, if they misdiagnose or can’t treat properly… wouldn’t that be more dangerous for the patient? Especially with children, you have to be even more meticulous.”
“You’re right. If skill doesn’t back it up, it’s meaningless. But who said Dr. Hwang Jiman has no skill?”
“Pardon?”
“Not having flashy credentials doesn’t mean his ability is lacking. And being from a regional medical school doesn’t mean his medical knowledge is insufficient. The treatment plan Dr. Hwang presented in the interview was excellent. He had a strong understanding of febrile seizures, and his medical judgment was accurate.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Kim Mihyeon nod as if she understood. Because Hwang Jiman was so shy and stammered, she had prematurely assumed he must not be skilled either.
Taeho added with a smile.
“Dr. Hwang Jiman is a skilled doctor with a warm heart as well. Among the doctors we’ve newly hired this time, he’s one I have high expectations for.”
Kim Mihyeon still looked worried as she said,
“But Director. Dr. Hwang Jiman stammered like that during the interview. What if he does the same when communicating with patients’ guardians in real life?”
“Ah, so that’s what you’re worried about. Stammering because you’re nervous and communicating in front of a patient are completely different.”
“How are they different?”
“An interview is a situation where you’re being evaluated. Treatment, on the other hand, is a situation where you’re offering help.”
Kim Mihyeon thought for a moment, then said,
“Still, if a problem actually arises…”
“Let’s do this. For the time being, we’ll systematically prepare patient education materials so he can refer to them when explaining. If it’s difficult to explain verbally, he can use pictures or charts.”
“Ah. There is that method.”
“What matters most is that Dr. Hwang Jiman has a heart that genuinely worries about patients. If he has that, his communication skills will naturally improve over time.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Chief Kim, were you as perfect as you are now when you first started this job?”
Kim Mihyeon laughed and shook her head.
“No. I was full of mistakes.”
“Exactly. Everyone is like that. And to be honest, among doctors with impressive credentials, there are many who can’t communicate with patients or guardians. Cases where they have excellent medical knowledge, but lack empathy.”
“There are cases like that.”
“Dr. Hwang Jiman is the opposite. He has excellent empathy, but only lacks the skill to express it. That can be improved enough through training.”
Taeho spoke with a voice full of conviction.
“Just wait six months. Patients and guardians will definitely start asking for Dr. Hwang Jiman.”
“Is there a reason you’re that certain?”
“Sincerity gets through. Even if he stammers a little, even if his explanations are a little clumsy, patients quickly recognize when a doctor is truly worried about them. And I’ll mentor him personally. Not only in communication skills, but in overall medical practice.”
Kim Mihyeon nodded and organized the list.
“Understood. Then I’ll prepare the announcement as it is.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Less than five minutes after Personnel Chief Kim Mihyeon left, Taeho’s phone rang. It was a foreign number he had never seen before.
—Am I speaking to Director Kang Taeho?
The voice coming from the other end of the line was in perfect Korean, but there was a slightly awkward accent mixed in.
“Yes, that’s right. Who is this?”
—Hello. I am Kim Sara, an interpreter for the royal family of the United Arab Emirates.
Taeho set down his pen and straightened his posture.
The royal family of the United Arab Emirates?