Medical deeds during the COVID-19 epidemic

Today’s protagonist: Gu Zhijian, head of the medical department

It is known that the head of the medical department is a thankless job. He must bear all the heavy burden and work hard despite criticism and complaints. This situation gets even worse when you are confronting an epidemic. In this case, the medical department becomes the axis and hub of the whole hospital’s medical operation.

Gu Zhijian, head of the medical department of the Tongren Hospital, has become the busiest person in the hospital. Gu has acted in this role for almost two years. Still, he is already very proficient in responses to health emergencies. For example, in 2008, he was sent to Wenchuang to participate in medical rescue and help in the post-disaster reconstruction.

Municipal leaders and other government agencies have recognized the importance of the Tongren hospital. Due to its strategic location, the hospital constantly faces all types of public emergencies. Now, it has become one of the most important centers in the fight against the epidemic.

Since the hospital is close to one of the main entrances of the city, medical staff pay special attention to the prevention of imported cases. For this purpose, the hospital carries out periodical training work. No one expected that during one of the pieces of training, the medical staff discovered the first case. Afterward, the medical department isolated the patient and prepared everything to combat the epidemic. The first draft of the plan against the epidemic was handed out by Gu.

With the continuous escalation of the COVID-19, several policies, regulations, and guidelines of departments at all levels were issued one after another, day by day. Gu, being in the “headquarters” of the hospital, was in charged to collect and respond to the information that arrives at the hospital every day. Sometimes, the situation turned even more difficult because some of the directors of other departments did not cooperate as expected. That gave Gu an unimaginable pressure.

However, with clear thinking and using his rich experience, he could sort out every challenge that appeared. One of the most important tasks he carried out was to balance the priorities in the hospital. A clear division of labor was made, and every department performed its duties following the activities of other departments carefully. All staff took turns on duty every day, and Gu was ready 24 hours a day to coordinate the tasks and answer every question that could arise.