What Does the Reincarnated Saint Diagnose in the Modern World? Episode 2

Episode 2: What Does the Reincarnated Saint Diagnose in the Emergency Room? (Part 1)

I have decided to keep a diary.
I am currently inhabiting a borrowed body.
There may come a time when I have to return it to its original owner.
I decided to write this diary so that when that time comes, the original owner can return to her daily life as quickly as possible.
To Himi-san, I am sorry if I have acted against your will.
I am Catalina Alexandria. In my original world, I worked as a healer, treating people.
In the world I came from, magic existed, and it was common to treat injured people with healing magic.

However, there is no magic in this world.
I am told by the three fellow residents that I am a very rare existence because I can use magic, and that I should hide it.
I was troubled, so I asked the three of them to teach me the medicine of this world.
They told me it would be very difficult, but for me, living without healing people is painful.
For one week, using the excuse of having hit my head, I learned the common sense of this world.

“Himi! Hurry up!”
“I’m sorry. This makeup thing is quite difficult...”
“Just do something about your eyes for now! Your mouth will be covered by a mask anyway!”
“Y-yes!!”

I finish the so-called makeup in a great hurry.
Why can they repeat such a difficult task every morning?
Women living in this world have it tough.

“Sorry to keep you waiting!!”
“Good. Passing grade. Listen, I’ll say this again and again...”
“If anything happens, contact you via PHS first, right?”
“That’s right. Absolutely do not act on your own. And healing magic is out of the question! Got it?”
“Y-yes...”
“Good. Let’s go.”

Starting today, I am returning to treatment.
Finally. Finally, I can help someone.

◇

“We are working at this XX Municipal Hospital as first-year residents. That means we’re in our first year after graduating from university. About half a year has passed now, and we’ve gotten quite used to the work.”
“Yes. And the setting is that I have suffered a concussion and have retrograde amnesia... in other words, memory loss.”
“Right. So even if your personality has changed or your medical knowledge is lacking, it serves as an excuse to some extent. But don’t make mistakes repeatedly. If you make a mistake that affects a patient’s life, consider that you will never be able to return to the medical field again.”
“Yes.”

After replying, I grip the PHS and check the wireless earphones I have inserted into my ears.
These two are my lifeline.
When treating patients, I use these to contact one of the three and ask for instructions.
It pains me to burden the three of them until I have gained a certain amount of experience.

“And so, starting today, you will be training in the emergency department. Advanced emergency response is one thing, but even a first-year resident can handle initial response.”

I open the door to the emergency room.
High-pitched sounds ring out rhythmically, and rows of empty beds are lined up.
There was a male resident there looking exhausted.

“Hey, good morning. Did you sleep well last night? I imagine quite a few ambulances passed by your apartment.”

This person is Ando. If my memory serves me correctly, he was supposed to be on duty in the emergency room last night.
He has dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep.

“Um. I didn’t really notice.”
“As expected of a war veteran, you’re different. You aren’t even fazed by the sound of ambulances.”
“Was it busy yesterday?”
“One case of severe heart failure. One SAH. Plus some alcohol overdoses and minor traffic accidents. Being a doctor is not a job you should choose, really.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“It’s my honest opinion. When I was yelled at by a drug-addicted patient, I thought I had chosen the wrong profession. I almost let out words I shouldn’t have said.”
“That sounds like a disaster.”

It seems it was quite busy, but I don’t understand the details.

“Hey, what is ‘SAH’?”
“Ah, I’ll teach you that eventually. For now, let me teach you the basics. Tachibana, please go back to your work.”
“Understood. Good luck, Himi. And if he does anything to you, consult me.”
“Do you think I can consult you?”
“Do you want to get punched?”
“I’m just joking. I’ll teach her basic emergency response during the morning, and let her off in the afternoon.”
“Well, fine. I leave it to you.”
“Yes, yes. Have a good day.”
“Thank you very much.”

She is the one who mainly taught me the common sense of this world over the past week.
She is very caring, and I felt the illusion that I had gained an older sister.

“What do you think of that? After saying all that, she leaves you in my care?”
“Um. I suppose it means she trusts you...”
“I guess she trusts me. Ugh, what a pain.”

Saying that, Ando yawned lazily.
Kurisu, the other resident, said they were like a dog and a cat.
I see, indeed.

"Hehe..."

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.
Ando, who hadn't missed it, reacted.

"What is it?"
"No, I just thought you two were close."
"..."

Ando made a blatantly disgusted face.
Even so, it was clear he didn't dislike it.
As proof, the only time Ando's unreadable smile ever faltered was when it involved Tachibana.

"Well, while things are calm, let me teach you about emergency work. Follow me."
"Yes!!"

◇

"Now, this is a vital monitor. From the top, it displays heart rate, ECG, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and so on. Our job in the emergency department is to keep these vitals as normal as possible while identifying the cause of the illness. For example, this person is an 80-year-old grandmother brought in for heart failure. She's in Clinical Scenario 1 for heart failure, and she's on nitrates, diuretics, and an NPPV mask. How are you feeling, Ms. Saito? Are you feeling more comfortable?"
"Hmm? Oh? I'm fine, dear."
"Yes. Then please wait a little longer."
"When she arrived at the emergency department, she was in such respiratory distress she couldn't speak at all, but now that the fluid has been drained from her lungs, her response has improved significantly. Her hearing loss and slight cognitive impairment are issues separate from her heart failure."
"80 years old... that's a very long life."
"Just how long was the average life expectancy where you came from?"
"I wonder? Maybe around 40? People who reached 50 were considered elders."
"That's quite a number. Unthinkable in Japan."
"I suppose so."
"I just contacted the cardiologist, so now we're just waiting for her to be admitted. Shall I teach you how to set up an IV next?"

◇

"Alright. Let's call it a day for now. I'm going to take a nap, so call me if a patient comes in."
"Eh, is it okay for me to be left alone?"
"Well, I'm a bit worried about leaving you to diagnose someone on your own, after all. I'll be with you all day today, so don't worry."
"Thank you very much."
"Ms. Suzuki. I'm sorry, but I'd like you to support this girl."
"Ugh, I guess I have no choice."

Leaving those words behind, Ando headed toward the nap room.
I was left behind with the nurse named Suzuki.

"If I recall, you're the one who stood up for me earlier, right?"
"You remember well. I heard the general circumstances from the other doctors. Don't worry, I'll keep your secret."
"Thank you. I'm sure I'll have many things to ask you, so I look forward to working with you."
"Eh, no thanks."
"Huh?"

I couldn't believe my ears.
Does this mean that even though she'll keep my secret, she won't cooperate with me?
Perhaps seeing my confusion, Ms. Suzuki continued.

"Look. I think the other doctors are helping you out as an extension of that university-like atmosphere. But we are people who are paid a salary to treat patients. Even though you're a resident, you're in a position that carries responsibility, which is why your salary is set higher, but I can't deal with the reality that you're just a child who doesn't even know common sense. Please handle your own affairs yourself. I'm going to do my own job."
"...I'm sorry."

After saying that, the nurse named Suzuki turned to the electronic medical record and began working silently.
I felt ashamed. It was such a logical argument that I couldn't even offer a rebuttal.
Until now, there were many people around me who called me a saint and treated me favorably.
I'm sure there were people who hated me, but at least they never showed it on the surface.
That was exactly why her words stung so much.
What could I do to make her forgive me?

I was reading the emergency response manual, thinking that at least I could do that, when...
The phone in the emergency department rang. Based on what I was taught this morning, this is an acceptance request from emergency medical technicians.
This municipal hospital is a secondary medical institution. We cannot refuse ambulance arrivals.
I reached for the receiver with trembling hands.
I'm sure this is how you answer the phone.

"What are you doing? Answer it quickly."
"Y-yes!!"

I picked up the receiver and answered the phone."Yes! This is the emergency department of the XX Municipal Hospital!"

"This is the XX City North Ward Emergency Squad! 40-year-old male!! Chest pain attack!! No particular history of visiting your hospital!! Can you accept him!?"
"I-it's okay! Please bring him in!"
"May I have the doctor's name, please!"
"It's Himi! I'm Rina Himi, a resident!"

The trembling wouldn't stop.
I have no knowledge, and I have no allies.
My lonely shift in the emergency department begins.