Masterful Miracle Doctor

"Unless you're Bill Gates, you're just one serious illness away from bankruptcy!"

Slophel mused, "Although this sounds a bit exaggerated, it is somewhat true, especially for the American middle class."

"The United States does have relatively comprehensive medical insurance, and major illness insurance, but except for a few high-cost private health insurances, most medical insurances have strict regulations on treatment methods, medicines used, choice of hospitals, and even attending physicians."

"If the illness is severe and complicated, and one seeks treatment from renowned doctors in private hospitals, or requests consultations, the out-of-pocket expenses can be shockingly high."

"Moreover, not all Americans have medical insurance. There are many insured Americans who, due to unemployment or various reasons, sometimes find themselves in periods without coverage."

"These people, once they contract a serious illness, can only wait to die, or go bankrupt due to their illness."

"Apart from the issue of medical expenses, there's another important factor."

Slophel looked at Lin Jie and solemnly said, "Mr. Lin Jie, I've studied it seriously. Your medical skills are on par with those of America's top medical experts like Dr. Siselda, Dr. Kerr, and Dr. Dadof."

"These are some of the leading specialists in neurosurgery, general surgery, and ophthalmic surgery in the United States."

"These people have their schedules packed, and apart from weekends off, they frequently take vacations. If a patient wants to jump the queue to have them intervene or get them to cancel their rest to treat, it's not just about having money."

"So, Mr. Lin Jie, my plan is to first introduce some middle-class patients with serious diseases to come to China to seek your treatment. On the one hand, the treatment effect is assured, and on the other hand, the medical costs will be much lower than in the United States."

At this moment, Shen Lanruo's voice sounded in Lin Jie's mind: "Ah Jie, the medical expenses in the United States are indeed very high. Let me give you some numbers for reference."

"At the Mayo Clinic, a routine liver transplant costs around $220,000. A routine heart transplant costs around $180,000, and a routine kidney transplant costs about $100,000."

"The reason for adding 'routine' is to indicate that the patient's body has no special conditions and the surgery goes smoothly. If there are any unexpected issues, the surgery costs can easily double or even multiply several times, and that's normal."

"The facial hemangioma surgery you performed on the young girl at the hospital, which was a complex operation, according to the Mayo Clinic's surgery cost assessment, wouldn't be less than $200,000."

These numbers left Lin Jie somewhat dumbfounded.

Compared to domestic treatment costs, the difference is at least five or six times.

Slophel continued, "Once Mr. Lin Jie's reputation spreads in the United States, American patients, due to medical expenses and other reasons, will naturally come to Anlin Hospital in China seeking treatment."

Earning money from foreigners is naturally something Lin Jie is happy to see, and it can also quickly enhance the reputation of Anlin Hospital.

"Mr. Slophel, your suggestion sounds wonderful. However, I have a question."

Lin Jie asked softly, "In the impression of most Americans, our country is a developing and backward nation, especially in terms of medical technology."

"Every year, quite a few Chinese people go to the United States for medical treatment."

"How will you persuade your fellow countrymen to trust my medical skills? This involves a significant matter of life and death for them; they wouldn't easily venture to China for it."

Slophel confidently smiled, took a sip of tea, and said, "Eradicating someone's prejudice is naturally not an easy thing. That's where my value lies."

"Mr. Lin Jie, I've been working in medical equipment sales for a long time. Because of my job, I've come to know many doctors in American hospitals."

"When I'm home, I spend a lot of my spare time introducing hospitals to patients and helping them schedule appointments with doctors. In this field, my reputation and trustworthiness are quite good."

Seeing the confident expression on Slophel's face, Lin Jie suddenly realized.

Turns out this guy is something of a healthcare broker, intermediary, and scalper in the United States, and he's trying to expand into international business.

Slophel admitted without hesitation, "Mr. Lin Jie, I do have some doctor resources, but to be frank, while they have some skill, their level is still somewhat low, only able to handle less severe, non-urgent medical issues."

He expressively lamented, "Mr. Lin Jie, while your medical skills are high, your practicing license is not recognized in the United States."

"Otherwise..."

Slophel sighed regretfully.

He once considered having Lin Jie work as an underground doctor in the United States.

But once he researched Lin Jie's current status, he immediately dropped this unrealistic idea. Why would a well-recognized esteemed doctor at home take such a risk in the United States?

However, Slophel thought of it as an opportunity.

If Lin Jie could practice medicine openly in the United States, there would be nothing for him to do here.

Lin Jie's medical skills are genuine.

Convincing patients to come to China for treatment in the initial phase would indeed require some effort, but Slophel was confident that with his years of accumulated credibility, along with some guarantees and discounts, some people would be swayed.

Once there are initial success stories and positive word-of-mouth spreads, subsequent patients will follow continuously.

"Mr. Slophel, I still need to think this through carefully. I can't give you a definite answer for now." Lin Jie ultimately gave a vague answer meant to delay the situation.

Slophel chuckled softly, "This indeed is a decision that requires serious consideration."

"Mr. Lin Jie, please believe that this is absolutely a mutually beneficial suggestion..."

After dinner, Slophel said goodbye and returned to the hotel.

Lin Jie stayed behind to continue discussing the matter with An Weize and An Kexin.

He opened by asking, "Uncle An, Kexin, what do you both think about this matter?"

An Kexin contemplated for a moment and spoke first, "Ah Jie, I think we can agree to this."

"Patients coming from abroad for treatment are still patients."

"Moreover, they'll all be self-funded, not requiring domestic medical insurance reimbursements, which is a way to earn foreign exchange for the country. We can even apply discriminatory pricing and charge them more for medical services."

She giggled and continued, "There's also the issue of external publicity."

"The Luo family's Phoenix Mountain Hospital claims to employ medical experts from around the globe so that people at home can seek care with confidence. Meanwhile, we're attracting Americans who travel thousands of miles to come to us for treatment."

"Such an obvious contrast makes it immediately apparent to outsiders which facility has better standards."

"Dad, wouldn't you say that's true?"

An Weize gently shook his head, face stern, and criticized, "Kexin, you shouldn't always measure the hospital's benefits alone."

"You need to remember, Ah Jie is the core of the hospital. Only things that benefit Ah Jie are beneficial to the hospital."

He turned to Lin Jie and kindly said, "Ah Jie, I understand your thoughts. You want the development of Anlin Hospital to enter a positive cycle within three to five years."

"Then, you could allocate time and energy to focus on research, striving toward the Nobel Prize in Physiology."

"The rehabilitation center for disabled soldiers in collaboration with the military, the sports injury research center with Ye Peihua, the targeted medical class with Binhai University, and the training programs through grand rounds, teaching surgeries, and specialized reports once Anlin Hospital is operational..."

An Weize solemnly stated, "All these matters require your support."

"The patients introduced by Slophel in the early stages will likely be mostly those with severe and challenging conditions, and perhaps only you can handle them with confidence."

"Ah Jie, what you've done for the hospital is already enough; you need to pace yourself."

He advised, "Many things are best not hurried, Ah Jie; you don't need to be anxious. Although the hospital centers around you, it's not just you; there are hundreds of colleagues working with you, and they can share the burden too. Many things don't require you to shoulder them alone."

"Ah Jie, I hope to see you and Kexin together for a long, long time, alright?"

Hearing this, Lin Jie felt touched, sensing a genuine caring concern.

An Kexin's face turned pale in an instant, hastily explaining, "Ah Jie, Ah Jie, I have no other thoughts, I just... I just..."

Lin Jie pinched her nose and laughed, "Look at you getting all anxious, don't worry, I won't overthink it."

"Actually, Kexin, your thoughts are quite right."

He analyzed, "It's predictable that even if I and Anlin Hospital gain some fame in the United States, the number of American patients seeking treatment here will still be limited."

"And as for patients from the United States, we can first filter through medical records, naturally welcoming as many as possible who don't require my intervention for mild conditions."

"For those needing my intervention, treatment can be scheduled according to my working calendar. We'll accept what we can schedule and decline what we cannot."

"In this way, it won't add much to my workload."

Lin Jie laughed, "This small group of Americans can not only bring relatively substantial revenue to Anlin Hospital but also create a positive reputation. I think Slophel's suggestion is feasible."

He declared with pride, "The goal for Anlin Hospital is to become an internationally renowned hospital. And to be internationally renowned, we must accept patients from all over the world."

"Having American patients come right from the start is such a good thing, how could we refuse it."

"Kexin, have a good talk with Mr. Slophel and, hmm... find out from him what would be an appropriate high medical price for American patients."