Hack 'n Slash Clinic

Medical Care Without the Frills

The Hack 'n Slash Clinic stands as a testament to Red Level's resilience and adaptability, providing essential medical services in an environment abandoned by corporate healthcare providers. Located on Sin Street just south of Fuller, this small, fortified building offers a straightforward proposition to those in need: immediate treatment for those who can pay upfront, with no questions asked about how injuries were sustained.

Philosophy and Policies

The clinic's approach to healthcare is summed up in the motivational posters prominently displayed in its waiting room:

• "Treat 'em and street 'em" - No long-term care or hospital stays
• "If you can't pay you die today" - Strict upfront payment policy
• "Pain: It's what hurts" - No painkillers used during procedures
• "Absolutely no refunds under any circumstances. Not even death." - Self-explanatory

This blunt approach reflects the harsh realities of Red Level economics, where resources are scarce and charity is a luxury few can afford. The clinic maintains no drug inventory to avoid making itself a target for theft, meaning patients must endure procedures without anesthesia beyond local numbing agents.

Services and Operations

Despite its spartan approach, the Hack 'n Slash provides a range of essential medical services:

• Trauma Care: Treating gunshot wounds, stabbings, and other violent injuries
• Basic Surgery: Setting bones, removing bullets, suturing wounds
• Cybernetic Maintenance: Basic repairs and adjustments to cybernetic implants
• Organ Harvesting: Collecting usable organs and cybernetics from the deceased
• Specialized Services: Some doctors, like Tim, offer more advanced procedures in the clinic's underground facilities

The clinic operates with a rotating staff of doctors and nurses, many of whom work there part-time while maintaining other practices or specialties. This arrangement provides the clinic with a diverse range of medical expertise while giving medical professionals access to cash income and experience with unusual cases.

Physical Layout

The clinic's design prioritizes security and functionality over comfort:

• Waiting Room: Sparse seating area with reinforced reception window
• Examination Rooms: Basic facilities for initial assessment
• Operating Rooms: Equipped with essential surgical tools and equipment
• Back Office: Administrative area and more advanced medical equipment
• Underground Facilities: Hidden areas for specialized procedures and storage

The building's exterior features reinforced doors and windows, with security cameras monitoring all approaches. These measures protect both the staff and patients from potential threats, including those seeking to rob the clinic or harm those inside.

Cultural Significance

To Red Level residents, the Hack 'n Slash represents both the harsh realities of life in the lower tier and the community's determination to provide for its own needs. The clinic's existence acknowledges that official healthcare systems have failed Red Level, while its continued operation demonstrates the resilience of those who live there.

For those with nowhere else to turn, the clinic's "no questions asked" policy provides a crucial safety net, allowing individuals involved in illegal activities to receive treatment without fear of being reported to authorities. This makes the Hack 'n Slash an essential part of Red Level's social infrastructure, serving populations that would otherwise have no access to medical care.