TravelerEastWest

3 hours ago, Dante99 said:

In only one area of medical care, only one area.  

 

Yes friends usually share the same opinions, that does not change the opinions into facts.

 

In fact they have extended their ground level parking recently.

 

Thanks, in fact I do not wait long.  Nor do many others.  Some departments certainly may have waits but I have used four departments recently without big waits.

 

No it is subjective, just another opinion.

 

for how many doctors and departments?

 

"a bit more expensive"  come on you claimed to be a skilled cost accountant and the best you can say is "a bit"

 

More opinion.

No it is good to go where you get the care you need.

In regards to your only one area comment - I am sorry to say it has not been only one area - I wish that you were correct!

Yes, friends often do share the same point of view - very good point - but in this  case no-one that I know likes to wait for long periods of time not just friends... But no doubt there are some people who will completely agree with you...

Good news that CM Ram has improved their parking! I hope all patients can easily walk to the hospital in less than a minute not just a few.

Good to hear that you don't wait long - maybe they have made an effort to update and improve - which is great. Note on rare occasions I have to wait at Bangkok hospital also this is when the doctor is called away for an emergency or urgent care,

The extra cost at Bangkok Hospital is so small that I don't pay any attention to it. And as I clearly mentioned if you factor in time savings Bangkok hospital is much cheaper - at least for those of us who are still working and have children.

I completely agree with you that it is good to go where you get the care that you need - and when I said being comfortable I meant that.

As for being a Cost accountant funny that you should mention that as while I am not a cost accountant, nor did I say I was - I did enjoy cost accounting and still do. It is funny because most accountants did not have much of an interest in the field. Instead I was a tax accountant - which is not considered fun by most but I find it very interesting like playing chess...

In summary you seem very happy where you are getting your medical care and this is great! I was not happy at CM Ram and it felt like a breath of fresh air to visit the then new Bangkok hospital. Doctors that did not make you wait, all new equipment and easy parking.

I hope that both of us dont need to visit either hospital too much in the near future! 

All the best!

5 hours ago, Bill97 said:

Limited experiences and opinion do not make facts.

Actually I am an accountant by training so I am very good at costs.

I have had diabetes for more than 30 years so I have had (sadly) lots of experience with the costs of doctors and hospitals.

I have a number of friends who have used both hospitals - no one that I know would disagree with my opinion about costs.

What part of my post do you disagree with?

1) Parking? Unless they have recently built a large parking area walking distance to the hospital then they have challenges as I stated. At Bangkok hospital you simply park in the back and have a one minute walk at most.

2) Wait times for appointments? If your CM Ram appointments are on time with no extra waits - that is really great and I am seriously happy for you! But my experience has been waits - even with appointments - it seems like an appointment means they have your files on hand but it is still first come first served...Also they must have computerized by now - in the past retrieved paper files!

3) I also said that CM Ram has good doctors and nurses - do you disagree? Also I have observed that many doctors, specialists especially serve  more than one hospital. Do you agree?

4) Atmosphere - this could be subjective but Bangkok hospital is new and well decorated with beautiful orchids everywhere. Plus a piano etc. Maybe CM Ram is now as beautiful - not sure as I have not been there for a while.

5) Having a good doctor for a long time - this would be probably the only reason I would go to CM Ram. Maybe hey could have a certain specialty that only they have in CM another good reason...

6) As for fees I have compared actual fees for doctors and they are similar - with Bangkok hospital being a bit more expensive but for me it is much cheaper when you factor in time saved. Maybe this is what you meant when you mentioned - opinions - if so you are 100% correct!

In the end it is good to go where you are comfortable and if you prefer CM Ram you that is good. 

1 hour ago, Dante99 said:

All of which you pay dearly for.  Ram has some excellent doctors.

CM Ram certainly has some good doctors and nurses (sometimes the same as at Bangkok hospital) but they have a long wait time to see doctors - and that is with an appointment also their parking situation shall we politely say needs improvement?

As for fees they are very similar, Bangkok hospital is slightly more. However, if you factor in time saved Bangkok hospital is much lower in cost - much lower... Unless you place no value on your time? I ma not retired and have children to pickup from school etc so time saved is very important to me - plus I like to minimize my time in hospitals..

Also Bangkok hospital has a more pleasant atmosphere.

But if you have a good doctor at CM Ram who you have been seeing for many years that alone is a good enough reason to stay.

Bangkok hospital overall has better service/waiting times and better parking.

I used to go to CM Ram...

Dr Joy at Bangkok hospital

Get a good CPA to start - then find a reliable lawyer that you trust.

Trademark your business name not expensive but takes some time...

If you need to pay the Mafia don't start the business.

Kerry is almost as bad for me - I live at teh end of their daily route in my area....

21 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

You may wish to enter reality

OK I got it you are a troll - good luck with your life.

6 hours ago, Photoguy21 said:

I suggest you try entering the world world. Yes for old and vulnerable people it is dangerous but that I am positive is not the real reason for the closures

You may want to be be less cynical but if it makes you happy carry on - do you have experience as a teacher - do you have lots of teachers as friends and family? Note - I do hence my comment.

Most teachers are dedicated and care about their students and often spend their own money for classroom supplies. This is a fact that I have observed over many years. There are a few teachers who made a mistake being teachers and are not happy to be in their jobs; and not only may dream of a few extra days off but of a whole new life - but they are not the majority.

17 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

was any of the children really sick or was the actions taken purely because the teachers wanted to stay home?

I doubt it was because the teachers wanted to stay home and when children have COVID it is a serious problem for grandparents and other high risk people near them and there are lots of elderly and high risk people in this world... But I suspect taht you already know this...

On 7/21/2022 at 6:16 AM, hotchilli said:

Precautions not working in class?

Difficult to get adults to be safe - very, very difficult to get kids to be safe...

Even with modern ventilation systems it is hard to be safe. I think a number of private schools in Thailand have modern ventilation systems but still have some COVID.

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Do you have connected data on deaths of students with and without vaccine shots and boosters ? Think they would be about the same for this age group

I am not a person trained in science so it would not help if I had data - so I dont read research papers - you need a very good understanding of statistics as a minimum to understand research papers.

If we are to go with general news reports, kids get less sick compared to adults, but some kids get sick and some die. 

Also kids that get sick even if they get better very quickly spread COVID to at risk groups their grandparents etc.

COVID is so frustrating looks like it will be a while before life goes back to normal...

I hope all those kids had their vaccines and booster shot so it will just be like a bad cold or flu.

I like iPhones - easy to use and strong 

On 7/15/2022 at 8:58 AM, owl sees all said:

A couple of things to consider that have not yet been.

 

What is the test result if the phone is dropped from the standard test height onto concrete from 1.5 metres?

 

If it is put underwater, as in dropped down the loo or inadvertently washed with the clothes in the WM; will it still be OK?

Great questions!

Also which is easy to use and has automatic updates?

2 hours ago, cnx1204 said:

I have worked with SSA Manila office for the last 12+ years helping Americans, Thai/Americans, and Thais collect SS benefits either to be deposited in a U.S. bank or a Thai bank.  I find the agents there are completely professional and competent in every way.   Only occasionally does the agent I am working with misunderstand the situation.  I think that only at the most 5 times over the 12 years have I had to elevate the issue to the Manila SSA Director.   

 

 

Not the same experience.

I found the staff very slow to respond and the letters they send out have address mistakes etc very careless. Possibly they are overworked?

Basically they know what they are doing but don't do a professional job.

They do seem to care but again they seem to be over worked?

44 minutes ago, chesterubi1 said:

I personally see Dr Promphan in The Internal Medicine Dept of Bangkok Hospital in Chiang Mai. I have been seeing her every three months for the past 5 years and is probably the best Dr that I have dealt with in the past 30 years. very knowledgable and speaks perfect English. I can highly recommend her.

She is good and her nickname is Dr Joy - I mentioned her above with her nickname - I should have added her real name...

Except she never mentioned nutrition to me and exercise only in passing - which is not good... She is a kind, well trained modern doctor but not what I need - and I have been her patient since Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai opened.

6 minutes ago, jeffandgop said:

Maybe it's related to Blinkin's visit to Thailand...senior consulate staff need to attend meetings in Bangkok & Consulate will re-open after the Secretary of State departs?

A good thought but I doubt that junior consular officers are needed in Bangkok and those are teh ones who help with passports etc

7 hours ago, Reposed said:

 

You respond to my posts, but avoid answering my questions.

I responded to point B to be helpful.

Point A is not known at the moment but I would say 95% it is due to COVId which is certainly not over from what people I know tell me - as in they got sick recently. The lucky thing is that those I know who were vaccinated got better and did not need to go to the hospital.

As for your point C I don't understand you.

4 hours ago, Reposed said:

a) then, why are they short-staffed?

 

b) Thai nationals cannot be consulate officers...

 

c) but if in high demand to be Thai 'security', again, why are they short-staffed?

 

Please explain.

 

 

Local nationals are not foreign service officers but they are consulate staff and from what I can see while traveling this is normal around the world.

1 hour ago, Reposed said:

Wow, that's great, except....

 

According to the consulate, nobody wants to work there.

 

 

 

 

Where did you hear that?

I doubt it highly as I was told by an American staff member a few years ago that it is a post in high demand.

It would also be a job in high demand by Thai nationals

1 hour ago, Sparktrader said:

100x is crazy

I agree - I take 2,500 units which is as high as I will go...

On 6/17/2022 at 3:39 PM, Harveyg said:

Refreshing to see these two comments here.

The first comment is priceless. Do not rely on what somebody tells you and do not rely on Govt suggested protocols. Rely on what your body tells you through bloodwork.

 

I believe I Herb is located in San Diego and is of very good quality and ships to Thailand.

I get my vitamin C (in the form of ascorbic acid) there.

I get my Vitamin D from iherb also better prices and quality 

I think that the technical aspects of pumps etc are not something I know about as I am a type two and still have around 20% insulin production.

My comments on diabetes doctors were meant to include most doctors worldwide I was not picking on Thai doctors.

The very good thing about Thai doctors at a private hospital is that they can spend more time with you - which is great.

99% (just an estimate) of the endocrinologists specializing in diabetes are not up to date on exercise and nutrition. I can tell you that when I exercise a lot and eat a very healthy whole food plant based diet my diabetes becomes under control without medicine (not cured - but under control). But it is hard work and most of us would rather just take a pill or insulin...

I have not met a single doctor in Thailand that has spoken to me about nutrition and exercise other than as a side note... In America most doctors are the same.

The website that I mentioned is for both type 1 and 2 but was created by two men who have type 1 diabetes so they walk the talk... For type one the goal is good health and getting insulin resistance under control - curing type 1 is still down the road but lets keep our hopes up - smiling!

49 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

This information appears on something called a "credit advice" which also shows the point of origin of the funds. A good idea to get one for every international transfer. With my bank it is possible to subscribe to  (free) notification service that  will automatically send it by email...or one can go to the bank and request it ea h time.  Very useful document to have both for immigration (if using income method) and tax authorities (2 out iof the past 3 years I needed it to show Prov tax office as my application for refund of withheld  tax on  bank 8nterest led to lengthy interrogations about my source of income). Might also come in handy should you in future want to export large sum of money out of Thailand or need to 9rove property was purchased with funds from abroad.

Your advice is good for most people.

I rarely visit my bank especially during COVID times so I will have to do without for now.

Will check the notification service...