How new are MRI/CT scanners in Bangkok ?

[London50]

Thinking of going for either an MRI scan or CT scan in Bangkok and wondering what private hospitals have the most up to date models or are there some places where the equipment is old and not recommended, Any suggestions would be helpful.

Also what is the procedure? Do I pay for an appointment with a Dr who will approve either an MRI scan or CT scan ?

[kkerry]

I was told by a friend who had to use a government hospital in Bangkok that the equipment there was antique, very, very noisy while being tested.

 

I had a cardiac MRI with contrast at a private hospital in Bangkok using a Tesla 1.5 MRI. The images I was shown were sharper than I expected. Phyathai 2 has a Tesla 3T so probably available at some other hospitals. Phyathai 2 use a 64 slice CT scanner, seems common here.

 

For making appointments, large private hospitals usually have contact details on their website, otherwise phone or go in person as they will have English speaking reception staff to assist you. You would usually need to see a doctor first. 

Edited November 6, 2018 by kkerry

[Sheryl]

As above. Some government hospitals do have good new equipment but only the really big ones.  Equipment at private hospitals is almost always pretty new though if you have a very special requirement for an unusual test best to check detailed specs.

 

You will have to see a doctor who will order the test(s).

 

Note that neither MRI nor CT is recommended as a routine health screening tool.  If you are having this done for a specific problem you should find out from the doctor treating you (the doctor who will then read and act on the results) which test is preferred and the specifics of it (with or without contrast, precise part of the body etc). You may otherwise waste your money (and, in the case of CT, radiation exposure) only to have to test again.

 

The radiologist reports that accompany MRIs and CTs in Thailand are not worth much (understatement) and treating specialist will not even bother reading them, neither should you. They will toss it aside and look at the film themselves. So if you are wanting an MRI or CT for self diagnosis, this will  not work. You need a well trained specialist to interpret it.

 

Poor interpretation is far more often the cause of a problem than the machine.

[London50]

Thank you kkerry & Sheryl for your replies.

When you say see a Dr first do you mean one at the private hospital or a GP in Bangkok

I seem to have several different things I'd like to sort out

Neck, hip, foot, arthritis do I need to speak to a separate specialist for each concern ?

[kkerry]

3 hours ago, London50 said:

When you say see a Dr first do you mean one at the private hospital or a GP in Bangkok

Most foreigners in big Thai cities go to a hospital to see a GP rather than a local GP, unlike other countries where you usually get a GP referral first and then maybe wait weeks or months for an appointment. I do have an excellent local suburban GP who I see for minor ailments for a fraction of the price I pay at a private hospital, but for anything else he doesn't have much equipment. In all my years of seeing him I have never seen another foreigner in his clinic, and I don't live in some isolated part of Thailand.

 

The same applies in varying degrees to hospitals. A large one near me simply doesn't have the facilities a more expensive Bangkok hospital will have. You can easily wait hours to see a doctor as they will not make appointments. Results of tests take two or three days compared to 30-90 minutes in a large private hospital with its own inhouse lab. Then there is the level of service provided. I was in a lot of pain from kidney stones one time but the nearest one wouldn't give me any serious pain relief before an ultrasound. Fair enough, they need to check, can't be sure. This was at 8AM, problem was their ultrasound guy didn't start work that day until 4PM... so I went straight to Bangkok where I was assessed, ultrasound completed and given proper pain relief in an hour. Much more expensive but if you've had kidney stones... generally, and not surprisingly, the higher the price the faster you're seen to. Chest pains, didn't feel like I was dying but you are told to get yourself to a hospital just in case... no appointment, private hospital, attended to by the head of cardiology within thirty minutes... costochondritis fortunately.

 

 

4 hours ago, London50 said:

I seem to have several different things I'd like to sort out

Neck, hip, foot, arthritis do I need to speak to a separate specialist for each concern ?

I can only speak of the hospitals I have been to in Thailand but my regular hospital would likely begin with an appointment with the orthopedics specialist. If he/she felt you needed to see someone else they would refer you same day to a colleague. Have a toenail fungus? You might see a GP or maybe their skin specialist rather than a podiatrist like perhaps you would in the west (a podiatrist is a specialist you don't find easily in Thai hospitals, cultural I suppose). Sheryl maybe could suggest hospitals best for you if you tell her more precisely what it is you are after.   

[Sheryl]

Thank you kkerry & Sheryl for your replies.
When you say see a Dr first do you mean one at the private hospital or a GP in Bangkok
I seem to have several different things I'd like to sort out
Neck, hip, foot, arthritis do I need to speak to a separate specialist for each concern ?

Thailand does not have the GP system you are used to nor do doctors usually have clinics outside if hospitsls, rather they work out of outpatient clinics located in hospitals (exception for Chiang Mai where some leading specialists have their own clinics.).

From the sounds of your concerns you should see a general orthopedic surgeon. If it turns out you have a spinal problem or hip is bad enough to consider surgery then I would recommend some specific orthos with sub specialty in hip and spine but for now just see a general ortho.

If you are in central Bangkok I suggest you go to either:

St Louis Hospital on Sathorn Rd near Surasak BTS station.

Bangkok Christian Hospital on silom near Saladaeng BTS.

Usually no appointment needed. Just ask fir an orthopedic dictor after registering to get a patient number.

Consultation will cost around 1000 - 1200 baht not inclding xrays or scans if needed.

If you ate located outside central Bangkok then lwt me know whete and I'll suggest somewhete ekse.



Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app