Doctor or hospital recommendation

[Dnell29]

Good day,

 

I would like advice about choosing a doctor. I have recently spoken to my doctor from my home country who recommended that I see a doctor while working in Bangkok. I need a doctor who specializes in hormone therapy and gynecology. My problem might be a little complex, so someone with excellent English is really needed.

 

This will be my first-time seeing someone about something so personal and want to be sure that it is a doctor who cares and someone who is knowledgeable when it comes to hormone imbalances and the latest treatments for such issues.

 

Secondly, I have a work permit and we have health insurance at work. To ensure this treatment will be covered by my insurance, I have to be booked into the hospital. Now, this is not something I am familiar with. Do I just call the hospital and ask to be booked in? Can I still ensure I see my doctor of choice? In my home country, you would first see a doctor and then the doctor would arrange for you to be admitted- unless it was an emergency of course. Could anyone please explain how to go about being admitted?

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

TIA

[Sheryl]

Is this the The Social Security insurance?

 

You do NOT have to be admitted to the hospital but you have to get all your care at the specific hospital you register at (you do have some choice on that -- get the list from your HR dept and post her and I'll advise on which is best).

 

Hospitals in Thailand contain large outpatient departments and this is where most doctors see patients, in Bangkok especially they do not maintain separate offices. It makes a lot of sense as hundreds of doctors can share the laboratory, x ray facilities, clerical support services etc at the same place.So it is not that you are being admitted to the hospital but that you are seeing a doctor at a hospital outpatient clinic. Very different.

 

As to how to access it, it depends on which hospital you are registered at. If it is a private hospital you call or make an online appt with the doctor of your choice. If it is a government hospital you have 2 choices:

 

- regular public channel. You show up, explain your problem in general terms (in your case "gyn problem"  will probably suffice) to a nurse and get directed to a clinic  where you will eventually be seen by a doctor of the applicable specialty. This will generally be an intern or, in the case of specialty clinics like gyn, a resident in training and they may or may not speak much English. They are supervised by senior doctors who usually do speak English but you may or may not yourself see that person. There are a lot more bureaucratic steps I'm leaving  out here and the first time at least should have a Thai speaker along. And expect very long waits i.e. at least a half  day or more. It is first come, first serve and people start queueing very very early.  Using this channel SS pays all.

 

-after hours clinic also sometimes called "premium clinic". Here, you pay extra (beyond what SS covers) and are able to see a senior doctor and choose which one. The extra cost will be maybe 500 baht, meds and the like will still be covered by SS, you pay only for the extra of choosing doctor and being seen by a senior one. Even with this waits can be a few hours and in some cases you may have to go in person to make an appointment and then return at a later time, The best doctors especially have wait lists, sometimes long ones. These after hours clinics are usually in the evening and on weekends.

 

You could also, of course, just pay out of pocket to consult a doctor at a private hospital that does not participate in the SS scheme (most don't).  That will cost up to 2000 baht not including medications or tests. Appointment by phone or online and they have websites with doctor CVs. Doctors will speak English well and even the clerks and nursing staff will usually speak enough for basic communication.

 

I could advise you better if I knew what your problem was exactly -- endometriosis? PMDD? Menopause? etc. If PMDD or menopause be aware that only a few doctors in Thailand understand or use bio-identical hormones.