MRI Scans

[SidJames]

Can anyone recommend somewhere that I can get an MRI scan done on my knee & then read properly?

Mine's been playing up for 3 weeks now

[SantiSuk]

If you can't get something reliable and good value in Pattaya but are prepared to travel to Bangkok then I can recommend the independent MRI centre, Rachvipa MRI Centre (http://rachvipamri.com/en/home-en/).

 

I was sent there by Bumrungrad Hospital because their own in-house MRI department was fully booked on the afternoon I was getting my hips looked at by a B'Grad orthopaedic specialist and I opted for the outsourcing rather than waiting a day. The fact that B'grad uses them is some vindication and the Google reviews by private customers of it are good. You do not need a doctor referral - they will have a relevant doctor interview you on the reasons for your presenting for MRI (mine asked many of the questions the B'grad ortho guy had asked) and you will receive a debrief by the doctor afterwards and a detailed radiologist's report in English (probably best to specify). I speak some slightly better than basic Thai, which helped but they speak some English. Maybe best to take a Thai if you want to have a fully nuanced conversation.

 

The centre is located at the top end of Tha. Ratchadapisek, near where it crosses the Sirat Expressway. Their website seemed to be non-functioning in its "contact us" section when I just now tried it, but if you search on "Rachvipamri" in Google Maps it's location will come up along with side panel details showing tel no / address. E-mail address is [email protected] per the flyer I have filed in my health records.

 

I was billed 10,000 baht (Feb-2017) by B'grad, which was a straight pass-thru' of the internal bill I was given to take back to B'grad. PossibIy it might have been less than that on a walk-in private customer basis as I am sure B'grad would have some kind of 'target overrider discount' or similar from its referrals. I believe that 10,000 baht is reasonably good value anyway - certainly way cheaper than a European/US hospital rate. I'm guessing that one knee would be cheaper than both hips (lower trunk) - presumably less tunnel time.

 

I was impressed by their professionalism and have no hesitation in recommending the centre. PM ThaiV member 'Sheryl' to get her attention - maybe she has feedback on this and/or other centres. Oh, and if you happened to have any prior relevant scans and/or radiologist reports you should take them with you. Analysis works best when comparative analysis for changes can be added.

Edited August 13, 2019 by SantiSuk

[SidJames]

BPH charged me 12K for the scan & want 450K for keyhole surgery on my meniscus,

I will bring my MRI to that fellow in B'grad this week for him opinion & price.

Seems lumpy if you ask me

[gk10002000]

On 8/13/2019 at 8:08 AM, SantiSuk said:

If you can't get something reliable and good value in Pattaya but are prepared to travel to Bangkok then I can recommend the independent MRI centre, Rachvipa MRI Centre (http://rachvipamri.com/en/home-en/).

 

I was sent there by Bumrungrad Hospital because their own in-house MRI department was fully booked on the afternoon I was getting my hips looked at by a B'Grad orthopaedic specialist and I opted for the outsourcing rather than waiting a day. The fact that B'grad uses them is some vindication and the Google reviews by private customers of it are good. You do not need a doctor referral - they will have a relevant doctor interview you on the reasons for your presenting for MRI (mine asked many of the questions the B'grad ortho guy had asked) and you will receive a debrief by the doctor afterwards and a detailed radiologist's report in English (probably best to specify). I speak some slightly better than basic Thai, which helped but they speak some English. Maybe best to take a Thai if you want to have a fully nuanced conversation.

 

The centre is located at the top end of Tha. Ratchadapisek, near where it crosses the Sirat Expressway. Their website seemed to be non-functioning in its "contact us" section when I just now tried it, but if you search on "Rachvipamri" in Google Maps it's location will come up along with side panel details showing tel no / address. E-mail address is [email protected] per the flyer I have filed in my health records.

 

I was billed 10,000 baht (Feb-2017) by B'grad, which was a straight pass-thru' of the internal bill I was given to take back to B'grad. PossibIy it might have been less than that on a walk-in private customer basis as I am sure B'grad would have some kind of 'target overrider discount' or similar from its referrals. I believe that 10,000 baht is reasonably good value anyway - certainly way cheaper than a European/US hospital rate. I'm guessing that one knee would be cheaper than both hips (lower trunk) - presumably less tunnel time.

 

I was impressed by their professionalism and have no hesitation in recommending the centre. PM ThaiV member 'Sheryl' to get her attention - maybe she has feedback on this and/or other centres. Oh, and if you happened to have any prior relevant scans and/or radiologist reports you should take them with you. Analysis works best when comparative analysis for changes can be added.

10,000 baht is ok but not great compared to what I got a cheap MRI done in Florida and got all of a 4 sentence radiologist report with it for $200 USD.  The Orthopedic guy I then went to finally admitted that he originally never looked at the MRI CD I gave him, and then said when he did look, the image quality was poor and he could not tell how bad or long the partial tear in my rotator cuff was.