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Chiang Mai - Is Sriphat a private hospital?


JimmyJ

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Sripat is  a quasi private wing/annex  of a government hospital. Care there costs more than In a government hospital but usualuy less than in many private hospitals (though there have been reports they started dual pricing for farangs and that inpatient room rates in particular may now equal that of private hospitals despite much fewer comforts). 

 

8f cost is your priority then Sripat is a logical choice but there will he trade offs: longer waits, more crowded ,  little English speaking except by the doctors. Can be difficult to navigate especially on first visit if you don't speak Thai or have a Thai speaker with you to help.

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3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

though there have been reports they started dual pricing for farangs and that inpatient room rates in particular may now equal that of private hospitals despite much fewer comforts

Same in Bangkok (last time i checked the private arm of Siriraj was 10-20% cheaper  than Bumrungrad) and in Phuket (the private arm of Vachira recently managed to bill a farang 350000 for the last day of his life, less then 24 hours, no surgery)

 

And yes, these places are spartanic.

Edited by Lorry
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Sriphat is considered to be the hospital outlet of the Chiang Mai University. Most doctors practising there are professors or lectors at Chiang Mai University. This is why it may take some time to get an appointment with a specific doctor. But they are specialists in many fields, such as e.g. Ophthalmology, and considered very competent.

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24 minutes ago, paddyfield7 said:

Sriphat is considered to be the hospital outlet of the Chiang Mai University. Most doctors practising there are professors or lectors at Chiang Mai University. This is why it may take some time to get an appointment with a specific doctor. But they are specialists in many fields, such as e.g. Ophthalmology, and considered very competent.

No question that most of the doctors at Sripat are tops in their field.

 

Some of them are also available at private hospitals. With the rise in prices at Sripat the value of seeing them there vs a private hospital (if they are at one) becomes less.

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12 hours ago, Lorry said:

Same in Bangkok (last time i checked the private arm of Siriraj was 10-20% cheaper  than Bumrungrad) and in Phuket (the private arm of Vachira recently managed to bill a farang 350000 for the last day of his life, less then 24 hours, no surgery)

 

And yes, these places are spartanic.

Depends on the insurance policy of the Falang in question. They know pretty well with what they can get away with. If insurance guys would send  people to actually check the hospitals in Thailand, like they do at other countries, they would save us a lot of money if they start to blacklist these hospitals. Had a similar case where they charged 35.000 baht for phone calls while the patient was in a coma. They know exactly what the insurance companies allows them to charge for each item or service received. Regarding the above mentioned hospital in CNX. Rooms perfect, doctors very good, but they use the same outdated facilities as next door. Both times we had complications after an operation, DVT in my case and infection for my son.  I went to my surgeon who has his own clinic, and he referred me to RAM, I did use my social security instead, it saved me hundred of thousands of bath. My son used other hospitals to treat his infection (appendix removal) as his school was in BKK. Both problems should not have happened with a proper follow up or rehabilitation therapy (spine operation in my case)

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1 minute ago, SomchaiCNX said:

Depends on the insurance policy of the Falang in question. They know pretty well with what they can get away with. If insurance guys would send  people to actually check the hospitals in Thailand, like they do at other countries, they would save us a lot of money if they start to blacklist these hospitals. Had a similar case where they charged 35.000 baht for phone calls while the patient was in a coma. They know exactly what the insurance companies allows them to charge for each item or service received. Regarding the above mentioned hospital in CNX. Rooms perfect, doctors very good, but they use the same outdated facilities as next door. Both times we had complications after an operation, DVT in my case and infection for my son.  I went to my surgeon who has his own clinic, and he referred me to RAM, I did use my social security instead, it saved me hundred of thousands of bath. My son used other hospitals to treat his infection (appendix removal) as his school was in BKK. Both problems should not have happened with a proper follow up or rehabilitation therapy (spine operation in my case)

Forgot to mention that the professional knowledge and "taking care" of the patient (me) by the NURSES at Sripat (11 floor) was the best I ever received in my whole life.

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1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

No question that most of the doctors at Sripat are tops in their field.

 

Some of them are also available at private hospitals. With the rise in prices at Sripat the value of seeing them there vs a private hospital (if they are at one) becomes less.

Another question: Is the Sriphat equipment for procedures as up-to-date as private hospitals?

 

For example, I got a colonoscopy at Bumrungrad 4 years ago, and they had a scope with several wave lengths of light to detect abnormal growth. Afterwards I got a report in color with numerous photos of possible pre-cancerous polyps, etc. These were numbered with a map of the large intestine showing locations of the detail photos. Does Sriphat or any private hospital in CM have the same capability? The doc in Bumrungrad had previously been my GI doc in Sriphat.

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56 minutes ago, placnx said:

Another question: Is the Sriphat equipment for procedures as up-to-date as private hospitals?

 

For example, I got a colonoscopy at Bumrungrad 4 years ago, and they had a scope with several wave lengths of light to detect abnormal growth. Afterwards I got a report in color with numerous photos of possible pre-cancerous polyps, etc. These were numbered with a map of the large intestine showing locations of the detail photos. Does Sriphat or any private hospital in CM have the same capability? The doc in Bumrungrad had previously been my GI doc in Sriphat.

Sripat is linked to CM University Hospital and would usually have the best capacities in Chiang Mai. These will not, however, always be on par with Bangkok.

 

A standard colonoscopy recording, anywhere, will be in color and show polyps etc. (Hopefully yours were removed).

 

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Bangkok Hospital - Chiang Mai has hired some of the best doctors from Sripat/CMU hospital after they "age out" and are forced into retirement once they reach age sixty.  It's a blessing to be able to access them via out-patient appointments in very comfortable conditions, with high level of English competency throughout the staff (down to the cleaners, even) with appointments that are serviced on-time.  Way better than trying to navigate Sripat and waiting for hours for a brief time with the professor/doctor.

 

 

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10 hours ago, placnx said:

Another question: Is the Sriphat equipment for procedures as up-to-date as private hospitals?

 

For example, I got a colonoscopy at Bumrungrad 4 years ago, and they had a scope with several wave lengths of light to detect abnormal growth. Afterwards I got a report in color with numerous photos of possible pre-cancerous polyps, etc. These were numbered with a map of the large intestine showing locations of the detail photos. Does Sriphat or any private hospital in CM have the same capability? The doc in Bumrungrad had previously been my GI doc in Sriphat.

RAM do the same

 

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I have to differ from some of the opinions expressed here. Partly because they address aspects which were not in the OP. The OP asked about seeing a doctor at Sriphat. That is so-called out-patient care, OPD. Sriphat recently (1 year?) opened a new OPD building, about 1km away from the old one.

While it is true that the old Sriphat used to be hell in navigating the 18 floors and queueing for a doctor, let alone parking even a scooter, the new OPD is absolutely fantastic, efficient, modern, clean. Highly recommended.

I see a specialist there regularly, his fee is 200B. I present myself at the scheduled appointment, I hardly ever wait more than 30 min. A comparable specialist at Bangkok Hospital CM (also highly recommended) or CM Ram (of which I  use only the new Skin Center wing, the old original building is by now disgraceful) will cost about 3-4 times more.

 

In the end, especially if you have insurance, it's ridiculous to discuss price differences like these. What matters are things like price of medication, and of course if you have to undergo procedures. In my experience, medication prices vary wildly and unpredictably from one hospital to another.

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4 hours ago, NancyL said:

Bangkok Hospital - Chiang Mai has hired some of the best doctors from Sripat/CMU hospital after they "age out" and are forced into retirement once they reach age sixty.  It's a blessing to be able to access them via out-patient appointments in very comfortable conditions, with high level of English competency throughout the staff (down to the cleaners, even) with appointments that are serviced on-time.  Way better than trying to navigate Sripat and waiting for hours for a brief time with the professor/doctor.

 

 

Perhaps it is a blessing in your case. In my case, I'd love to use a doctor at BKK CM because the life-long medication I need is cheaper there. Unfortunately, their specialist is a dinosaur approaching 70 who seems never to retire. I had a very bad experience with said doctor 10 years ago (NB while she was working at Sriphat). I see instead a younger guy at Sriphat now, cheaper (the doctor, not the medicine but I am insured), who is up to date in his field. About English, appointments, hours of waiting, you might be referring to the old Sriphat which was indeed hell. The new Sriphat is fantastic and easily at the same level as BKK CM.

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12 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Sripat is linked to CM University Hospital and would usually have the best capacities in Chiang Mai. These will not, however, always be on par with Bangkok.

 

A standard colonoscopy recording, anywhere, will be in color and show polyps etc. (Hopefully yours were removed).

 

I am very happy with both BKK CM and the new Sriphat. I had a scare about a possible throat cancer last year (lucklily it wasn't), and I had it checked out at both hospitals. Very good doctors in both cases, and same equipment. Also comparable in terms of service, nurses, waiting time, etc. Absolutely no reason to prefer one over the other. For the record, I paid 1821B at BKK CM, and 1100/1600 (2 separate visits) at Sriphat.

 

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8 hours ago, arithai12 said:

I am very happy with both BKK CM and the new Sriphat. I had a scare about a possible throat cancer last year (lucklily it wasn't), and I had it checked out at both hospitals. Very good doctors in both cases, and same equipment. Also comparable in terms of service, nurses, waiting time, etc. Absolutely no reason to prefer one over the other. For the record, I paid 1821B at BKK CM, and 1100/1600 (2 separate visits) at Sriphat.

 

Will there be issues for an English speaking person who doesn't speak Thai at the new OPD?

Does the hospital list the languages a doctor speaks?

 

Is there an International Department, as at Ram and BKK CM?

 

What # do you use to make app'ts.?

 

 

 

Thank you.

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19 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

For reference:

 

When I had a serious accident in a hotel in Chiang Mai, whilst on a visit 9 years ago, I was taken to the RAJAVEY CHIANGMAI private hospital after telling the hotel staff not to send me to either the RAM or Bangkok hospitals because of the expensive cost. I had an operation to repair a punctured lung and 3 broken ribs. I was 4 days in ICU then 10 days "on the ward". Fortunately a British Legion pal (Welfare Officer) and his Thai wife (a retired senior nurse) regularly visited me. The total cost (including ambulances to/from hospital) was 55,000 baht. Bangkok Bank Accident Insurance paid 30,000 baht and me 25,000 baht. I had no medical/health insurance (always refused) as I am an insulin dependent type 2 diabetic taking medication to control blood pressure. I have no idea what this private hospital charges these days but at the time the medical staff were very helpful and professional. Personally, I do not need the 5-star glitz and glamour of an expensive hospital, I just want to recover as quickly as possible to return home. As stated elsewhere, the doctors in private hospitals are usually associated with Government hospitals or University Medical Schools.

That's the one I use for my social security. Not as fancy, don't like the rooms (ask for an upgrade paid by me) but the (my) doctors are good and the nurses do their best. They never overcharged me unlike others and do not put the extra, expensive medicine costs, (because of that DVT) on my bill. I did my second spine operation at this hospital because we had time to prepare , unlike the first one (emergency)

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3 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

Will there be issues for an English speaking person who doesn't speak Thai at the new OPD?

Does the hospital list the languages a doctor speaks?

 

Is there an International Department, as at Ram and BKK CM?

 

What # do you use to make app'ts.?

 

 

 

Thank you.

I am not clear if your questions are about Bangkok CM or Sripat.

 

For Bangkok CM the answer to all is yes, and appointments can be made onliner on their website.

 

For Sripat:

 

Will there be issues for an English speaking person who doesn't speak Thai at the new OPD?

 

YES, especially on the first visit. Better to have a Thai speraker with you, but if not, you'll muddle through. Supposedly it is better now in the new OPD building (English language signagae etc) but some people still report difficulties.

 

Does the hospital list the languages a doctor speaks?

 

NO, but as most of the doctors are on faculty at CMU they all speak English (though degree of fluency will vary).

 

Is there an International Department, as at Ram and BKK CM?

 

No, of course not. Sripat is not in any way set up for or trying to attract foreigners. It is set up to be a semi-private option for middle class Thais. Same idea as the "after hours" clinics in many government hospitals, just physically located in a separate building. 

 

What # do you use to make app'ts.?

 

You can find doctors hours online here https://sriphat.med.cmu.ac.th/en/doctor

I don't think they really operate an appointment system as such. You show up before the scheduled time and get in the queue/

 

The experience of using Sripat is akin to using a government hospital, slightly less crowded and chaotic but only by a matter of degrees. The biggest difference -- and an important one -- is that you bypass the medical students, interns and residents and directly see a senior doctor, and you can choose which one you see.

 

There are TV members I have referred to doctors in Sripat who gave up and walked out before even seeing the doctor as they found it just too difficult to navigate. Others persevere OK and  use it regularly (it does get easier with time as you get to know the system and what to expect) . Your expectations should be for soemthing midway between a government hospital type level of service and a mid-range private hospital oriented to a Thai population.  Expect crowds, confusion, language barriers and  waits, and bring plenty of reading material. If you want services oriented towards foreigners, and operating on a strict  apppointment system, you need to use a private hospital.

 

Supposedly all this is better in the newly built OPD wing but I have still gotten complaints.  I think a lot depends on your expectations and how long you've lived in Thailand,.

 

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On 5/30/2022 at 1:00 PM, Sheryl said:

Sripat is linked to CM University Hospital and would usually have the best capacities in Chiang Mai. These will not, however, always be on par with Bangkok.

 

A standard colonoscopy recording, anywhere, will be in color and show polyps etc. (Hopefully yours were removed).

 

The first colonscopy at Bumrungrad around 20 years ago included a color video, and they gave me a copy which seemed to impress my doc in Boston. I am not talking about that now. I was talking about the technology that was evident in the paper report, namely a more sophisticated endoscope. 

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12 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

Will there be issues for an English speaking person who doesn't speak Thai at the new OPD?

Does the hospital list the languages a doctor speaks?

absiolutely not. Everybody speaks English - well all the info counters staff, nurses, as for doctors I used only two they spoke good English.

12 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

 

Is there an International Department, as at Ram and BKK CM?

Once you get in, on the ground floor, there is an info desk for appointments and inquiries, they speak English, some better than me ???? I never needed an Int'l Dep. I needed it at Ram and BKK CM when they had to deal with my insurance for operations. I don't think they do operations at the Sriphat OPD.

12 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

 

What # do you use to make app'ts.?

My appointment slip says to call 053-936908, 936910, 934643 to change appointment. Perhaps you can try that. But if you live in town it's easy to drive there, and there are a couple of nice restaurants and a small supermarket round the corner to make it worth you while ????

12 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

 

 

 

Thank you.

 

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9 hours ago, Sheryl said:

I am not clear if your questions are about Bangkok CM or Sripat.

 

For Bangkok CM the answer to all is yes, and appointments can be made onliner on their website.

 

For Sripat:

 

Will there be issues for an English speaking person who doesn't speak Thai at the new OPD?

 

YES, especially on the first visit. Better to have a Thai speraker with you, but if not, you'll muddle through. Supposedly it is better now in the new OPD building (English language signagae etc) but some people still report difficulties.

 

Does the hospital list the languages a doctor speaks?

 

NO, but as most of the doctors are on faculty at CMU they all speak English (though degree of fluency will vary).

 

Is there an International Department, as at Ram and BKK CM?

 

No, of course not. Sripat is not in any way set up for or trying to attract foreigners. It is set up to be a semi-private option for middle class Thais. Same idea as the "after hours" clinics in many government hospitals, just physically located in a separate building. 

 

What # do you use to make app'ts.?

 

You can find doctors hours online here https://sriphat.med.cmu.ac.th/en/doctor

I don't think they really operate an appointment system as such. You show up before the scheduled time and get in the queue/

 

The experience of using Sripat is akin to using a government hospital, slightly less crowded and chaotic but only by a matter of degrees. The biggest difference -- and an important one -- is that you bypass the medical students, interns and residents and directly see a senior doctor, and you can choose which one you see.

 

There are TV members I have referred to doctors in Sripat who gave up and walked out before even seeing the doctor as they found it just too difficult to navigate. Others persevere OK and  use it regularly (it does get easier with time as you get to know the system and what to expect) . Your expectations should be for soemthing midway between a government hospital type level of service and a mid-range private hospital oriented to a Thai population.  Expect crowds, confusion, language barriers and  waits, and bring plenty of reading material. If you want services oriented towards foreigners, and operating on a strict  apppointment system, you need to use a private hospital.

 

Supposedly all this is better in the newly built OPD wing but I have still gotten complaints.  I think a lot depends on your expectations and how long you've lived in Thailand,.

 

ok Sheryl but all the negative things you report are about the old Sriphat building.

He was asking explicitly about OPD, and I am sorry but everything is wrong.

They speak English at a level comparable with BKH CM.

They have many foreign customers.

Of course they run an appointment system, they tell me at which hour to come (eg 5pm or 6pm) then I get a queue number which is very well respected (unlike e.g. RAM where I often had to protest), comprehensive of QR code and displayed clearly on large LCD screens.

 

I realize you provide this info based on feedbacks, and you do a great job, but please don't you have a friend in CM that can go and check out the situation?

 

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13 hours ago, arithai12 said:

ok Sheryl but all the negative things you report are about the old Sriphat building.

He was asking explicitly about OPD, and I am sorry but everything is wrong.

They speak English at a level comparable with BKH CM.

They have many foreign customers.

Of course they run an appointment system, they tell me at which hour to come (eg 5pm or 6pm) then I get a queue number which is very well respected (unlike e.g. RAM where I often had to protest), comprehensive of QR code and displayed clearly on large LCD screens.

 

I realize you provide this info based on feedbacks, and you do a great job, but please don't you have a friend in CM that can go and check out the situation?

 

I have very, very recent feedback (i.e. within past month) from people using Sripat OPD who still had complaints/did nto find it as farang oriented as private hiospitasl. How long has the new OPD been open?

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11 hours ago, Sheryl said:

I have very, very recent feedback (i.e. within past month) from people using Sripat OPD who still had complaints/did nto find it as farang oriented as private hiospitasl. How long has the new OPD been open?

I thought I had already mentioned... my first visit there was in Nov 2020. So if they are  complaining one month ago I can only open my arms in disbelief.

I am not sure what it means "farang oriented", I am a farang too, my Thai is limited, I always speak English at Sriphat OPD, never had a problem. All the signs and writings and receipts are in English. Of course, I haven't tried all the specialists, only two. In terms of service and organization, it beats e.g. RAM hands down, and I have been a frequent flyer there for years. Similar level as BKH CM.

Anyway Sheryl, I think I made my views clear enough, I will stop hijacking this thread now.

Keep up the good work.

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  • 4 months later...

arithai12 comments:

 

"the new OPD is absolutely fantastic, efficient, modern, clean. Highly recommended."

 

"The new Sriphat is fantastic and easily at the same level as BKK CM."

 

"Everybody speaks English - well all the info counters staff, nurses, as for doctors I used only two they spoke good English."

 

"Once you get in, on the ground floor, there is an info desk for appointments and inquiries, they speak English, some better than me"

 

"They speak English at a level comparable with BKH CM.

They have many foreign customers.

Of course they run an appointment system, they tell me at which hour to come (eg 5pm or 6pm) then I get a queue number which is very well respected (unlike e.g. RAM where I often had to protest), comprehensive of QR code and displayed clearly on large LCD screens."

 

"I always speak English at Sriphat OPD, never had a problem. All the signs and writings and receipts are in English."

 

My excellent recent 1st experience at Sriphat's new building matches all of arithai12's comments above.

 

1st rate from the Info Desk to Registration to all staff I dealt with to the Doctor - 1st class all the way.

Less expensive than Ram and BKK CM and at least on the same level - 

And less crowded

 

I was walked from the Info Desk to the Reg. Desk nearby.

When my appt. was delayed due to my Dr. being called away for an emergency, I said I would wait and asked about a coffee shop nearby. They took my phone #,

Back down to the ground floor, and not sure which exit to take - Another staffer walked me to the exit and pointed me on my way.

 

I walked about a hundred yards down a corridor to the street, and my phone started ringing.

Due to a technical issue I wasn't able to answer the call, nor when it rang a 2nd time.

 

I sat on a bench and rebooted the phone.

While waiting for it to turn back on, a nurse appeared - because I hadn't answered, she had taken the elevator to the ground floor and walked the 100 yard corridor looking for me, to let me know the situation had changed and the Dr. was back.

 

Like arithai12, I highly recommend this hospital.

Edited by JimmyJ
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On 5/30/2022 at 1:00 PM, Sheryl said:

Sripat is linked to CM University Hospital and would usually have the best capacities in Chiang Mai. These will not, however, always be on par with Bangkok.

 

A standard colonoscopy recording, anywhere, will be in color and show polyps etc. (Hopefully yours were removed).

 

I went to one of the CMU gastrointestinal specialists who takes appointments in the Excellence Building on the other side of Suthep Road from the new Sriphat OPD Clinic. I learned that everybody (BKK-CM, Ram, Sriphat) is using the advanced technology colonoscopes these days which use blue/green light and zoom to better discover polyps and judge their level of danger.

 

In the Excellence Building they apparently don't have an anesthesiologist, and I had a colonoscopy once under those conditions. Once was enough to see one's inside scrolling by. So I went to Ram for a colonoscopy. A polyp was seen but not removed or biopsied. 

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