Gov hospital BILL question

[MJCM]

 

1 hour ago, lopburi3 said:

Yes but suspect he can order the tests and review with you - easier than trying to do directly with hospital and that way he can maintain your records for long term care.

Yeah I agree, but if I go to the hospital I will be done and dusted in 1 day and 1 bill, BUT by going to him it will be 2-3 days and 3 bills (2 Bills Clinic and 1 Bill hospital). And for sure I can't submit his clinic bills.

 

I will at first go the Hospital route and it also has a (small) advantage that I am (then) registered there

 

Edit: There is also a BIG chance that he will be the Doc I will be seeing when I am going to the Hospital

[The Hammer2021]

14 hours ago, Sheryl said:

I have yet to see a government hospital where bills and medical reports were in English.

 

Occasionally there will be some English words written into the medical report (because often there are no Thai words for certain medical things) but Thai language is the norm and bills are entirely in Thai. As is true in other government institutitions/offices. Private hospitals of course are a totally different matter.

 

He is asking about small cost outpatient care so advanced authorization doesn't come into it (and would also be very hard to arrange at a small government hospital).

Thanks - I stand corrected - I mentioned to the OP that my thoughts on this matter could inored as I had misunderstood  the nature of the hospital  services being offered.

[The Hammer2021]

15 hours ago, MJCM said:

Thx.

 

I don't know .... but the many times I have been in that hospital already visiting people or going together to appointments for my wife, I would have noticed something about insurance. Of course I could be wrong (as we never asked) and will report back of course if I am, but the request from the insurer remains to pay bills less then 20k THB yourself and then send the bills to them via their online portal!

 

I have submitted hospital  bills insurance claims many times- in the old days posting sheaves of documents to the insurance  company  but nowadays using the mobile phone app. For large issues I get  pre authorisation.  You can ask your insurance  company their advice on  the documents given the language  issue. Good luck.

[MJCM]

2 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

I have paid hospital  bills many times- in the old days posting sheaves of documents to the insurance  company  but nowadays using the mobile phone app. For large issues I get  pre authorisation.  You can ask your insurance  company their advice on best way to  submit the documents given the language  issue. Good luck

Already done

 

 

 

[MJCM]

Went to the Local Hospital and that went ... great (NOT)

 

1 - Some nurse at the enterance. Why you come here. I - I want to have a checkup and I want to register.

2- SHe - What are your Symptoms?

3- We - NO have!

4- She - Then Can't register

5- I - I have headaches

6- She - How long?

7- I - 3 days after getting my last covid Vaccine

8- She - Oke measure BP

9- Measured BP was a tad high.

10- She - BP high, but you have to come back next thursday because the BP "Clinic" is already full. Come back then around 7am

11- So we left

12- Monday we are driving to Korat to the Private Hospital!!

[Sheryl]

I am nto surprised. Preventive check ups are nto a usual service at that level of hospital.

[MJCM]

2 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

I am nto surprised. Preventive check ups are nto a usual service at that level of hospital.

But what utter surprised me that the BP "Clinic" was already full, so they only accept a certain amount of people. My wife told me that some people get there at around 5am just to get a queue number!!

 

But I already have an appointment at 9:00am in Korat on Monday and the Nurse said that I have to measure my BP every morning/Midday/evening and record it so the Doctor can have a look on Monday!! Also advised to refrain from eating and drinking from 12am on Sunday so they can do a blood test!!

[The Fugitive]

1 hour ago, MJCM said:

Went to the Local Hospital and that went ... great (NOT)

 

1 - Some nurse at the enterance. Why you come here. I - I want to have a checkup and I want to register.

2- SHe - What are your Symptoms?

3- We - NO have!

4- She - Then Can't register

5- I - I have headaches

6- She - How long?

7- I - 3 days after getting my last covid Vaccine

8- She - Oke measure BP

9- Measured BP was a tad high.

10- She - BP high, but you have to come back next thursday because the BP "Clinic" is already full. Come back then around 7am

11- So we left

12- Monday we are driving to Korat to the Private Hospital!!

Exasperating is the word. The nurse has traditional British mentality. What on earth are you doing here if you aren't ill? You only go to a hospital (or consult a GP at their surgery in UK) if you are already ill, have been for some time and you're getting much worse. Go away you hypochondriac timewaster!

[lopburi3]

17 minutes ago, MJCM said:

Also advised to refrain from eating and drinking from 12am on Sunday so they can do a blood test!!

That is a key requirement for tests that require fasting (such as current blood sugar) so something you have to do on most checkups (although they may just be proactive in case doctor wants to make a last minute test that requires fasting).  

[JimmyJ]

On 5/31/2022 at 9:53 AM, Chris.B said:

How much did it cost? What method did they use to repair the hernia?

 

Getting a non-mesh hernia repair is almost impossible.

 

I had mine repaired non-mesh in the USA by one of the few who do this.

 

 

[The Fugitive]

18 minutes ago, MJCM said:

But what utter surprised me that the BP "Clinic" was already full, so they only accept a certain amount of people. My wife told me that some people get there at around 5am just to get a queue number!!

Mrs just returned moments ago from our local community hospital. Fortunately, my Mrs knows staff there and they allow my Mother-In-Law to jump the queue (today by 110 people). However, I understand that the one and only GP stays to see everyone. At least you do get seen the same day without having to make an appointment. 

[The Fugitive]

1 hour ago, MJCM said:

12- Monday we are driving to Korat to the Private Hospital!!

As an alternative and possibly more convenient for you, are there any private High Street clinics nearby? I can't read Thai so have to rely on my Mrs. I have been to an ear, nose and throat specialist doctor's clinic twice when I had ear infections. Superb service, consultation, prescription and medicines for only 1,200 baht. This particular clinic is always rammed with Thai people. That speaks for itself!  

[MJCM]

8 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

Fortunately, my Mrs knows staff there

That seems to be the Key in those local Hospitals.

 

I don't care much for the health care there anyway. Many years ago, MIL, had fallen down in the Bathroom and hurt her arm, went to that local hospital. Doctor refused to give her an x-ray and said  just sprained.

 

So she was sent away with literally 2 Paracetamol.

 

After a week the pain became very bad, went again to the local hospital, saw another doctor, immediately ordered X-Ray, clearly broken. Immediately sent to the MAIN Hospital!!

[MJCM]

17 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

As an alternative and possibly more convenient for you, are there any private High Street clinics nearby? I can't read Thai so have to rely on my Mrs. I have been to an ear, nose and throat specialist doctor's clinic twice when I had ear infections. Superb service, consultation, prescription and medicines for only 1,200 baht. This particular clinic is always rammed with Thai people. That speaks for itself!  

There is but, Id rather go to a one-stop SHOP where in 2-3 hours I can get everything done!

 

Going to a Clinic it's a 2-3 day affair.

 

Also costs I don't care much about, Costs in the Private Hospital will be * times higher then a clinic, because I have Full Insurance ! And clinic I can't claim!

 

The only thing I have to pay myself is the petrol for the 300km Round trip, but one advantage (or disadvantage)  going to Korat is (we haven't been in approx 1,5 years) is going to The Mall and Terminal 21 ????

 

Thinking about it, I think we will go on Sunday afternoon, stay the Night in Korat and Monday early morning arrive fresh at the hospital instead of leaving at 6am and driving with an Empty Stomach!!

 

 

[The Fugitive]

12 minutes ago, MJCM said:

That seems to be the Key in those local Hospitals.

 

I don't care much for the health care there anyway. Many years ago, MIL, had fallen down in the Bathroom and hurt her arm, went to that local hospital. Doctor refused to give her an x-ray and said  just sprained.

 

So she was sent away with literally 2 Paracetamol.

 

After a week the pain became very bad, went again to the local hospital, saw another doctor, immediately ordered X-Ray, clearly broken. Immediately sent to the MAIN Hospital!!

Oh dear! No excuse for not performing an X-Ray. Our experience has been good though. The GP looked as though he was on Youth Training Scheme but he was superb, asked many questions and thoroughly reviewed my MIL's medications, tweaking some doses and prescribing some alternative drugs. She steadily improved thereafter. Unfortunately, yesterday she fell again, suffering severe bruising once more. She insisted that the only doctor she wanted to see was this same young man!

[MJCM]

12 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

Oh dear! No excuse for not performing an X-Ray. Our experience has been good though. The GP looked as though he was on Youth Training Scheme but he was superb, asked many questions and thoroughly reviewed my MIL's medications, tweaking some doses and prescribing some alternative drugs. She steadily improved thereafter. Unfortunately, yesterday she fell again, suffering severe bruising once more. She insisted that the only doctor she wanted to see was this same young man!

It can be a total hit and miss, as my wife went for her Diabetes to this hospital (only had to go 1st time to get the initial diagnose and now she just goes to our local Anamai where she knows everyone and it's a lot easier.) and got an excellent doctor. FIL goes every 3 months and also is very pleased. So what happened to my MIL is just bad luck (but bad experiences you always keep remembering ???? )

 

What I understand (maybe @Sheryl can comment) is that Doctors that just finished Medical School have to do a Mandatory Stint at a Government Hospital (But I could be wrong about this)

[MJCM]

49 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

That is a key requirement for tests that require fasting (such as current blood sugar) so something you have to do on most checkups (although they may just be proactive in case doctor wants to make a last minute test that requires fasting).  

But you see how pro-active this nurse was.

 

1- Appointment 9am done!

2- Make BP list

3- Fast from 12am on wards.

 

If she wouldn't have done that, it would have meant that on another day I have to drive again to Korat just for the bloodtest.

 

So Kudos to her!!

 

 

[Chris.B]

59 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

Mrs just returned moments ago from our local community hospital. Fortunately, my Mrs knows staff there and they allow my Mother-In-Law to jump the queue (today by 110 people). 

Unfortunately for the other 110 patients!  ☹️

 

[The Fugitive]

Just now, Chris.B said:

Unfortunately for the other 110 patients!  ☹️

 

I totally agree! Something I've always hated seeing and having it done to me. My Mrs does the same whenever we go to Immigration Office. I take a turn ticket and wait. She stuffs money inside my passport and flings it over the glass screens. Moments later we get called. She says it's the 'Thai way of doing things'.  

[MJCM]

@The Fugitive

 

Does your local Hospital work with a booklet that the Doctor writes in and the patient has to take it back home and subsequent visits have to bring this booklet with them?

 

My wife says, this is how our local hospital works and when she goes together with her Father to the hospital for his appointment, she arrives around 6:00am and the queue (which is the Books on top of each other is already around 20 cms high. But checking starts around 7-7:30am and the Doctor arrives around 8-8:45am)

 

So my guess is people arrive around 4-5am and just drop the book in the queue and then they come back around 7am! (Or they get people who live near the hospital do it for them)

[The Fugitive]

5 minutes ago, MJCM said:

@The Fugitive

 

Does your local Hospital work with a booklet that the Doctor writes in and the patient has to take it back home and subsequent visits have to bring this booklet with them?

 

My wife says, this is how our local hospital works and when she goes together with her Father to the hospital for his appointment, she arrives around 6:00am and the queue (which is the Books on top of each other is already around 20 cms high. But checking starts around 7-7:30am and the Doctor arrives around 8-8:45am)

 

So my guess is people arrive around 4-5am and just drop the book in the queue and then they come back around 7am! (Or they get people who live near the hospital do it for them)

Yes, both Mrs and MIL have blue/white cardboard covered hospital books that they keep and take with them each visit. You are spot on about the check in and doctor arrival times! The reception where you check in is opposite A/E, hence you can get to it at anytime. I guess people drop off their books for the next day well in advance. As already mentioned my Mrs has contacts and they will ring her when her turn is almost due so she doesn't have to wait all day in the hospital.   

[MJCM]

Ooh ****************

 

And now my trusted BP monitor has stopped working / isn't accurate anymore

 

All results are ALL in the range 136-140/84-89  only (even when my wife takes her BP)

 

I don't think the doc at the Hospital will believe me when I give him that list ????

 

[MJCM]

Update: Just back from the Hospital

 

1- Left home 5:30am

2- around 10 minutes later wifey found out that she forgot her phone ????

3- Left Home (2nd time) 6:00am

4- Arrived at the hospital at 8:15am. Much faster then expected as most of the 2 lane roads have been changed to 4 lane roads ????

5- First Register (and some simple covid checks) (easy peasy)

6- Got send to Internal Medicine department, where my blood was taken and a urine sample at around 9:00am

7- Finally could get a coffee and some food as I hadn't eaten and drunk something from 9pm yesterday!

8- Because we had to wait for the blood test (1hr 30) and the doctor was busy with a patient on a threadmill (stress test) we saw the doctor at around 10:45. (Ps: The Doctor was a Cardiologist)

9- Gave him my list of the BP measurements and wasn't impressed, even the high marks (well over 150/85) but he said my BP is border line high

10- The only very high was my Cholesterol and the rest even Blood Sugar / Liver etc was oke

11- In the end he told me to come back in 2 weeks, and I must measure my BP for 3-4 times a day before he decides I get medicine for my BP. The only medicine he gave me was Trilipix 135mg for my High Cholesterol.

12- I also told him that my BP Monitor was broken, and he advised me to buy a new in the SaveDrug Pharmacy Store located also in the hospital and then come back upstairs to compare it to their machine, which we did and it was around 1 or 2 points difference with their BP monitor and our new one (Omron) so that was very good. He also advised us how to use it.

 

Total Bill excl. the NEW BP Monitor (which was 2750) was 4746 THB (incl. Medical Certificate)

 

Overall very happy.

 

 

[MJCM]

Ooh I forgot something.

 

You might ask why not Simvastatin for your Cholesterol?

 

I was on them for a while and got terrible pain in my achilles tendon in both my left and right foot so I stopped using it.

 

There is a supplement which I could take, but I forgot what it was!

 

So I said to the Doctor "No Simvastatin", the Doc replied there are 2 others, and he advised me to take Trilipix.

[nikmar]

2- around 10 minutes later wifey found out that she forgot her phone 

3- Left Home (2nd time) 6:00am

 

 

 

ohh, how I can relate to this

[The Fugitive]

1 hour ago, MJCM said:

Overall very happy.

I should think you are. Great result health wise and incredible value. If you hadn't posted the bill I wouldn't have believed Bangkok Hospital would produce anything like it! 

[MJCM]

Update:

 

I am measuring my BP now for a couple of days 3-4 times a day and they are NO where near (a lot lower and in the normal range) then the measurements in the Hospital and during the checks before I got my 3rd Covid Injection.

 

Sheryl explained to me that I could be suffering from "White Coat Hypertension".  ????

 

I also booked on her advice a Stress Test which will cost (after buying a voucher on their Website) 2200 THB

 

 

 

 

[Digitalbanana]

On 5/31/2022 at 8:26 AM, MJCM said:

I sent an email to my insurer, with 2 questions

 

1- Can I submit a Bill from the Local Hospital that is only in Thai

2- If not, what do I have to do to be able to submit it

 

Will report back when they reply (usually around 1-2 days)

Interesting thread thanks. Did you get the answer to above?

[KhunLA]

11 minutes ago, MJCM said:

Update:

 

I am measuring my BP now for a couple of days 3-4 times a day and they are NO where near (a lot lower and in the normal range) then the measurements in the Hospital and during the checks before I got my 3rd Covid Injection.

 

Sheryl explained to me that I could be suffering from "White Coat Hypertension".  ????

Website) 2200 THB

What are you using to check BP with.  I had one of those smart watches/bands, and it was consistent off by 20 / BP.   At docs & hospital, whether auto machine or nurse pumping to check BP, it's always fairly consistent.

 

Also, when taken at hospital.  If as soon as you enter, then sure to be higher.  Rest for 15 minutes, and it will drop.  May be why at home, it's lower, as you're at rest when taking a reading.

 

Had mine done yesterday, and a little high, but I had just had my morning coffee, and no rest, as taken immediately on entry to the clinic.  Sure it would have been 10-20 less if rested without the coffee (12 oz or strong coffee)

[MJCM]

I have 2 monitors. One Omron (HEM-756-A) bought at a Pharmacy (Save Drug) which is located in a shop in the Hospital and had it checked by going back to the Doctor and they then did a BP measurement with the Omron and their machine and it was only a minor difference between the 2.

 

I also have a MicroLife, and I take two measurements each time. 1 with the Omron and 1 with the Microlife and they differ only a small bit.

 

Talking about the rest in the Hospital before the BP measurements, there is always a rest, after my Covid shot there was even a 20 minute rest and last Monday in the Hospital there was at least a 10 minute rest before the nurse calls your name to get BP/Height/Kg measurements!

 

I have High Cholesterol and have made many changes (food wise) and instead of 2 small cups of (Black) Coffee I only drink 1 and not every day (and only when I feel like it) and instead of the coffee we bought a Juicer where every morning we make a Carrots/Cucumber/Tomatoes/Garlic/Celery /Lemon juice and drink that. Very delicious, but I have to get used to it NOT drinking coffee in the Morning!