Time to find a new hospital in CNX

[Mark1066]

On 6/18/2022 at 8:34 PM, EricTh said:

 

Mind telling us your detailed experience at Lanna hospital? 

 

I can give you my experience at Lanna hospital, when my wife was pregnant. Had a consultant who constantly argued with us regarding our wishes for the birth, including not wanting me to be present (this was no problem at Sriphat). But the worst thing this doctor did was to try to convince us that the baby should be tested for Down's syndrome by taking a sample of amniotic fluid. At this stage of my wife's pregnancy this would have involved a roughly 2% chance of miscarriage resulting from puncturing the amniotic sac. When I asked the doctor why she wanted to perform this test when she hadn't even performed the blood test that looks for Down's Syndrome markers beforehand, she had nothing to say (it's common practice to perform the blood test first due to the risk of miscarriage, at least in reputable hospitals anyway).

 

Now, if you aren't having a baby then maybe none of that matters. As for me, I refuse to go to any hospital that employs such poorly informed doctors. Lanna and Ram (and Thepanya I believe) are under the same ownership and I've personally experienced a poor standard of care at all of these hospitals.

[EricTh]

4 hours ago, Mark1066 said:

I can give you my experience at Lanna hospital, when my wife was pregnant. Had a consultant who constantly argued with us regarding our wishes for the birth, including not wanting me to be present (this was no problem at Sriphat). But the worst thing this doctor did was to try to convince us that the baby should be tested for Down's syndrome by taking a sample of amniotic fluid. At this stage of my wife's pregnancy this would have involved a roughly 2% chance of miscarriage resulting from puncturing the amniotic sac. When I asked the doctor why she wanted to perform this test when she hadn't even performed the blood test that looks for Down's Syndrome markers beforehand, she had nothing to say (it's common practice to perform the blood test first due to the risk of miscarriage, at least in reputable hospitals anyway).

 

Now, if you aren't having a baby then maybe none of that matters. As for me, I refuse to go to any hospital that employs such poorly informed doctors. Lanna and Ram (and Thepanya I believe) are under the same ownership and I've personally experienced a poor standard of care at all of these hospitals.

 

Surprisingly, many foreigners still want to go to Ram.

 

[sqwakvfr]

44 minutes ago, EricTh said:

 

Surprisingly, many foreigners still want to go to Ram.

 

For me it has been the close  proximity to where I live and also it is easy to find.  

[Mark1066]

49 minutes ago, EricTh said:

 

Surprisingly, many foreigners still want to go to Ram.

 

Yeah, well that's up to them I guess. I settled on McCormick in the end (not that I'm a regular visitor to hospitals these days) as the doctors there seem more enthusiastic about making the right diagnoses. That's been my personal experience anyway.

[seedy]

17 hours ago, Mark1066 said:

I can give you my experience at Lanna hospital, when my wife was pregnant. Had a consultant who constantly argued with us regarding our wishes for the birth, including not wanting me to be present (this was no problem at Sriphat). But the worst thing this doctor did was to try to convince us that the baby should be tested for Down's syndrome by taking a sample of amniotic fluid. At this stage of my wife's pregnancy this would have involved a roughly 2% chance of miscarriage resulting from puncturing the amniotic sac. When I asked the doctor why she wanted to perform this test when she hadn't even performed the blood test that looks for Down's Syndrome markers beforehand, she had nothing to say (it's common practice to perform the blood test first due to the risk of miscarriage, at least in reputable hospitals anyway).

 

Now, if you aren't having a baby then maybe none of that matters. As for me, I refuse to go to any hospital that employs such poorly informed doctors. Lanna and Ram (and Thepanya I believe) are under the same ownership and I've personally experienced a poor standard of care at all of these hospitals.

Your experience details one doctor, who works out of Lanna, and I am sure many other places.

Nothing to do with Lanna, or Ram, or anywhere else.

It has to do with THIS doctor.

[Mark1066]

3 hours ago, seedy said:

Your experience details one doctor, who works out of Lanna, and I am sure many other places.

Nothing to do with Lanna, or Ram, or anywhere else.

It has to do with THIS doctor.

Yes, my post referred to an experience with one doctor but if you actually read it through, it also referred to three more experiences at hospitals that all under the same ownership (and this particular doctor is employed by Lanna Hospital - you can choose to trust hospitals who employ dangerous doctors, that's totally up to you of course. I choose not to).

[Dante99]

6 minutes ago, Mark1066 said:

You can choose to trust hospitals who employ dangerous doctors, that's totally up to you of course. I choose not to).

OK so what hospitals employ no dangerous doctors in your opinion?  How have you determined that those hospitals employ no dangerous doctors?

[SammyJ]

On 6/14/2022 at 1:20 PM, Lacessit said:

I used Rajavej when I lived in Chiang Mai, the woman dentist who is the head of the clinic is very good, speaks good English. The other doctors were for minor illnesses.

 

I come down from Chiang Rai every six months for a check cystoscopy at Bangkok Hospital, Dr. Wittawat Rawiyotai is the urologist. Very professional. Unlike many doctors here, he doesn't mind being questioned. 18,000 baht for the cystoscopy, which IMO is quite reasonable.

ive had a cysto and many other urological issues using various drs==but a repeated cysto every six months--seems excessive, and from what i have read, that repetition is not usually recommended?

[SammyJ]

16 hours ago, Mark1066 said:

Yeah, well that's up to them I guess. I settled on McCormick in the end (not that I'm a regular visitor to hospitals these days) as the doctors there seem more enthusiastic about making the right diagnoses. That's been my personal experience anyway.

i like McCormick, but i am confused as to how one knows if a doctor is "enthusiastic about making the right diagnosis"?  I appreciate a doctor's willingness to listen, to learn and to be diligent in their work--but enthusiasm alone does not bring a correct diagnosis.  Experience, training--inside and outside of Thailand is often beneficial--and, as mentioned, the willingness to listen and consider a variety of options and present them, discuss them, with patient.

[Lacessit]

25 minutes ago, SammyJ said:

ive had a cysto and many other urological issues using various drs==but a repeated cysto every six months--seems excessive, and from what i have read, that repetition is not usually recommended?

My urologist in Australia insisted on 6 months. FRCS, FRACS, very highly qualified.

My urologist here wanted to give me a year, we compromised on 9 months. If I am clear in August, I will go out to a yearly checkup.

I've had bladder cancer since 2006, with a couple of recurrences. That would explain my Australian surgeon's caution, my urologist here has not seen a recurrence in two and a half years.

I get a pretty clear signal if it has come back, painless hematuria. Blood in urine. If that happens, I am hammering on the hospital doors.

[seedy]

2 hours ago, Mark1066 said:

Yes, my post referred to an experience with one doctor but if you actually read it through, it also referred to three more experiences at hospitals that all under the same ownership (and this particular doctor is employed by Lanna Hospital - you can choose to trust hospitals who employ dangerous doctors, that's totally up to you of course. I choose not to).

I trust the Doctor - could not care less which building the actual work was performed in.

Quite simple really - you picked an underqualified Doctor - get over it, learn from your mistake, and carry on.

Hospitals do not hire Doctors as a general rule - they are allowed to practice there.

 

[EricTh]

11 hours ago, SammyJ said:

i like McCormick, but i am confused as to how one knows if a doctor is "enthusiastic about making the right diagnosis"?  I appreciate a doctor's willingness to listen, to learn and to be diligent in their work--but enthusiasm alone does not bring a correct diagnosis.  Experience, training--inside and outside of Thailand is often beneficial--and, as mentioned, the willingness to listen and consider a variety of options and present them, discuss them, with patient.

 

A good hospital is one that provides feedback form from patients and do regular  performance valuation on employed doctors.

 

I wonder which hospitals actually does this in Chiang Mai.

 

You can have one bad doctor/apple in the whole hospital/basket of good doctors.  Or one good apple in a basket of bad apples....

[elektrified]

13 hours ago, Mark1066 said:

Yes, my post referred to an experience with one doctor but if you actually read it through, it also referred to three more experiences at hospitals that all under the same ownership (and this particular doctor is employed by Lanna Hospital - you can choose to trust hospitals who employ dangerous doctors, that's totally up to you of course. I choose not to).

I doubt the doctor is "employed" by Lanna Hospital. He/she has privileges to practice there.

[SammyJ]

20 hours ago, Lacessit said:

My urologist in Australia insisted on 6 months. FRCS, FRACS, very highly qualified.

My urologist here wanted to give me a year, we compromised on 9 months. If I am clear in August, I will go out to a yearly checkup.

I've had bladder cancer since 2006, with a couple of recurrences. That would explain my Australian surgeon's caution, my urologist here has not seen a recurrence in two and a half years.

I get a pretty clear signal if it has come back, painless hematuria. Blood in urine. If that happens, I am hammering on the hospital doors.

I understand the caution and concern with cancer, having just endured a horrible ordeal with kidney cancer, and the concern that it would ever reappear is great!  I just wondered if ultrasound couldn't spot anything, even a nodule, in the bladder--avoiding the more invasive cysto--from what i have read, each cysto can leave scarring, etc which could then lead to problems of its own--if you don't mind me asking, do you use local or general anesthesia -- i used local as i didn't want the potential greater risk of general--but, boy, it was painful.

[JimmyJ]

On 6/13/2022 at 1:59 PM, sqwakvfr said:

Thank you your comments are very helpful.  McCormick is #1 on my list.  As for my experience at Ram the only department that impressed me was Gastroenterology.  The Doctor was a true professional.  He even offered me the chance to buy the prescribed medication at a outside pharmacy if I wanted.  Because of this doctor I chose to buy the medications from the hospital.  This is something I will try and not do again.  

Who is the Doctor?

[JimmyJ]

On 6/14/2022 at 1:20 PM, Lacessit said:

I used Rajavej when I lived in Chiang Mai, the woman dentist who is the head of the clinic is very good, speaks good English. The other doctors were for minor illnesses.

 

I come down from Chiang Rai every six months for a check cystoscopy at Bangkok Hospital, Dr. Wittawat Rawiyotai is the urologist. Very professional. Unlike many doctors here, he doesn't mind being questioned. 18,000 baht for the cystoscopy, which IMO is quite reasonable.

What is the name of the female dentist?

[Lacessit]

On 7/2/2022 at 7:46 AM, SammyJ said:

I understand the caution and concern with cancer, having just endured a horrible ordeal with kidney cancer, and the concern that it would ever reappear is great!  I just wondered if ultrasound couldn't spot anything, even a nodule, in the bladder--avoiding the more invasive cysto--from what i have read, each cysto can leave scarring, etc which could then lead to problems of its own--if you don't mind me asking, do you use local or general anesthesia -- i used local as i didn't want the potential greater risk of general--but, boy, it was painful.

My urologist in Australia always did the cystoscopy under general anesthesia.

Here, the price of general vs local is 60,000 baht vs 18,000 baht, that's a no-brainer for me, although I do wonder why anesthesia is so expensive. Propofol should not cost that much.

 

I have a little trick to minimize the discomfort of a local, I take 5 mg of endone about an hour prior to the cystoscopy.

[mickmac]

On 6/13/2022 at 9:32 AM, SiamAndy said:

Does the staff speak sufficient english at Sriphat, McCormick, or Rajavej?

 There is a dedicated English translator at Rajavej.

 

[SammyJ]

On 7/9/2022 at 6:33 AM, Lacessit said:

My urologist in Australia always did the cystoscopy under general anesthesia.

Here, the price of general vs local is 60,000 baht vs 18,000 baht, that's a no-brainer for me, although I do wonder why anesthesia is so expensive. Propofol should not cost that much.

 

I have a little trick to minimize the discomfort of a local, I take 5 mg of endone about an hour prior to the cystoscopy.

Yes, i understand that there is that price difference for general--it does seem a quite considerable difference, and i don't recall your age, but undergoing general anesthesia, once, let alone repeatedly carries its own set of risks, especially for those a bit older.  Read on it, and you will see the concerns--my father, underwent general anesthesia for several operations he had to undergo when he was in his early 70's and it left him in a bit of a fog, mentally, and memory problems--it is not that uncommon--i certainly would not want to be going under consistently.

[ThaiPauly]

On 6/26/2022 at 3:29 PM, sqwakvfr said:

I did not bitch and moan about a 300 Baht charge because it was not medication.  In fact I was charged 1000 Baht for a 7 day supply of Amoxicillin.  This I am bitching and moaning about.  The 300 Baht was for a small bottle of saline and disinfectant.  I was a regular at Ram Gastro.  I have had 2 endoscopies and a colonoscopy and was very pleased with the doctor and procedures. Do not mischaracterize my comments because you are not qualified to judge me.. Also I don “sweat” over 300 Baht.  PERIOD.

 

“

Dr Jarawat right?

[sqwakvfr]

3 hours ago, ThaiPauly said:

Dr Jarawat right?

No.  

[Lacessit]

On 7/8/2022 at 6:10 PM, JimmyJ said:

What is the name of the female dentist?

Sorry, can't remember. IIRC, there are two male dentists and only one lady dentist there, so one should be able to get an appointment by specifying female dentist wanted.

[Dellboy218]

Just been in the Ram and told I need new knee.  Available for 400,000B!   I am visiting Sripat on Monday to see their price.

[SammyJ]

23 minutes ago, Dellboy218 said:

Just been in the Ram and told I need new knee.  Available for 400,000B!   I am visiting Sripat on Monday to see their price.

Was at Bkk Chiang Mai earlier this week and saw a promotion board that said, entire new knew only 250,000 baht---there were other details provided, but, as i was not in the market for a new knee, i did not read them, but might be worth checking out if it interests you.

[arithai12]

On 6/30/2022 at 5:41 PM, EricTh said:

 

Surprisingly, many foreigners still want to go to Ram.

 

 

On 6/30/2022 at 6:26 PM, sqwakvfr said:

For me it has been the close  proximity to where I live and also it is easy to find.  

I have used Ram for many years, no more. What annoyed me there was the inefficiency. I would spend 1+ hour to see my specialist for 2 minutes, with appointment. The rest of the time was the "vital signs", and check out/payment. Incredibly inefficient service, maybe 15 nurses at the internal medicine outpatient counter, all running around like headless flies or sitting idle with their phones. But we are spoiled, back in Europe that would be considered quick.

I did like my specialist there, until the day he actually got seriously sick and I had to change.

 

Now I use the new Sriphat OPD, and BKK Hospital CM. Much better organization IMO,  as for the doctor it  depends of course on the specialist and on your specific case, it has to be tried.

[Haljabra]

Hello everyone, 

 

Any recommendations, for a good place to check electrolyte balance/levels, and other general check up. I just finished and extended fast and would like to know if everything checks out ok.

[Dellboy218]

On 7/15/2022 at 11:51 PM, SammyJ said:

Was at Bkk Chiang Mai earlier this week and saw a promotion board that said, entire new knew only 250,000 baht---there were other details provided, but, as i was not in the market for a new knee, i did not read them, but might be worth checking out if it interests you.

Thank you very much 

[JimmyJ]

On 7/16/2022 at 9:12 AM, Haljabra said:

Hello everyone, 

 

Any recommendations, for a good place to check electrolyte balance/levels, and other general check up. I just finished and extended fast and would like to know if everything checks out ok.

For a GP/Family Doctor/general checkup, , see Dr. Morgan at http://healthcaremedicalclinic.com/index.php

 

 

[Haljabra]

18 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

For a GP/Family Doctor/general checkup, , see Dr. Morgan at http://healthcaremedicalclinic.com/index.php

 

Ok thanks, will look into this.

[Mark1066]

On 7/1/2022 at 11:13 PM, elektrified said:

I doubt the doctor is "employed" by Lanna Hospital. He/she has privileges to practice there.

You can play semantics all you like - the simple fact of the matter is that the owners appear to be perfectly happy to have poor doctors practising in their hospitals, which doesn't fill me with confidence. I'm not even slightly interested in the precise nature of the doctors' terms of employment/practice, I'm only concerned about the abysmal standard of care they offer.