Thai clinics or are hospitals the place to go?

[NorthernRyland]

Last night I went to a clinic with my wife about a problem she was having and decided to ask the doctor about my dizziness which started after my COVID vaccine last year and was especially bad yesterday. The doctor in the US I saw last summer had said both my eustachian tubes were congested and so I brought this up with the doctor and asked him about it. Immediately he dismissed the very idea and didn't even bother to check. He did however check my blood pressure which was a little high yesterday (no idea why) and gave my some pills. 

 

This isn't the first time this happened and it's the reason I don't even bother with them anymore. They'll make any diagnosis within 5 minutes just by talking with you, no tests required apparently and they always get it wrong. It's a shame because dentists in Thailand are very excellent and at least as good if not better than in the US.

 

Anyways, in the US we have what we call private practices which in my experience have been entirely competent and generally speaking we don't go to hospitals unless there's something more serious. In Thailand however, are hospitals your only choice? I'd like to have a doctor that at the least isn't trying to see each patient 5 minutes  at a time.

 

I'm in Chiang Mai (Mae Jo/Mae Rim area), does anyone have any recommendations for a doctor I could see to diagnosis this again and see if they can confirm the original diagnosis by the doctor in the US? I'll go to a hospital if I need to but that seems overkill for such a thing.

 

Thanks!

[StayinThailand2much]

Clinics in Thailand are only good for writing out certificates or prescriptions. Hospitals, on the other hand, at least, pretend to make a diagnosis (government hospitals), or, actually treat patients (the better private ones).

Edited June 18, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[Doctor Tom]

OP, yes, they are all useless. Go to a hospital. 

[TheAppletons]

Hospitals are the way to go, IMO.

 

McCormick Hospital has an outpatient ear, nose, and throat (ENT) clinic.  I've used them a couple of times for routine ear cleanings (vacuum suction...took about 15 minutes, tops.)  Vertigo is indeed often related to an inner ear issue so that might be a good place to start.

 

https://www.mccormickhospital.com/web/pages/คลินิกหู คอ จมูก (Ear Nose Throat Clinic)

 

https://www.webmd.com/brain/vertigo-symptoms-causes-treatment

[Excel]

So why should the doctor in the US be correct in his diagnosis so hence at the clinic the diagnosis was not what you wanted to hear ?

[daveAustin]

Bearing in mind that many of those same GPs also do the rounds in the hospitals when not in residence at their clinic. But, yes, specialist dept at hospital. 

[OneMoreFarang]

All clinics in Thailand are bad, all doctors in the USA are good. Really?

What is so difficult to understand about the fact that in any country there are competent and not so competent doctors (and many other professionals)?

If you think after talking to 2 or 3 doctors it is fair to say "Thai clinics are worthless" then maybe the problem has a lot more to do with you than with those clinics. 

[KhunLA]

Agree & disagree with OP.  Guess it depends what you actually seeking at the clinic.  The fact that they are a 'clinic' can leave a bit to be desired.   Credentials and what they know and are actually allowed to do.

 

Visited a couple, excellent, and a couple, that think Amoxy & SaRa cure everything.  Not just the clinic, same 'excellent' service at some hospitals, private & public.????

 

Went to one recently, just for a tetanus shot, and no prob with that, except cost a bit more than most, I think.  Ask if he could write a script, and said yes, until I told him the med, which he then said no.  Kind of surprised me, but it is what it is.  Apparently limited in what he is certified for.  Script writing being a surprise.

 

Definitely disagree about the dentists opinion, being as good or better than USA.  1 out of 5 I've seen here, that I would return to.  5 dentists I've used in the USA were all excellent.

Edited June 18, 2022 by KhunLA

[sandyf]

17 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Clinics in Thailand are only good for writing out certificates or prescriptions.

You shouldn't spread such generalised misinformation.

It is up to individuals to check up on the reputation of any clinic they wish to use.

Here in Chonburi there are many clinics run by top medical professionals from the hospitals in Bangkok. These clinics are normally only open evenings and Sundays when the doctors give up their spare time to help the people. They do not charge for their expertise and only standard rate on medication.

I can assure you I know this from first hand experience, the one I saw was a specialist in spinal injury.

[lopburi3]

In Thailand most doctors work in out patient departments of hospitals rather than in clinics as in USA.  Also almost all are specialists (you do not need referral to see them) so you go directly to department that treats your symptoms.  Some good doctors also have part time clinics but these are not open most hours and will not have easy access to testing equipment.

[1FinickyOne]

Many of the doctors who work in the hospitals also run clinics.. some are better than others but you need to find out their specialties. 

 

And even then, they are people and have good and bad days... 

[1FinickyOne]

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

I went to a clinic with my wife about a problem she was having and decided to ask the doctor about my dizziness

was this just  - hey, free advice while I am here... or were you paying for a second consultation? This too can make a difference - did you pay separately for your time? 

[StayinThailand2much]

30 minutes ago, sandyf said:

I can assure you I know this from first hand experience, the one I saw was a specialist in spinal injury.

Admittedly, I never sought medical care from a specialist clinic for such a serious medical condition, nor do I know anyone who did. (My impressions of treatment for 'general health issues' at clinics in Bangkok over the years, however, were more of the mediocre kind.)

Edited June 18, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[VocalNeal]

8 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

it's hard to find any first-hand reports before visiting there. 

Word of mouth?

[StayinThailand2much]

9 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Word of mouth?

Sounds good, but impractical, except if you have the chance to ask your pals, with different ailments, at the Pattaya pub, and even then the word 'hospital' would probably me uttered more often than the word 'clinic'...

Edited June 18, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[VocalNeal]

15 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

at the Pattaya pub

Please don't tar us all with an inappropriate brush.????

[Liverpool Lou]

"Thai clinics are worthless..."

 

A Thai doctor's diagnosis differs from a US doctor's so your layman's opinion, therefore, is that "all Thai clinics are worthless"?   Such garbage.

 

I wonder why your US doctor didn't notice your high blood pressure, was he just too busy being better than Thai doctors?

[Excel]

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"Thai clinics are worthless..."

 

A Thai doctor's diagnosis differs from a US doctor's so your layman's opinion, therefore, is that "all Thai clinics are worthless"?   Such garbage.

 

I wonder why your US doctor didn't notice your high blood pressure, was he just too busy being better than Thai doctors?

Possibly the US Doc was better at trying to make a simple issue a very very profitable one instead.

Edited June 18, 2022 by Excel

[StayinThailand2much]

10 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Please don't tar us all with an inappropriate brush.????

If at all, I tarred myself, cause this would, currently, be my only chance to get such 'word of mouth'. What else would I do, knock on my Thai neighbour's door, and, in English, ask him for advice on clinics? - I could as well ask him to explain the rules of cricket to me...

Edited June 18, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

They'll make any diagnosis within 5 minutes ... and they always get it wrong

"...they always get it wrong..."

Really?  How do you know that the Thai doctor in the clinic who spotted your high blood pressure "got it wrong" and that his diagnosis was just "any" diagnosis?  

[KhunLA]

36 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Admittedly, I never sought medical care from a specialist clinic for such a serious medical condition, nor do I know anyone who did. (My impressions of treatment for 'general health issues' at clinics in Bangkok over the years, however, were more of the mediocre kind.)

Not sure about 'serious' vs preventative visit.  I've visit ENT, and excellent, issue sorted 1st visit.  Same with a dermatologist, excellent & inexpensive vs anywhere else.  Uses liquid nitro, to remove skin growths.  Inexpensive <300 baht, to treat a couple of, to no charge, when not finding during inspection.  Those in Udon Thani.

 

Much better than BumCrap charging 1000 baht to peek, and told to make another appointment to treat ... W T F, and that 15 yrs ago.  Only Buddha knows what a peek cost now.

[Iamfalang]

went three times.  first two solved the symptoms....third time he asked if he wanted me to solve the root of the problem.   amazing.   guess what, I said yes, and then it was finally solved.

 

go figure....80 baht for medicine (free "evaluation") and you complain.  

 

what do you expect for like 100 baht?   

 

On the other hand, I walked by a hospital in America.....got a bill for 100,000,000,000,000,000 USD

[lopburi3]

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

He did however check my blood pressure which was a little high yesterday (no idea why) and gave my some pills. 

On one BP reading - under stress in a white coat area - pills were dispensed?  Poster should have concerns about such an action (and if it were me would invest in a BP monitor and check at home before taking any medication).

[CharlieH]

I have changed the title of this  Topic/post.

To make such a sweeping generalisation on all Thai clinics is not appropriate.

[CharlieH]

In my experience, Thai clincs have been very good.

The specialists holding clinics outside of Hospital hours also very good.

The fact that they dont automatically jump to more "tests" and of course more money is a good thing.

Whose to say that the US  doctor was righht and the Thai Doctor wrong ? seems unfair to jump to that conclusion.

[lopburi3]

2 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

In my experience, Thai clincs have been very good.

The specialists holding clinics outside of Hospital hours also very good.

The fact that they dont automatically jump to more "tests" and of course more money is a good thing.

Whose to say that the US  doctor was righht and the Thai Doctor wrong ? seems unfair to jump to that conclusion.

In the 50 years I have traveled and lived here have not heard of any diplomatic mission recommending clinics for general care.  Many are pill centric, unsanitary and not well staffed.  That some, mostly private specialized clinics of hospital doctors, are good does not make does not make up for those that are not. 

[VocalNeal]

17 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

The fact that they dont automatically jump to more "tests" and of course more money is a good thing.

I went to an "after hours" clinic recommended by a mate. The  doctor works at a teaching hospital but runs his own clinic after work. The clinic is in the next city (90 kms) as the specialist at our local hospital doesn't work on the day I wanted to go.

He suggested I should get a cholesterol test. 

 

I mentioned this at the pub (not Pattaya) and another mate told me where the medical lab is in our city. I went there and showed them the slip from the doctor. They nodded. Test cost me 250 baht.

 

The travel and accommodation to the clinic costs more than the doctor visit/drugs.

 

I'm giving the clinic the benefit of the doubt until I try the local specialist.

Edited June 18, 2022 by VocalNeal

[Yorkshire Tea]

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

I'm in Chiang Mai (Mae Jo/Mae Rim area), does anyone have any recommendations for a doctor I could see

I recommend the Loy Kroh clinic, on Loy Kroh road, & Dr Morgan on Hangdong road.  Both great GPs.  

[CharlieH]

51 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

In the 50 years I have traveled and lived here have not heard of any diplomatic mission recommending clinics for general care.  Many are pill centric, unsanitary and not well staffed.  That some, mostly private specialized clinics of hospital doctors, are good does not make does not make up for those that are not. 

And how many of the 72 provinces and clinics in those places have you peronal experience of ?

 

Whilst "some"" may fall in that category, as there are always good and bad, I suggest they would be the exception and not the norm.

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

I mentioned this at the pub (not Pattaya) and another mate told me where the medical lab is in our city. I went there and showed them the slip from the doctor. They nodded. Test cost me 250 baht.

It is all about looking around.  When I had dengue my wife asked around for a  lab that did platelet counts. Test cost about 100 baht, was low but not dangerously low so never bothered with a doctor.  Cleared up  in about 10  days.