Lower Medical Bills?

[Tropicalevo]

Having lived on Koh Samui for more than twenty years, I have had the pleasure of being a 'guest' at each of the six main hospitals here.

Yesterday experience was a pleasant surprise.

I am booked for a minor op on my eyes next month and was asked to have some blood tests and an EKG test prior to the operation.

Went along to Samui Home Clinic - blood tests 400baht, but they could not do the EKG. They gave me a letter for the hospital of my choice explaining that I did not need a consultation with a doctor. (Expensive at some hospitals.) SHC quoted to me the price for the EKG at a couple of the nearest private hospitals.

 

I decided to try the new Wattanapat Hospital in Bophut (on the ring rad opposite Samui Town Centre).

Very nice hospital (everything is new) and possibly the largest one on Samui now.

Explained what I wanted and went to the usual nurse's station for the height/weight/temp/pulse/blood pressure etc.

During the 'MOT' the nurse became concerned (I looked tired and low pulse) and called the doc.

Very pleasant (and professional) doc then chatted to me for while and asked if I had any underlying conditions. I laughed and told her to take a seat.

Two chronic conditions plus a list of other things including a very large prostate (200ml) which was the reason for the tiredness. Multiple bathroom visits every night for the last six years.

Cut a long story short (Covid vaccinations, flu jabs, recommended surgery etc) and the consultation lasted a good 30 minutes. Had the EKG and back to the doc again. Another consultation re the results of the EKG (small abnormality - recommended further tests some time in the future to monitor it).

After all of this, I expected quite a large bill.

Wrong. Less than 1,000 baht! That was less than the quotes from the other two hospitals plus I had two consultations with the doc.

 

It did not end there.

Got back to the office to be told that I needed a medical certificate for my WP renewal. Aaargh!

Back to Wattanapat Hospital. Explained to the desk and everyone. They all had a good laugh. Had the blood pressure test, which was missed the first time because of involving the doc. Saw the doc again, then back to the cashier for the medical certificate. FOC!

I was impressed by both the service and the cost.

[AgMech Cowboy]

Thanks for the nice report.

[KannikaP]

Not quite in the same league, but just got back from Nauresan Hospital near Phitsanulok. Had a blocked ear. 

Up to ENT Dept, 10 minutes wait, young male doctor checked ears, nose & throat, cleaned my ears, about 30 minutes all in all. Bht 250. Happy bunny, who can now hear properly.

Went there last month for annual check up, ECG, full bloods incl PSA, chest X ray, consultation. Bht 1750!

Edited March 24, 2023 by KannikaP

[LittleBear57]

There are obviously good and relatively cheap hospitals around. However not it appears around Pattaya. Was hoping the new Jomtiem Hospital would fill that role but they are restricted by a small range of services.

 

[khunPer]

On 3/24/2023 at 4:53 AM, Tropicalevo said:

I was impressed by both the service and the cost.

Their room price-list is also affordable...

(From a Facebook posting)

Standard Room : 2,850.-

Premier Room : 3,600.-

ICU Room : 8,000.-

-Private rooms

-In-room toilet

-Room sanitizing and cleaning service

-Free! patient's meals (3 meals a day)

-Pleasant scenery that can be enjoyed from within the room

-24-hours care by our team of medical professionals

**this price does not include nursing fees**

More about room-rates and images in the linke here...

https://www.kosamuilife.com/post/wattanapat-hospital-samui-s-room-rates

 

Edited March 25, 2023 by khunPer

[KannikaP]

11 minutes ago, khunPer said:

-Free! patient's meals (3 meals a day)

NOT FREE. Included in the price.

[PoorSucker]

On 3/24/2023 at 10:53 AM, Tropicalevo said:

Got back to the office to be told that I needed a medical certificate for my WP renewal.

Renewed my Extension of stay and my WP at the EEC one stop in Chonburi today. No medical needed.

Did only get one year, last year I got 1.5 years.

Apparently I'm getting two years next time.

Zero people in line, in and out in 15 min.

My HR arranged everything, just taking two photos.

I don't have a blue WP book, mine is digital only.

[khunPer]

20 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

Renewed my Extension of stay and my WP at the EEC one stop in Chonburi today. No medical needed.

Did only get one year, last year I got 1.5 years.

Apparently I'm getting two years next time.

Zero people in line, in and out in 15 min.

My HR arranged everything, just taking two photos.

I don't have a blue WP book, mine is digital only.

You are posting in a Samui sub-forum. Immigration office rules are different in different provinces; Samui don't have the same rules as Chonburi, so not much help to tell about what is needed there...????

[malasa]

I just went there and to prevent others to go there with heart problems: they don't have a cardiologist.

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, malasa said:

I just went there and to prevent others to go there with heart problems: they don't have a cardiologist.

It has only been open a month (or less). Does any hospital here have a cardiologist permanently on site?

Bangkok Samui only brings in specialists 'on demand'.

Wattanapat cannot do cataract surgery yet either.

Specialists will take a while I guess.

I think that their target audience at the moment is GP stuff and road carnage.

[nigelforbes]

8 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

It has only been open a month (or less). Does any hospital here have a cardiologist permanently on site?

Bangkok Samui only brings in specialists 'on demand'.

Wattanapat cannot do cataract surgery yet either.

Specialists will take a while I guess.

I think that their target audience at the moment is GP stuff and road carnage.

The staffing model is the same at almost all hospitals, there is a core of doctors that are supplemented by specialists who have consulting privilege's but who usually work in government hospitals. In Chiang Mai, each of the four major private hospitals all have in excess of 350 on call specialists and doctors, most consult across all the hospitals plus they have core hours at a government hospital. If you're looking for a cardiologist and there isn't one on staff, the government hospital is the place where you will find one.

[Can samui]

Good updates and thanks to all.

Going to spin up there and check there dermatology situation.

Will report back!

[malasa]

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

It has only been open a month (or less). Does any hospital here have a cardiologist permanently on site?

Yes.

 

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Bangkok Samui only brings in specialists 'on demand'.

I was there after and they had one on site. The same I had last year and the same I have another appointment tomorrow with. On his door it says cardiology with his name on it. I guess he is a cardiologist. 

 

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Wattanapat cannot do cataract surgery yet either.

Specialists will take a while I guess.

I think that their target audience at the moment is GP stuff and road carnage.

The intention of my post was to tell other people what they can't do because I got this information first hand. This might be useful for other people and prevent them to go there with this kind of problems, especially when it is urgent. I went there today because of your post and turned out they couldn't help me. Happens, I didn't demanded/expected that every hospital can do everything, actually I was last year first at Thai International for my chest pain and they send me to BKK Hospital because they have a cardiologist.

 

Edited March 29, 2023 by malasa

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, malasa said:

I was there after and they had one on site. The same I had last year and the same I have another appointment tomorrow with. On his door it says cardiology with his name on it. I guess he is a cardiologist. 

Yes. And I have seen the cardiologist at Bangkok Samui as well as the urologist. For the last 8 years or so.

They too have signs on their doors saying what they are and they fly in for regular sessions on an appointment basis. I have also seen the same doctors in their 'base' hospitals in Bangkok - when their appointment times did not suit. As well as when I needed an MRI and also when I needed a biopsy. These could not be done on Samui.

These specialists are not based on Samui. They are 'helicopter' doctors.

Edited March 29, 2023 by Tropicalevo

[JimmyJ]

4 hours ago, nigelforbes said:

The staffing model is the same at almost all hospitals, there is a core of doctors that are supplemented by specialists who have consulting privilege's but who usually work in government hospitals. In Chiang Mai, each of the four major private hospitals all have in excess of 350 on call specialists and doctors, most consult across all the hospitals plus they have core hours at a government hospital. If you're looking for a cardiologist and there isn't one on staff, the government hospital is the place where you will find one.

"In Chiang Mai, each of the four major private hospitals...".

 

What is the 4th one?

[nigelforbes]

3 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

"In Chiang Mai, each of the four major private hospitals...".

 

What is the 4th one?

Sriphat, RAM, BKK Hospital, McCormick

[scorecard]

On 3/24/2023 at 9:19 PM, LittleBear57 said:

There are obviously good and relatively cheap hospitals around. However not it appears around Pattaya. Was hoping the new Jomtiem Hospital would fill that role but they are restricted by a small range of services.

 

The hospital you mention is owned by the man who owns all the Bangkok hospitals (Bangkok Pattaya, Bangkok Chiang Mai hospital and more). He also owns the airline Bangkok Airways.

 

Had a farang friend in Jomtien hospital, the hospital insisted on friend signing an authority for the hospital to take their twice daily bills to the bank for instant withdrawal of funds to keep the bill paid right up to date, never outstanding more than half a day. As to be expected the half day bills were far from cheap and included every item known to man. 

 

[Tropicalevo]

4 hours ago, scorecard said:

As to be expected the half day bills were far from cheap and included every item known to man. 

Which is why I posted the original post.

Their billing system is probably one of the best in SE Asia - along with the most expensive meds.

Having been a customer of the one in Samui for more than 15 years, I was very pleasantly surprised to receive excellent treatment AND a very reasonable bill.

[malasa]

14 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Yes. And I have seen the cardiologist at Bangkok Samui as well as the urologist. For the last 8 years or so.

They too have signs on their doors saying what they are and they fly in for regular sessions on an appointment basis. I have also seen the same doctors in their 'base' hospitals in Bangkok - when their appointment times did not suit. As well as when I needed an MRI and also when I needed a biopsy. These could not be done on Samui.

These specialists are not based on Samui. They are 'helicopter' doctors.

I asked today if the doctor is available every day and the nurse said yes. Maybe he is there only until noon, I don't know. So far I was lucky and always met him when I showed up without an appointment.

 

But all this doesn't matter. If you know that you need an cardiologist, my recommendation is to go directly to BKK hospital if you don't want to pay twice. Sure there are some problems that a non specialist can look at but if you already know this will not help save your time and money.

 

Emergency issues are something else, I expect that every hospital can help.

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, malasa said:

I asked today if the doctor is available every day and the nurse said yes. Maybe he is there only until noon, I don't know. So far I was lucky and always met him when I showed up without an appointment.

 

But all this doesn't matter. If you know that you need an cardiologist, my recommendation is to go directly to BKK hospital if you don't want to pay twice. Sure there are some problems that a non specialist can look at but if you already know this will not help save your time and money.

 

Emergency issues are something else, I expect that every hospital can help.

Could be that he is now a permanent fixture.

There are enough of us around now and we are all getting older. 

The last time that I saw a cardio specialist was some years ago and they flew him in for three days.

Again, when I had a severe lung infection a few years back, they flew in an interventional specialist from Bangkok Phuket to 'drain' me.

[phetphet]

Website still looking a bit bare re. services at the moment. Clicked on Annual Health Check, but goes nowhere.

Passed it a few times and it does look nice .