Where to find treatment statistics for Bangkok hospitals?

[Misty]

Does anyone know if a patient advocacy group or database in Thailand that provides hospital statistics for treatment success for a specific ailment - for example # of cases treated, outcomes, etc?

 

I was asked if I knew of a good doctor or hospital in Bangkok to treat prostate cancer. I know the major Bangkok hospitals do offer various types of treatment. But it's not clear how they compare, or if seeking treatment in a home country would be better (patient has insurance that would cover either option).

 

If there isn't a database like this available, how could someone research how good a hospital is at treating a specific illness?  Is it only word of mouth?  Any suggestions are welcome.

[transam]

Why...?

[Lacessit]

Thai doctors and hospitals do not ask for a patient's prior medical treatment history. Or the current medications the patient  has. On that basis, I would say it is doubtful such a statistic would be compiled.

There is also an issue  with doctors and hospitals who end up on the bottom of the ladder with respect to their success ratio. Current Thai law would enable them to sue for defamation.

Sheryl is the resident ASEAN resource for such information, ask her which hospitals and doctors she recommends.

[nigelforbes]

@Sherylmay know the answer but I doubt very much that there is, most patients typically try to find the doctor with the best reputation and then talk directly to him/her about success rates and risks etc. 

[Sheryl]

There are no good or bad hospitals. Only good and bad doctors and these can be found in all hospitals. Success rate  will depend on choice of doctor not choice of hospital. 

 

There is a pinned thread on recommended urologists. 

[Sheryl]

https://aseannow.com/topic/936921-urologist-recommendations/

[Misty]

46 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

https://aseannow.com/topic/936921-urologist-recommendations/

Thanks very much, will take a look

[PPMMUU]

A central hospital may have a higher lethality rate simply because other hospitals tend to refer the most severe or difficult-to-treat patients to it. This does not necessarily indicate that the central hospital is inferior in quality.

[Misty]

14 hours ago, PPMMUU said:

A central hospital may have a higher lethality rate simply because other hospitals tend to refer the most severe or difficult-to-treat patients to it. This does not necessarily indicate that the central hospital is inferior in quality.

It's a good point. Lethality rate maybe not particularly relevant.  But maybe overall numbers of cases treated could be a useful number to know, if only as an indicator of overall experience level. 

 

Even there, however, I'm finding that doctors and even teams of doctors in this particular specialty seem to have migrated between some of the major hospitals.  So maybe you need to know how many patients an individual doctor or his team has treated. 

 

Also, there seems to be real changes made in treatment in this specialty in recent years.  There are many choices of treatment, some possibly not yet available in Thailand.  The Thai doctors seem to be leaving it up to the patient to decide which form of treatment is better, broadly surgery vs. radiology.  Potentially different types of radiology too. Varying side effects, efficacy, short term results, long term results. Nothing is simple it seems.

[lopburi3]

On 3/30/2023 at 3:24 PM, Lacessit said:

Thai doctors and hospitals do not ask for a patient's prior medical treatment history. Or the current medications the patient  has.

Even dentist will often ask for full drug list before giving treatment - doctors always in my experience of 30 years continuous living here.

[Lacessit]

12 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Even dentist will often ask for full drug list before giving treatment - doctors always in my experience of 30 years continuous living here.

12 years here. The difference may be due to our relative locations.

[lopburi3]

Just now, Lacessit said:

12 years here. The difference may be due to our relative locations.

Indeed Chiang Rai village likely not the same.  But do remember 15 years ago clinic doctor in Chiang Mai recorded all medications when wife visited during a trip there - but clinic was actually recommended over hospital so suspect a good doctor.

[Sheryl]

A doctor who does not adk medical histor

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

12 years here. The difference may be due to our relative locations.

 

And what doctor(s) you use.

 

Asking medications and medical history is in fact routine procedure here as it is elsewhere.  It is true though that doctors  often fail to incorporate that information adequately in their diagnostic and treatment practices And may need reminding.  

 

A doctor who does not even  is lazy/cutting corners and should not be used.

 

How are you choosing your doctors? 

[Lacessit]

30 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

A doctor who does not adk medical histor

 

And what doctor(s) you use.

 

Asking medications and medical history is in fact routine procedure here as it is elsewhere.  It is true though that doctors  often fail to incorporate that information adequately in their diagnostic and treatment practices And may need reminding.  

 

A doctor who does not even  is lazy/cutting corners and should not be used.

 

How are you choosing your doctors? 

Overbrook Hospital in Chiang Rai. I don't get a doctor of choice there, I just get shunted to whatever doctor is on duty. If it is a specific requirement such as a manual prostate check, a specialist.

I have had the same experiences of doctors not asking for my medication or patient history at Rajavej Hospital in Chiang Mai, so I don't think it is just me.

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, lopburi3 said:

Indeed Chiang Rai village likely not the same.  But do remember 15 years ago clinic doctor in Chiang Mai recorded all medications when wife visited during a trip there - but clinic was actually recommended over hospital so suspect a good doctor.

That might be Dr. Morgan who has a practice over in Hang Dong. I never attended there; however, there was a lot of favorable word of mouth going around.

[lopburi3]

15 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

That might be Dr. Morgan who has a practice over in Hang Dong. I never attended there; however, there was a lot of favorable word of mouth going around.

No it was on north side at start of Huay Kaew Road not far from Chiang Mai Ram Hospital.  Not there anymore - as said at least 15 years ago when used to stay at Pang Suan Kaew Hotel.

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Overbrook Hospital in Chiang Rai. I don't get a doctor of choice there, I just get shunted to whatever doctor is on duty. If it is a specific requirement such as a manual prostate check, a specialist.

I have had the same experiences of doctors not asking for my medication or patient history at Rajavej Hospital in Chiang Mai, so I don't think it is just me.

It is possible to pre-select doctor and make a specific appountment at both Overbrook and  Rajavej. But as neither lists doctor CVs online takes some research or asking around first. 

 

Never a good idea to just show up and let them shunt you around. They don't just send you to who is on duty but to who is on duty and least busy which is not a good sign.