Nursing Charge by Hospital when rejecting blood pressure, weight, temperature checks

[bbi1]

Should a hospital still charge a patient a Nursing Charge when you reject getting your blood pressure, temperature and weight checked? Then you only went to have a consultation with the doctor?

[Sheryl]

Contrary to what expat lore says, the charge in question is not a fee for having your vital signs taken. It is a charge for use of the hospital facility. The consultation fee goes direct to the doctor, who in a private hospital is a private contractor, not a hospital employee. The hospital adds a charge for  use of its facility. Everything from electricity, waiting room, building maintenance and repairs, , housekeeping,  appointment scheduling, medical record keeping etc etc etc as well vital sign check. It is a flat charge not individually adjusted. 

 

In Thai the word for hospital is "house of nurses" often shortened to the word for nurse. So "nurse charge" = hospital charge. 

 

So yes. they have every right to still charge it. 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, bbi1 said:

Should a hospital still charge a patient a Nursing Charge when you reject getting your blood pressure, temperature and weight checked? Then you only went to have a consultation with the doctor?

The doctor needs to know what your vital signs are before making any sort of diagnosis. So yes, you will have to get them done, and if you are so short of money that you don't want to pay for the basics, I doubt you have enough to live in LOS.

[thaibeachlovers]

PS, they need to know if you have a fever, so you don't infect everyone you come in contact with.

 

While back I went to medical center for prescription renewal, they asked me if I had any respiratory symptoms. I made the mistake of saying I had hay fever and had to sit outside to get a swab poked up my nose to check if I had covid. I'll never admit to having hay fever again.

[connda]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

In Thai the word for hospital is "house of nurses" often shortened to the word for nurse. So "nurse charge" = hospital charge. 

Exactly. 
 

• โรง (rong) - This means "building" or "place" and is often used as a prefix for institutions or establishments.
• พยาบาล (phayaban) - This means "nursing" or "care," derived from the verb พยาบาล (phayaban), which means "to nurse" or "to take care of."

 

If the charges says "nursing charge" its a mis-translation on the part of whomever made the translation.  It's "hospital charge." 

However, if there is Thai script next to the "Nursing Charge", post it. We can see what it actually says.

[scubascuba3]

If you go to a clinic they don't add a nurse charge, seems more honest than the usual hospital bill padding

[couchpotato]

7 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

If you go to a clinic they don't add a nurse charge, seems more honest than the usual hospital bill padding

Come on.. silly comparison..refer to what @Sheryl said above and rephrase.

[scubascuba3]

14 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

Come on.. silly comparison..refer to what @Sheryl said above and rephrase.

Not really, depend what you go for, if the clinic can handle it the charges are much lower than a hospital. We all know hospitals bill padding, usually unnecessary meds not discussed 

[OJAS]

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

PS, they need to know if you have a fever, so you don't infect everyone you come in contact with.

 

Indeed, a fundamental message which I thought had been drilled into all of us when the pandemic was in full swing 5 years ago. I seriously wonder whether the OP's memory may now have now slipped in that regard, which would clearly be a matter of concern, I think.

 

[bbi1]

7 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Not really, depend what you go for, if the clinic can handle it the charges are much lower than a hospital. We all know hospitals bill padding, usually unnecessary meds not discussed 

Do all (private) hospitals have dual pricing, one cheaper price for Thais and one more expensive price for foreigners?

[scubascuba3]

6 hours ago, bbi1 said:

Do all (private) hospitals have dual pricing, one cheaper price for Thais and one more expensive price for foreigners?

That's one for @Sheryl

[Ralf001]

7 hours ago, bbi1 said:

Do all (private) hospitals have dual pricing, one cheaper price for Thais and one more expensive price for foreigners?

Phayathai Sriracha do not.

[jerrymahoney]

I was once in the waiting area at KhonKaenRam where I was the onl;y non-Thai.

I asked one of the nurses (who knew me from repeated visits) how many of the Thai people here have private insurance?

Her answer: All of them.

[actonion]

18 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Contrary to what expat lore says, the charge in question is not a fee for having your vital signs taken. It is a charge for use of the hospital facility. The consultation fee goes direct to the doctor, who in a private hospital is a private contractor, not a hospital employee. The hospital adds a charge for  use of its facility. Everything from electricity, waiting room, building maintenance and repairs, , housekeeping,  appointment scheduling, medical record keeping etc etc etc as well vital sign check. It is a flat charge not individually adjusted. 

 

In Thai the word for hospital is "house of nurses" often shortened to the word for nurse. So "nurse charge" = hospital charge. 

 

So yes. they have every right to still charge it. 

 

No they dont have every right to charge it, I had 2 appointments over 2 days, the Nurses wanted to take Blood Pressure  everyday, and I refused it on the Second day, and was not charged, (for a service I had not received)..but there was the hospital charge of 250b for each day

rrrr

[actonion]

19 hours ago, bbi1 said:

Should a hospital still charge a patient a Nursing Charge when you reject getting your blood pressure, temperature and weight checked? Then you only went to have a consultation with the doctor?

No they should not,..........  I refuse many times, but I am charged for the service  ( I did'nt receive), .. when I get to the cashier I point out to the cashier  that I did not receive the Blood Pressure etc. readings,  she then  deletes that cost...

[actonion]

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

That's one for @Sheryl

Yes they do.   I had an Annual  appointment with a Doctor, my Thai Wife asked me if she could  see the Doctor too, when we came to the Cashier  the prices were different, mine of course was higher than my Wife's, when i asked why, they told me its Hospital Policy to charge foreigners more.. ..Two months ago i wrote to this particular  (International) Hospital asking if this  "Hospital policy"   was correct,  I also wrote to all International Hospitals in Pattaya asking the same question, and if  so , Why......My  question to all  Hospitals remain unanswered

[scubascuba3]

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

Phayathai Sriracha do not.

Good to know, that's where Gavin Waddell is the contact

[Gecko123]

Gotta give the OP credit for thinking outside the box.

[Sheryl]

10 hours ago, bbi1 said:

Do all (private) hospitals have dual pricing, one cheaper price for Thais and one more expensive price for foreigners?

Some but not all.