Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital (aka Maharaj Or Suan Dok)

[Bill97]

Yes they will.

[brennanstimpy]

For those posters who use McCormick, do you speak Thai or bring someone who does?

Is the wait time much longer than CMR1 or Sriphat?

I have heard way too many horror stories about doctors at McCormick. Wouldnt go there if you paid me. They want to do surgery for any and everything there. I know someone who went there last week and they told him he had to have surgery on his foot, he then went to Ram and it was a broken tarsal bone, left with a walking cast shortly thereafter. Are you kidding me?!?!

[vagabond48]

I have heard way too many horror stories about doctors at McCormick. Wouldnt go there if you paid me.

I guess there is no real easy way to determine if a hospital or doctor is reliable.

Another poster provided positive feedback regarding Rajavej hospital but a day ago, I spoke to some who said he would never step foot in that hospital again, siting several negative personal experiences as well as someone else's.

Edited January 11, 2009 by vagabond48

[Amy1029]

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with an endocrinologist at Suan Dok? I had a horrible time with the one at Ram and I heard that there's only 2 or so in town. Any feed back?

[Mapguy]

Another Suan Doc (or Sriphat) Hospital SMSC story.

A friend recently had a hip done. I'm not up on all of the details , but I saw a lot of him when he was in there and since. He really didn't have any complaints except for the food, but then who likes hospital food? If you behave yourself (remember that the type of diet is prescribed by the doctor!!), there is a frig and a microwave in the rooms of the special 14th floor of the new building immediately behind and connected with the Sriphat Building.

The orthopaedic surgeon seems to have done a terrific job. I never heard any complaints about the nursing care.

I'll check out other details, as available, and get back to you...

I saw the thread pop up again and recalled that I promised more information about a friend.

His hip surgery worked out just fine. It was about three months ago. He has been playing golf a lot for a couple of weeks now. The surgeon was Olarn, who teaches at CMU. The cost was a lot less than Bangkok's Bumrungrad. I think Olarn works at Ram, too.

[Ulysses G.]

Has anyone noticed that a few months ago everyone was praising Grace Dental Clinic and talking down the one at Ram, but now they are all talking about how terrible Grace is. I'm not sure how much we can rely on a few people's experiences on the internet.

Is anyone friends with a doctor or nurse in Chiang Mai? They might know the best place for medical care.

Edited March 25, 2009 by Ulysses G.

[Digitalman]

This has been a pretty informative post, and I have enjoyed reading it..

Can anyone provide an itemized breakdown of the cost of having a baby at Sirpat? I know the rough cost but I still worry I might get a special farang price once the bill comes. Furthermore, can anyone give a nice story from Sripat about having a baby? Where do they put you? How long before you were able to see your child? Any problems with the birth records?

So far I have had nothing but good experiences with Siripat, I hope it stays the same.

[neilrob]

Thanks Mapguy for your always useful maps (here and elsewhere on ThaiVisa). You are a real public service! Neil

[T_Dog]

the only problem I have with Suan Dok is parking. Where do you guys park you cars?

If you are headed West and past the hospital buildings on Suthep Road, turn left at the first soi and quickly left again into the tree shaded lot which is on the corner of that soi. (Used to be an entrance just before the soi but could be closed now). It is a bit of a walk back to the Hospital but they usually have spaces available.

We sometimes take the free shuttle service that runs about every ten minutes. Had several occasions to use Maharaj Special Services Center and have had very positive experiences there.

[Mapguy]

the only problem I have with Suan Dok is parking. Where do you guys park you cars?

If you are headed West and past the hospital buildings on Suthep Road, turn left at the first soi and quickly left again into the tree shaded lot which is on the corner of that soi. (Used to be an entrance just before the soi but could be closed now). It is a bit of a walk back to the Hospital but they usually have spaces available.

We sometimes take the free shuttle service that runs about every ten minutes. Had several occasions to use Maharaj Special Services Center and have had very positive experiences there.

You have to be patient. And like people. It can be crowded!

I do suggest that, if not the shuttle, and you are in the city, just take a 20 baht "songtao" ride from anywhere in town. Easy. Driving and parking just there is really quite difficult.

[Ulysses G.]

15 baht is still the correct general fare for songteaws in Chiang Mai, but it depends on how far you are going and if it is on a popular route.

[PeaceBlondie]

If you attend a general clinic or an emergency room with 200 commoners, you may wait a long time in a crowd, in Boston or London. I once had a long wait at RAM 1, and got 800 baht of worthless advice from a specialist. For my last stroke; without an appointment, I was 8th in the queue to see the professor at Sripat. I paid total of 300 baht for good, clean care, plus the medicine was not overpriced. The nurses speak medical English.

[eek]

Just tagging on.. friend wants to know some info about McCormick. Particularly if any good (of course), and if there are English speaking staff. Any info would be great. But, so far, looks like people are saying stay away?

[Robertq]

I have used the Special Medical Services at Suan Doc twice now and have been happy with the results. [ note: I speak minimal Thai ( almost zero)]

The most recent time was yesterday. I needed my heart checked ( I had some warning signs which I thought were digestive but given my age and rheumatic fever as a child I believed I would be foolish to ignore).

I went to the 13th floor - I was already registered ( registration desk is near the lifts). The place as usual was packed with mainly Thais. I said "heart" - I was immediately taken to see a doctor ( wait time less than a minute). He checked my heart with a stethoscope. He had some English. I mentioned ECT and stress test. I was taken to cashier ( paid 350 baht for exam and physician services) and then to ECT ( probably 10 - 15 minutes had gone by).

Had ECT ( agin virtually no waiting) back to Dr. with results seemed to look good. He said stress test today - back to cashier 2,990 for stress test and associated charges ( ouch) I was able to pay with credit card.

Ok nursing aide assigned took me to new look clinic which was locked told me to wait, came back and took me to noninvasive heart clinic. This was the only glitch.

Again - no waiting. I was immediately wired up and given stress test.

Results were positive I was fit ( phew) - it wasn't my heart. Doctor reminded me to bring any medication I was taking next time. So apart form the glitch with being taken to stress test everything was very fast and very professional. Given the very busy nature of the 13th floor and my lack of Thai staff managed to point me in the right direction or take me where I needed to go. Excellent.

The previous time I had to wait to have my neck examined by a specialist.He was very nice spoke some english. I was less guided this time and probably would have preferred an xray rather than the quick diagnosis which was professionally given. Was not clear about followup but I do not speak Thai so I guess I thought I was taking my chances. Fee was about 800 baht for consult and two lots of medicine. The pharmacy was on the ground floor and I would never have found it but was picked up by a Thai staff member and taken there when I appeared lost. Not sure whether that was good luck or they have staff sweeping the area for lost falang. Probably all up took me a couple of hours.

Given posts about overcharging at RAM this is my hospital of choice and was very pleased with the service yesterday

Edited July 10, 2009 by Robertq

[PeaceBlondie]

Like any mammoth facility that's new to you, you have to learn where things are. I navigated SMSC daily as a new tourist. A cute nurse usually escorts you to and from each place except pharmacy.

[caf]

If you attend a general clinic or an emergency room with 200 commoners, you may wait a long time in a crowd, in Boston or London. I once had a long wait at RAM 1, and got 800 baht of worthless advice from a specialist. For my last stroke; without an appointment, I was 8th in the queue to see the professor at Sripat. I paid total of 300 baht for good, clean care, plus the medicine was not overpriced. The nurses speak medical English.

omg, you had to wait with "commoners". how terribly awful for you. what is the world coming to

[PeaceBlondie]

If you attend a general clinic or an emergency room with 200 commoners, you may wait a long time in a crowd, in Boston or London. I once had a long wait at RAM 1, and got 800 baht of worthless advice from a specialist. For my last stroke; without an appointment, I was 8th in the queue to see the professor at Sripat. I paid total of 300 baht for good, clean care, plus the medicine was not overpriced. The nurses speak medical English.

omg, you had to wait with "commoners". how terribly awful for you. what is the world coming to

I meant the 'commoners' born around Boston and London.

[Mapguy]

Anyway, the waiting room is more crowded than at Chiang Mai Ram. But it is really rare (maybe once), in my experience, that I had to wait a long time (more than 20 minutes). Isn't that pretty fast? Bored? Take a magazine!

The name of the clinic has been changed to the Sriphat Medical Center to identify the actual name of the building with the clinic.

Otherwise, I ran into a guy who just had hip replacement surgery there. He couldn't be happier. He could have had the same thing done by the same surgeon at Chiang Mai Ram. The difference? Cost.