Medical

[Contractor]

I used to have a medical every 2 years, and I am now overdue.

I have read many threads on hospitals in CM, but am particularly after a recommendation on where to go for a full medical.

Any recommendations based on experience?

Many thanks

[chiang mai]

I used to have a medical every 2 years, and I am now overdue.

I have read many threads on hospitals in CM, but am particularly after a recommendation on where to go for a full medical.

Any recommendations based on experience?

Many thanks

Chiang Mai Ram offers a good service at a reasonable price - my preference however is for the exec health check at Bumrungrad in BKK.

[PeaceBlondie]

Sripat Special Medical Services Center has about a dozen full physicals, at various prices. See their bilingual brochure in the lobby, first floor. I used to get my annual physicals there for about 2,500 baht but last year's brochure lists exams as high as 4,260 baht including blood and urine tests, xray, EKG, etc.

[earlofwindermere]

I did the full physical at Sripat last month. I got the most expensive package - 4300 baht now. Last year, I went to Bumrungrad and had the same tests doene for 9000 baht. While Bumrungrad was much nicer, I was satisfied with Sripat as well.

[PeaceBlondie]

There you go, for cost comparisons. In the threads about Chiang Mai Ram and Sripat, at first it seemed their prices might be nearly the same, but now I have serious doubts. My 2,500 baht 'full physicals" included blood tests, urine tests, xray, a full escort around the various buildings, and a final evaluation by a doctor who the last time was my cardiologist.

[Mapguy]

Bumrungrad is super slick --- and relatively expensive. Been there, done that, got the tee shirt. In town, I do not prefer Sriphat over Chiang Mai Ram per se --- but, if you select Chiang Mai Ram, I suggest that you do not go to the 4th floor clinic at Chiang Mai Ram directly but start instead with one of the internists downstairs, NOT the nurse and the internist on the 4th floor. Any difference in price will be negligible. The 4th floor operation at Ram is an ill-conceived and poorly administered "factory operation" in my view.

[realthaideal]

I'm one of the younger (?!) TV posters, but as tonight all the medical stuff pops up, I do have a question or two. I'd like to invest in a full physical as well, I'm only in my late 30's, but as my family, men especially, are prone to heart disease, I'd like a physical that does a full cardio/pulmonary kind of work up. Sripat is sounding ok, esp w/ price as a concern. Is there something like that on their menu of choices ie treadmill, ekg,...anything else along the lines of angiogram or something ?

[Mapguy]

I'm one of the younger (?!) TV posters, but as tonight all the medical stuff pops up, I do have a question or two. I'd like to invest in a full physical as well, I'm only in my late 30's, but as my family, men especially, are prone to heart disease, I'd like a physical that does a full cardio/pulmonary kind of work up. Sripat is sounding ok, esp w/ price as a concern. Is there something like that on their menu of choices ie treadmill, ekg,...anything else along the lines of angiogram or something ?

Both Sriphat and Ram have very good cardiologists who are able to perform or order the full range of tests.

[mcgriffith]

I'm one of the younger (?!) TV posters, but as tonight all the medical stuff pops up, I do have a question or two. I'd like to invest in a full physical as well, I'm only in my late 30's, but as my family, men especially, are prone to heart disease, I'd like a physical that does a full cardio/pulmonary kind of work up. Sripat is sounding ok, esp w/ price as a concern. Is there something like that on their menu of choices ie treadmill, ekg,...anything else along the lines of angiogram or something ?

RTD, there is a non-invasive test- a CAT heart scan. Don't know if it is available here, but it is highly accurate at seeing plaque deposits in coronary arteries. You will get a calcium score, which gives a guideline to possible coronary artery disease, etc.

I had one done about 5 years ago in the US, for a full torso it cost $350; the heart scan only was priced at $299. 1 hour procedure, got a DVD and exhaustive report from the radiologist. Recommended if you have a family history of heart issues.

[PeaceBlondie]

RealThaiDeal, my cardiologist at Sripat is Dr. Panumed - maybe not a surgeon, but a clinician. You could ask for an initial appt. with him and he can be your physician for the annual physical and whatever cardio work you need.

Glad you clarified your age, because your avatar looks ten times older than mine.

[cloudhopper]

The 4th floor operation at Ram is an ill-conceived and poorly administered "factory operation" in my view.

Having recently been there and done that I concur.

[chiang mai]

I'm one of the younger (?!) TV posters, but as tonight all the medical stuff pops up, I do have a question or two. I'd like to invest in a full physical as well, I'm only in my late 30's, but as my family, men especially, are prone to heart disease, I'd like a physical that does a full cardio/pulmonary kind of work up. Sripat is sounding ok, esp w/ price as a concern. Is there something like that on their menu of choices ie treadmill, ekg,...anything else along the lines of angiogram or something ?

RTD, there is a non-invasive test- a CAT heart scan. Don't know if it is available here, but it is highly accurate at seeing plaque deposits in coronary arteries. You will get a calcium score, which gives a guideline to possible coronary artery disease, etc.

I had one done about 5 years ago in the US, for a full torso it cost $350; the heart scan only was priced at $299. 1 hour procedure, got a DVD and exhaustive report from the radiologist. Recommended if you have a family history of heart issues.

I cannot recommend the CT slice scan since the results are not as accurate as one might wish. Agreed the test provides an indication but a problem lies in the fact that the CT software interprets the data it receives in such a way as to distort and then misrepresent the findings. A secondary problem exists in the high dose of radiation the patient receives during this scan. I have had the CT slice scan, at my request and the picture it painted was bleak, to say the very least. The next step of course was to have an aniogram and that showed a much more acceptable set of events. I think if you talk to good cardiologists they will tell you that the CT slice scan is an unnecessary middle step between initial identification of a problem and an angiogram - the test appeals to patients because it is non-invasive although the combination of the dye and the radiation mean the test is not without risk.

As far as a solution is concerned for the OP question: I recommend he visit RAM and see the cardiologist there, an excellent Thai doctor who speaks perfect English and has a great personality (Dr. P's full name escapes me I'm afraid but he is the resident cardiologist). Dr P will be able to administer a treadmill stress test and advise on the way forward without the need for a full medical.

Edited July 25, 2008 by chiang mai

[Mapguy]

I'm one of the younger (?!) TV posters, but as tonight all the medical stuff pops up, I do have a question or two. I'd like to invest in a full physical as well, I'm only in my late 30's, but as my family, men especially, are prone to heart disease, I'd like a physical that does a full cardio/pulmonary kind of work up. Sripat is sounding ok, esp w/ price as a concern. Is there something like that on their menu of choices ie treadmill, ekg,...anything else along the lines of angiogram or something ?

RTD, there is a non-invasive test- a CAT heart scan. Don't know if it is available here, but it is highly accurate at seeing plaque deposits in coronary arteries. You will get a calcium score, which gives a guideline to possible coronary artery disease, etc.

I had one done about 5 years ago in the US, for a full torso it cost $350; the heart scan only was priced at $299. 1 hour procedure, got a DVD and exhaustive report from the radiologist. Recommended if you have a family history of heart issues.

I cannot recommend the CT slice scan since the results are not as accurate as one might wish. Agreed the test provides an indication but a problem lies in the fact that the CT software interprets the data it receives in such a way as to distort and then misrepresent the findings. A secondary problem exists in the high dose of radiation the patient receives during this scan. I have had the CT slice scan, at my request and the picture it painted was bleak, to say the very least. The next step of course was to have an aniogram and that showed a much more acceptable set of events. I think if you talk to good cardiologists they will tell you that the CT slice scan is an unnecessary middle step between initial identification of a problem and an angiogram - the test appeals to patients because it is non-invasive although the combination of the dye and the radiation mean the test is not without risk.

As far as a solution is concerned for the OP question: I recommend he visit RAM and see the cardiologist there, an excellent Thai doctor who speaks perfect English and has a great personality (Dr. P's full name escapes me I'm afraid but he is the resident cardiologist). Dr P will be able to administer a treadmill stress test and advise on the way forward without the need for a full medical.

I advise caution and some further research by our young friend who might be a little overanxious just because there is heart disease among (I suppose) his primary relatives.

I recently read a very good article including information on the impact of the CAT scan, which --- as the article basically said --- can be "super overkill" in dianosing plaque build-up. A scan is the equivalent of something like 1100 routine xrays. If you are an old fart, this is not such a problem, but under the age of 60, as I recall, there is the danger of provoking cancer. Check it out.

Otherwise, checking with either of two cardiologists at Ram (and I am sure at Sriphat as well) is a useful path to take. Both at Ram, by the way, have a name beginning with "P!" One is Dr. Padungkiat; the other is Dr. Pattarapong." Lots of practitioners in town whose names begin with "P!" A cardio man at Sriphat, as well.

Weighing_the_Costs_of_a_CT_Scan_s_Look_Inside_the_Heart___Series___NYTimes.com.pdf

Edited July 25, 2008 by Mapguy

[chiang mai]

I'm one of the younger (?!) TV posters, but as tonight all the medical stuff pops up, I do have a question or two. I'd like to invest in a full physical as well, I'm only in my late 30's, but as my family, men especially, are prone to heart disease, I'd like a physical that does a full cardio/pulmonary kind of work up. Sripat is sounding ok, esp w/ price as a concern. Is there something like that on their menu of choices ie treadmill, ekg,...anything else along the lines of angiogram or something ?

RTD, there is a non-invasive test- a CAT heart scan. Don't know if it is available here, but it is highly accurate at seeing plaque deposits in coronary arteries. You will get a calcium score, which gives a guideline to possible coronary artery disease, etc.

I had one done about 5 years ago in the US, for a full torso it cost $350; the heart scan only was priced at $299. 1 hour procedure, got a DVD and exhaustive report from the radiologist. Recommended if you have a family history of heart issues.

I cannot recommend the CT slice scan since the results are not as accurate as one might wish. Agreed the test provides an indication but a problem lies in the fact that the CT software interprets the data it receives in such a way as to distort and then misrepresent the findings. A secondary problem exists in the high dose of radiation the patient receives during this scan. I have had the CT slice scan, at my request and the picture it painted was bleak, to say the very least. The next step of course was to have an aniogram and that showed a much more acceptable set of events. I think if you talk to good cardiologists they will tell you that the CT slice scan is an unnecessary middle step between initial identification of a problem and an angiogram - the test appeals to patients because it is non-invasive although the combination of the dye and the radiation mean the test is not without risk.

As far as a solution is concerned for the OP question: I recommend he visit RAM and see the cardiologist there, an excellent Thai doctor who speaks perfect English and has a great personality (Dr. P's full name escapes me I'm afraid but he is the resident cardiologist). Dr P will be able to administer a treadmill stress test and advise on the way forward without the need for a full medical.

I advise caution and some further research by our young friend who might be a little overanxious just because there is heart disease among (I suppose) his primary relatives.

I recently read a very good article including information on the impact of the CAT scan, which --- as the article basically said --- can be "super overkill" in dianosing plaque build-up. A scan is the equivalent of something like 1100 routine xrays. If you are an old fart, this is not such a problem, but under the age of 60, as I recall, there is the danger of provoking cancer. Check it out.

Otherwise, checking with either of two cardiologists at Ram (and I am sure at Sriphat as well) is a useful path to take. Both at Ram, by the way, have a name beginning with "P!" One is Dr. Padungkiat; the other is Dr. Pattarapong." Lots of practitioners in town whose names begin with "P!" A cardio man at Sriphat, as well.

Good advice - thank you for reminding me of the name of Dr Pattarapong.