Whats So Special To Bumrungrad?

[Bengt]

Just wonder because I hears alot of that hospital so if anyone knows if there is anything special to Bumrungrad..pls let me know some examples.

[jfchandler]

Yes, it's the main western-style accredited hospital in Thailand and BKK, and probably among the most expensive as a result. They also are pretty good at having doctors and staff who speak English and other languages.

Generally a good reputation, but can be a bit of a conveyor belt system of medical treatment. There are some who feel some doctors there just run you through, without taking the time to properly assess/diagnose your problem.

By general account, there are some very good talented doctors there, but also some real misses. The trick is to find one in the specialty you need who is among the good. But just going to Bum by no means guarantees you're going to get a doctor who's first-rate.

BNH Hospital in Silom is probably as or more expensive in general, and some people feel the doctors there tend to take more time and are more thorough in their diagnoses. Samitijev Sukhumvit also has a good reputation, as does Bangkok General, the latter having a very wide array of speciality centers.

[MMR]

Just wonder because I hears alot of that hospital so if anyone knows if there is anything special to Bumrungrad..pls let me know some examples.

Long standing JCI accreditation.

Western trained physicians.

And a huge marketing budget.

[Slip]

A very good friend of mine who lives in BKK went to them about 3 years ago as she and her hubby were having trouble getting pregnant. After many tests they emailed her a set of results that were not understandable to her as they were so scientific ('whatever' counts and such) but in time, the couple came to realise through other sources that the results meant they could never have children.

My friends were both very upset at the news and the way they were treated. They went to another BKK hospital (I'm sorry, neither I nor my other half can remember the name of the new hospital)- somewher near the Emporium I think. Anyway, long story short they gave birth to a beautiful baby 6 months ago.

This is not a 'friend of a sister's masseuse story'. These people are close friends of mine.

Bumrungrad- I woudn't touch them with a 20 foot pole- (Although handy as a shortcut to Soi 1). There are much better (and much cheaper) hospitals within spitting distance of that place. Less money on marketing I'm sure but better care and more empathy in the experience of the only person I know who has ever used them.

If I'd heard good reports of them I'd have reported that too- I have no axe to grind. But from what I've heard steer clear.

[wasabi]

I was reluctant to go to Bumrungrad for the same reason I didn't send my girlfriend to Wall Street Institute of language. I was concerned it was style over substance. However I have been there twice now and both times my experience was excellent. My feeling about having a serious illness is I would prefer to be treated in my home country the USA but for the two times I needed to go to Bumrungrad I had good experiences. Another plus is the waiting times are very short. One of the perks of being a rich Farang is you get access to health care much more promptly than you would at a government run hospital.

I have been to BNH 3 times. 1 time was poor but the other 2 times were excellent there as well. I now prefer Bumrungrad simply because it's closer to where I live but the prices are about the same. Both hospitals are heavily into pampering you. BNH has massage chairs in the lounge and BNH has free refreshments. I have to admit it does make my visits to them more pleasant. Perhaps I should go stub my toe so I can have my temperature taken by a Thai nurse in Tight lime green pants.

Edited September 22, 2008 by wasabi

[jfchandler]

Actually, if you do an apples to apples comparison, the inpatient room daily prices are a bit higher at BNH Hospital than they are at Bumrungrad.... I did a rates comparison of a half dozen BKK/farang oriented hospitals a month or two ago that produced that result, and posted the results here on TV... And today, in renewing my health insurance policy for the year, my insurance broker told me the same -- even though she didn't know I'd already looked into that myself.

Based on experience at both hospitals, as an outpatient only, I'd give BNH higher marks for their actual medical care...but clearly, that can vary widely depending on the individual doctor who's treating you.

For whatever it's worth, my Thai health insurance broker, who deals with a lot of ex-pats in BKK, said her preference in terms of quality care probably would be Samitivej, which does indeed have a good reputation, though I've never been there myself.

Since so much of Thai medicine for farangs is focused on specialties ( as opposed to general practitioners), another important consideration would be which hospital has the most developed/most experienced medical staff in the particular specialty that would be spurring your hospital visit.

I had a sinus problem, and was really underwhelmed by the quality of the medical care I received at Bumrungrad, whereas the doctor I ended up with at BNH turned out to be first-rate, and I have and would recommend him to anyone.

[Goinghomesoon]

I just spent the past 24 hours there and it's one well oiled machine. In Australia I have spent a lot of time in ER with accident prone children and know you can wait hours. Therefore I was impressed to be seen by the attending Dr at the ER within minutes of arriving at Bumrungrad. I was given the 'optimum' list of tests that could be done for my injury but they happily accepted that I only wanted the basics to first establish the extent of the injury. When it came time to pay and checkout they were a little slower but nothing compared to waiting in line at a public institution back home.

And although language is no indication of medical ability, when I was in pain and upset it was really nice that all the staff could speak english.

[fred2007]

I just spent the past 24 hours there and it's one well oiled machine. In Australia I have spent a lot of time in ER with accident prone children and know you can wait hours. Therefore I was impressed to be seen by the attending Dr at the ER within minutes of arriving at Bumrungrad. I was given the 'optimum' list of tests that could be done for my injury but they happily accepted that I only wanted the basics to first establish the extent of the injury. When it came time to pay and checkout they were a little slower but nothing compared to waiting in line at a public institution back home.

And although language is no indication of medical ability, when I was in pain and upset it was really nice that all the staff could speak english.

Well I never been to that hospital but one of my friends form Australia had laser surgery done to his eyes and he thinks that was the best thing he ever done in his life, all the staff was professional and helpful and the price was less then a quarter what he would have paid in Australia and he had a nice holiday at the same time

[MMR]

I just spent the past 24 hours there and it's one well oiled machine. In Australia I have spent a lot of time in ER with accident prone children and know you can wait hours. Therefore I was impressed to be seen by the attending Dr at the ER within minutes of arriving at Bumrungrad. I was given the 'optimum' list of tests that could be done for my injury but they happily accepted that I only wanted the basics to first establish the extent of the injury. When it came time to pay and checkout they were a little slower but nothing compared to waiting in line at a public institution back home.

And although language is no indication of medical ability, when I was in pain and upset it was really nice that all the staff could speak english.

Well I never been to that hospital but one of my friends form Australia had laser surgery done to his eyes and he thinks that was the best thing he ever done in his life, all the staff was professional and helpful and the price was less then a quarter what he would have paid in Australia and he had a nice holiday at the same time

Interesting. LASIK eye surgery must be quite expensive in Australia.

From a price point, this is one of the very few procedures we recommend having performed at home.

[Dakhar]

Yes, it's the main western-style accredited hospital in Thailand and BKK, and probably among the most expensive as a result. They also are pretty good at having doctors and staff who speak English and other languages.

Generally a good reputation, but can be a bit of a conveyor belt system of medical treatment. There are some who feel some doctors there just run you through, without taking the time to properly assess/diagnose your problem.

By general account, there are some very good talented doctors there, but also some real misses. The trick is to find one in the specialty you need who is among the good. But just going to Bum by no means guarantees you're going to get a doctor who's first-rate.

BNH Hospital in Silom is probably as or more expensive in general, and some people feel the doctors there tend to take more time and are more thorough in their diagnoses. Samitijev Sukhumvit also has a good reputation, as does Bangkok General, the latter having a very wide array of speciality centers.

Pretty much spot on. I have had good results with Vichayut too.

[LaoPo]

Just wonder because I hears alot of that hospital so if anyone knows if there is anything special to Bumrungrad..pls let me know some examples.

I know of 2 friends (1 Swedish ) who go there and both are very satisfied. The Swedish guy does a total body and health check up 2 x per year and the other friend went there to have his eye circles done because they looked very bad and he looked very old....

Walked IN without an appointment in the morning and walked out in the evening; both eye circles were operated the same afternoon. And he was very content and happy and looked 15 years younger...his real age

I suppose it depends what you want to have done...

LaoPo

[onethailand]

In the 15 years I have been here, I have used Samitivej (Sukhumvit, the Srinakarin branch was being built at the time), starting with the birth of my eldest daughter. Service has always been efficient and polite, prices could've been a bit lower but they are still way cheap compared to healthcare in the US.

Not once have I ever had anything to complain about with regards to medical care - the only complaint I can make was a paperwork issue where the attending nurse forgot to register my son's middle name, and in the end we had no choice but to make the request direct to the US Embassy as the Thai birth certificate had already been issued and could not be changed for whatever reason.

Used Bumrungrad once, quality of care simply wasn't the same (but that was 13 years ago). And took my eldest to a hospital somewhere in Taling Chan, where they kept her for seven days for gastroenteritis until I got fed up, took the child back to Samitivej - she stayed one night and was out the next morning.

Since then, I always go back to Samitivej and accept the higher prices without question. Nothing is worth trying to save a few baht and sacrificing peace of mind in the process.

[jayceenik]

While vacationing in the US a few years ago I experienced annoying eye cloudiness. Went to an expensive ophthalmologist in Eureka CA who did a quick eye test and found nothing. Back in BKK I went to Bumrungrad where I passed a battery of eye tests. After careful check the ophthalmologist correctly identified the problem. Told me it would eventually go away. It did. That at a fraction of what I had paid for that useless consultation in the US.

[PeaceBlondie]

I have never been to Bumrungrad, so I cannot fault it. I only wish to add that there is more than one decent hospital in Thailand. I went to Samitivej several times, for a terrible infection inside my upper arm. I was seen by two excellent, fully qualified specialists who could not help me. I relocated to Chiang Mai and was quickly diagnosed by an orthopedic surgeon at the govt. hospital who was willing to stick his fingers into the infection and dig it out by hand (he was also Western certified). There may be 15 excellent hospitals in Thailand, and I have yet to hear of one as expensive as Burmrungrad.

[sky202]

Just wonder because I hears alot of that hospital so if anyone knows if there is anything special to Bumrungrad..pls let me know some examples.

I think you will find this website very interesting was a real eye opener actually shocking made me think twice. www.bumrungradeath.com Sign in and read under Updates/news.

[kannon99]

^^^ yeah that. My friend's husband died there in 2005 after a routine physical under very questionable circumstances. Still dealing with the courts now.

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

About three years ago my wife got food poisoning and was extremely sick. She was taken to Bumrungrads emergency and immediately had about six people working on her. Gave her transfusion and several different medicines. Kept her in the emergency room for about one hour then took her back to the hotel. The bill was about $80 US for everything. Everyone spoke english and were extremely helpfull and efficient. It is more like a 5* hotel than a hospital.

If I became sick and could choose any hospital I wanted to, it would be Bumrungrad. Went to emergency in Australia and it took 5 hours to see the Dr.

[chiang mai]

Just wonder because I hears alot of that hospital so if anyone knows if there is anything special to Bumrungrad..pls let me know some examples.

I think you will find this website very interesting was a real eye opener actually shocking made me think twice. www.bumrungradeath.com Sign in and read under Updates/news.

I don't know why you chose to post reference to that site but I think it is inappropriate hence I presume you have a vested interest - the facts are that Bumrungrad is a good quality hospital and people do die, even in the best hospitals. I think if people are being advised to read your reference site then they should also read http://medicaltravelsite.com/blog/2006/10/...-at-bumrungrad/ which offers something of a rebuttal or challenge to the issues raised. For what it's worth the boys father appears to be on a crusade and as sad as the whole affair is, it seems to be a search for vengeance/compensation, somewhere or anywhere and his story is far from airtight.

[T_Dog]

I went to Bumrungrad last year for a physical as they do an abdominal ultrasound and a chest x-ray as part of the package for 12000 baht. I was having severe stomach problems that felt like a bad gall-bladder and I was getting weaker week by week. The hospital I was using in CM at the time was not effective in helping me so I flew to Bangkok. I was extremely impressed with the whole process….. Jump suits, not smocks when you check in, a well-stocked café after your blood work, and a debriefing with the director after you have been examined by about five different doctors, each a specialist in their part of the exam. They diagnosed something completely different than a gall bladder and what the CM hospital had thought which a two-week course of antibiotics and other drugs completely resolved.

What I liked about Bumrungrad:

-The jumpsuits.

-Superb organization and coordination.

-Café after bloodwork.

-Having three pretty (but professional!) nurses put on the EKG probes! (Dang, elevated heart rate!!!)

-All new equipment.

-The cleanest building I think I have ever been in.

-Specialist in each part of the comprehensive exam.

-The debriefing at the end of the day where you can ask questions.

What I didn’t like:

-12000 baht is a lot of money.

-Required travel from Chiang Mai.

-An HIV test is not a normal part of the bloodwork. (You have to ask for it.)

Since then, I have found that the Maharaj Special Medical Services Center here in Chiang Mai has a physical almost as comprehensive for a lot less so I don’t think I will return to Bumrungrad. If money was no object and it was closer, I would surely use them again. Great place but everyone needs to look at the value they are getting based on their own needs.

[twix38]

I went to Bumrungrad last October/November time as I had problems swallowing and a feeling that something was stuck in my throat.

I saw a Doctor who looked down my throat (endoscopy via nose) and we had quickly chatted about symptoms and that I had had a Barium Swallow already, in UK Results were normal, but my UK Doctor had been concerned still and recomended further tests, but I was leaving for Thailand and so he had given me Omeprazole (PPI) and I had promised to get it investigated further in Thailand.

So, there I was at the Bumrungrad and I was told all normal and take these tablets. I went away happy and popped back for a quick re-check that I need do nothing more and all ok. Yes, no problem was the answer. I had Globus

I got home and looked up the tablets on the internet. They were for anxiety!! I stopped taking them and emailed for my medical notes and a further check that all was indeed fine. Reply stated all fine again.

I took my Omeprazole for 2-3 weeks and then once more when symptoms re-started. As it was only then about 2 months to go until I returned to UK I decided to get it checked again then, but had some comfort from the Bumrungrad diagnosis - at that time.

On my return to UK, I saw my doctor the very next day and 3 days later I was in Hospital having a Gastroscopy and then awaiting Biopsy results. I had Gastritis (moderate to severe inflamation) 3cm Barrett's Epithileum and a nodule inside the Barretts segment and an ulcer. The later biopsy results showed Low Grade Dysplasia (LGD). I am now on my PPI daily for life with currently a 1 year follow up and that will hopefully be every 2 years so long as it doesn't show worse next time (HGD). The only certain cure if it went to High grade dysplasia (as dysplasia are abnormal cells with a higher risk of Cancer) is to have ones throat surgically removed, though new ablation techniques like Barrx Radiofrequency are about now, but somewhat experimental. The prognosis on throat cancer is terrible as it's one of the worst to survive.

I have become knowledgable and more people who have acid reflux over many years should be aware of Barretts. Once symptoms of the acid burning dissapear, then get it looked at, because Barretts is a tissue change (into intestinal tissue type) in the throat and the acid burn no longer is so noticable, because Barretts tissue type is now dealing with it. Problem is Barretts is not good because cells divide much more quickly to repair damage and this increases the possible mistakes on DNA copying and hence significantly elevates future Cancer risk.

So the Bunrungrad doctor was rushed, needed to do the camera down my nose 3 times as he could not see out the end clearly, gave me pills without telling me what they were for and they were mis-prescribed, took my normal Barium Swallow to be a factor in not suggesting I check further (making assumptions that turned out to be incorrect as Barretts cannot be diagnosed this way anyway). Had he recommended further checks and looked further down my throat, he or anyone else would have seen all that my UK doctor and Gastroscopy saw. Instead the Bumrungrad doctor made incorrect assumptions, got the diagnosis wrong because he excluded the need for further checks and advised me I had Globus (an imagined feeling in my throat) and all was fine. I was just anxious.

I would never trust the Bumrungrad again.

They did an internal investigation that has covered their arse and which ignored the main points about clear negligence. My correct diagnosis speaks for itself and it's indefensible to not have recomended I seek further tests based on the doctors clearly incorrect assumptions or playing the averages, as I suspect few patients will have Baretts and many do have Globus.

I would like to sue, but have real doubts there is any point and am unwilling to pay for a lost cause, as it probably would be unless anyone knows better. PM me please?

Boycot the Bumrungrad, please!!!! It's at best rushed and very hit and miss as to what service and especially what level of competancy you will receive. It's just not worth playing Russian Roulette with your health, whilst you wallett gets drained.

Edited September 28, 2008 by twix38

[jfchandler]

Someone above talked about the staff uniforms, the cuteness of the nurses, the cleanness of the facility and the newness of the equipment as reasons for preferring Bumrungrad. I'm not sure those would be the highest on my criteria for where to seek medical care.

Without commenting one way or the other on the problem described immediately above, I'd suggest that most people's biggest concern ought to be finding doctors and support staff who are skilled, competent and operate in a setting that facilitates them making proper medical diagnoses and then directing the appropriate treatment.

[Artabus]

Bumrungrad has many good things to recommend it :

Some caring doctors

Some caring nurses

Some competent doctors

Some competent nurses

Some reasonable prices

But... I would not have medical treatment there if you paid me.

My father spent many months subject to their tender mercies, in the end they admitted him after he went in for a routine check up (a suspect diagnosis as well), he caught an infection (not his first there), next time he came out he was in a coffin.

His diagnosis was shoddy, his medication excessive and often dubious, some of the treatment of him appalling.

Just one person's experience, you understand.

So, maybe, if you are young and supported, you can risk medical treatment there. But if you are elderly, and supported by Thais, perhaps it will literally be the worst mistake you ever made.

I heard very good reports about the Bangkok Christian Hospital in Silom, and my experience of them was positive - go there instead.

[twix38]

Indeed. I actually took time to find this doctor and he was recommended here and I debated between 2 hospitals, the other was Samitvej.

I felt I was going to one of the best Hospitals in Thailand for professional competancy and willing to pay, though not enthralled about it.

I fully appreciate many other doctors there must be good, but it does appear hit and miss. Perhaps for every 10,000 that have Globus there will be 1 with Barretts and perhaps they get referred for further tests and diagnosed correctly. I wouldn't want to bet on it though!!

I would say that I needed thorough examination to identify my problem and what I got was unsatisfactory and potentially a serious mis-diagnosis precisely because the duty of care and caution was thrown away, possibly to playing the averages. If you really think about it. There is no evidence that further checks should be excluded and nothing to exclude them. The only contributing factor was a normal Barium Swallow. You cannot identify Barretts from this and so I should never have been allowed to believe that I was fine and no further tests necessary. It was clear just from the diagnosis I was given alone = Globus. Take these tablets, next please!

Anyway, I agree with you.

I doubt I will be back here again, but as I came across this thread from the 'recent posts' email, just thought I would contribute.

It really does sound in general that at least as many people have bad things to say or bad experiences, as good and in a place that is supposed to be there to diagnose and put things right and get things right, for a price, it should have a 75%+ positive feedback/approval rating, at least on the health side, if not the cost. Anything below 65% is shocking when measured against a core competancy and I believe this thread should be elevated to a higher level. FIXED AT THE TOP OF THE HEALTH BOARD FOR A START. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW, AS SUBSEQUENT REDRESS AND INVESTIGATIONS ARE EQUALLY SUSPECT AND 3RD WORLD, UNSURPRISINGLY.

Regards

Someone above talked about the staff uniforms, the cuteness of the nurses, the cleanness of the facility and the newness of the equipment as reasons for preferring Bumrungrad. I'm not sure those would be the highest on my criteria for where to seek medical care.

Without commenting one way or the other on the problem described immediately above, I'd suggest that most people's biggest concern ought to be finding doctors and support staff who are skilled, competent and operate in a setting that facilitates them making proper medical diagnoses and then directing the appropriate treatment.

Edited September 28, 2008 by twix38

[sky202]

^^^ yeah that. My friend's husband died there in 2005 after a routine physical under very questionable circumstances. Still dealing with the courts now.

This is a different case a younger guy wasn't married his parents where from the States he (the youngsters father) received a phone call from someone not wanting to be identified telling him his son die mysteriously. On that same site there are loads of horrible cases being investigated concerning Bumrungrad. I personally have always used Samitivej an found them excellent saved my baby's life.

[sky202]

Just wonder because I hears alot of that hospital so if anyone knows if there is anything special to Bumrungrad..pls let me know some examples.

I think you will find this website very interesting was a real eye opener actually shocking made me think twice. www.bumrungradeath.com Sign in and read under Updates/news.

I don't know why you chose to post reference to that site but I think it is inappropriate hence I presume you have a vested interest - the facts are that Bumrungrad is a good quality hospital and people do die, even in the best hospitals. I think if people are being advised to read your reference site then they should also read http://medicaltravelsite.com/blog/2006/10/...-at-bumrungrad/ which offers something of a rebuttal or challenge to the issues raised. For what it's worth the boys father appears to be on a crusade and as sad as the whole affair is, it seems to be a search for vengeance/compensation, somewhere or anywhere and his story is far from airtight.

No I do not have a vested interest I just answered someone's question plus if you read under the Updates/News there are plenty other articles which has nothing to do with this young man's father. I am sure if you lost your kid that way you would also want some answers. Yes I am open in reading all articles I DID not stress that the site had to be read. It contains alot of information which is hidden from people unless you do proper research. Thanks for informing me that people die in hospital I must be very naive in your eyes, shame...!!!!!!!!

[chiang mai]

Just wonder because I hears alot of that hospital so if anyone knows if there is anything special to Bumrungrad..pls let me know some examples.

I think you will find this website very interesting was a real eye opener actually shocking made me think twice. www.bumrungradeath.com Sign in and read under Updates/news.

I don't know why you chose to post reference to that site but I think it is inappropriate hence I presume you have a vested interest - the facts are that Bumrungrad is a good quality hospital and people do die, even in the best hospitals. I think if people are being advised to read your reference site then they should also read http://medicaltravelsite.com/blog/2006/10/...-at-bumrungrad/ which offers something of a rebuttal or challenge to the issues raised. For what it's worth the boys father appears to be on a crusade and as sad as the whole affair is, it seems to be a search for vengeance/compensation, somewhere or anywhere and his story is far from airtight.

No I do not have a vested interest I just answered someone's question plus if you read under the Updates/News there are plenty other articles which has nothing to do with this young man's father. I am sure if you lost your kid that way you would also want some answers. Yes I am open in reading all articles I DID not stress that the site had to be read. It contains alot of information which is hidden from people unless you do proper research. Thanks for informing me that people die in hospital I must be very naive in your eyes, shame...!!!!!!!!

It's all a question of perspective. All hospitals represent a degree of risk, the larger the hospital the more patients it treats and inevitably there will be episodes that need further explanation - add to all of that the international dimension whereby large numbers of patients are from other countries and cultures and the potential for upset increases. If we all accept those things then we can still have sympathy and compassion for a father that has lost a son - crusades and conspiracy theories however are something else entirely.

[Sheryl]

Well put, CM.

I would add that there is not a hospital on earth which does not have at least some bad (i.e. disinterested/less than competent) doctors. And most have at least some good ones.

In the case of the "international" hospitals in Bkk, all of them have some excellent doctors on staff -- in some cases, the best for a particular specialty -- and all of them have some that I at least consider to be sub-standard.

It is simply not possible to be assured of the best care by choice of hospital. You have to consider choice of doctor, and I never cease to be amazed at how little thought and research many people put into that.

That said, I do agree that in general the way Bumrungrad is managed leads to very rushed consultations and insufficient time spent per patient; I thibnk the physicians there are under pressure to produce a fast turnaround both because it leads to higher volume (and thus profits) and because overall the emphasis placed by management there is on efficiency and "service" as it would be defined in then onmedical sector, e.g. short waits. However, individual doctors vary in how they respond to that organizational culture and there are certainly still some who do a thorough job and take as much time as is needed. Also, Bummetrs has an unusually large number of physicians on staff with a very wide range of specialties and thus for some needs offers the widest range and/or best choice.

The organizational culture over at BNH and especially Samitivej is much more on quality and personalized attention than on speed...but that doesn't mean none of the docs on staff are slipshod nonetheless. Some are.

Choose the doctor, not the hospital.

Personally I hate Bummers (the ornate lobby particularly sets me off!) , but I still go there at times and bring people there...if it happens to be where the doctor who best suits the particular need works.

[Familyonthemove]

My own experience of Bumrungrad was not good at all. My wife visited the eye specialist because she had pains in her left eye after a long haul flight. After being kept waiting for over an hour she saw two doctors and had several eye test ... and then was told in broken English that she had age related degeneration of both eyes (she's only 40) and there was nothing they could and she was going to eventually lose her sight. She left in near panic, and when I finally managed to get in touch with one of the doctors by phone after 5 phone calls - he told me the same thing.

We went to the Rutnin eye centre for a second opinion, they were efficient, took the time to listen and explain the issues, stating that she is too young for age related problems and then diagnosed a simple eye infection, dry eyes and the need for some reading glasses. Some prescription eye drops cleared the eye infection in a week. They also noted some discolouration of the retina, but checked her old opticians records from the UK and noted that the same discoloration was recorded 7 years earlier. They took photos for their records so we can revisit to check there's no further changes. Rutnin were less than half the cost of Bumrungrad, incuding the reading specs.

Then to add insult to injury, Bumrungrad phoned my wife every day to say that they had lost the insurance details and could she pay the (huge!) bill immediately. When I called in to clear up the issue over the bill, my impression was of an over-large, over busy uncaring factory hospital ..... but it does have WIFI and a Starbucks.

[twix38]

Couldn't agree more. and they do have a nice restaurant.

I investigated my Doctor and he was also recommended here. I spent a month deciding and getting details.

Nobody can cater for rushed inefficient (incomplete) diagnosis when perhaps my condition only presents itself once in 500,000.

Still, it takes a challenge or some extra effort required to be any test of competancy and the mark of a good doctor.

Just not up to it, is my clear verdict because he even ruled out the need for further checks. Shocking!!

My own experience of Bumrungrad was not good at all. My wife visited the eye specialist because she had pains in her left eye after a long haul flight. After being kept waiting for over an hour she saw two doctors and had several eye test ... and then was told in broken English that she had age related degeneration of both eyes (she's only 40) and there was nothing they could and she was going to eventually lose her sight. She left in near panic, and when I finally managed to get in touch with one of the doctors by phone after 5 phone calls - he told me the same thing.

We went to the Rutnin eye centre for a second opinion, they were efficient, took the time to listen and explain the issues, stating that she is too young for age related problems and then diagnosed a simple eye infection, dry eyes and the need for some reading glasses. Some prescription eye drops cleared the eye infection in a week. They also noted some discolouration of the retina, but checked her old opticians records from the UK and noted that the same discoloration was recorded 7 years earlier. They took photos for their records so we can revisit to check there's no further changes. Rutnin were less than half the cost of Bumrungrad, incuding the reading specs.

Then to add insult to injury, Bumrungrad phoned my wife every day to say that they had lost the insurance details and could she pay the (huge!) bill immediately. When I called in to clear up the issue over the bill, my impression was of an over-large, over busy uncaring factory hospital ..... but it does have WIFI and a Starbucks.

Edited October 2, 2008 by twix38

[ArtfulD]

One morning I woke up unable to move without extreme agony,muscle spasms, and my legs were practically numb went to Bangkok Pattaya and the doctors said I had a back strain due to my deformed spine and to simply rest, three days later woke up in the middle of the night in extreme agony, muscle spasms and decided to go to Pattaya International spent three nights there simply taking painkillers. Both times sent home in an ambulance as neither knew what to do, had the same spinal x-rays at both. And the amount of problems we had with the cashier's there and payment too much to go in to just now.

Then decided to go to Bumrungrad, had them send me an ambulance to Pattaya cashier told me not to worry about payment as my case was emergency they will come and see me later on.Anyways, within the following 24 hours they found out I had multiple fractures in my spine, long story short yes it was expensive(however the daily room cost was less than both the Pattaya hospitals)but I was diagnosed quickly and all my doctors spoke fluent English and I am now fully recovered. I now make monthly trips to see their rheumatologist and eye specialists.

For me I would not consider anywhere else now.