Bangkok Hospital

[nohave]

Been visiting Bangkok hospital on Soi Soonvijai for the past couple of years but I am gradually becoming more and more fed up wtih the service and competency of some of their departments.

My blood pressure is taken by a customer service agent (OPD dept). At the doctor's there is no one there to assist, in fact, the doctor himself once finished walks out with the patient to the counter and gets the nurse to do the remainder of the paperwork. I mean, this is quite strange. In the past, there would be a nurse present but of late fewer and fewer nurses and also it seems whenever I get there the doctor will try and convince me for follow up examinations to which I usuallly agree to but reluctantly since I have a known chronic illness to which there is no known cure. A loss of lots of Bahts... for nothing. Are they in some financial trouble of some sort - anyone know? Anyone else noticed the decline in the services at Bangkok Hospital?

Needless to say I am now moving to Burmrungrad. Hope a REAL nurse will take my blood pressure not some customer service agent Bangkok Hospital ain't cheap so when I pay that kind of money for whatever I expect service and treatment of a very high standard .

[Hairy]

Unless the nurses are really hot in their skimpy little outfits, I don't see why it matters. BP doesn't need a rocket scientist to take it; anyone will do.

Edited November 11, 2008 by Hairy

[Comehome]

Unless the nurses are really hot in their skimpy little outfits, I don't see why it matters. BP doesn't need a rocket scientist to take it; anyone will do.

Agree.

Everytime we go to Bkk hospital there is a nurse assisting the doctor.

Don´t know what you are talking about to be honest. Sounds like a different hospital to me.

[misterme]

I like BNH. in Bang Rak. I think it's on Soi Convent. The initals stand for Bangkok Nursing Home, but they operate as a full service (upscale) hospital.

[onnut]

I like BNH. in Bang Rak. I think it's on Soi Convent. The initals stand for Bangkok Nursing Home, but they operate as a full service (upscale) hospital.

me too. BNH is the best one for sure. its not cheap but you get well taken care of. I spent a week in there a couple of years ago and my son was born there earlier this year.

[nohave]

Unless the nurses are really hot in their skimpy little outfits, I don't see why it matters. BP doesn't need a rocket scientist to take it; anyone will do.

Agree.

Everytime we go to Bkk hospital there is a nurse assisting the doctor.

Don´t know what you are talking about to be honest. Sounds like a different hospital to me.

NO!

At Bangkok Hospital on Petchburi rd on the second floor of the Watanasot bldg (OPD) at the GP's there is either no one or there is a customer service representetive and NOT a nurse. I hope you're not implying that I am a liar, or are you ?

Often I am taken out of the doctor's office to the counter by the doctor himself or as I said earlier a customer service representative. And no, where I come from (sorry not the US) a nurse takes my blood pressure not some customer service agent. And hel_l yes it matters when I pay a minimum of 1500 Baht or more per visit for the consultation + meds.

From your post it is obvious you have never heard of free healthcare and REAL quality service.

Anyway, I am will be with Bumrungrad starting next week. Hope there at least they will have qualified nurses assisting the doctors not some customer service agent.

When I pay big money, I expect high quality service and treatment in return.

[Comehome]

Of course you are not a liar!

I just wanted to express my experience of Bkk Hospital.

I feel sorry that they treated you so poorly and I hope you will get all the help you need at Bumungrad.

Take care now!

/Comehome

[Crash999]

Was at Bangkok Hospital on Phetchaburi earlier today and a real nurse (well, she was wearing a nurse's outfit anyway) took blood pressure and weight. Maybe varies by department or it was a busy period?

[onnut]

And hel_l yes it matters when I pay a minimum of 1500 Baht or more per visit for the consultation + meds.

When I pay big money, I expect high quality service and treatment in return.

big money? have a day off!

[Dakhar]

A) How do you really know the hoty at Bumungrad is a "real nurse?"

A doctor walking me up to the front desk to make sure the girls get the info straight and to see me off is considered by me to be above and beyond great service/treatment.

Of course I work in the health care field so what do I know?

1500 Baht big money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[maccaroni man]

Unless the nurses are really hot in their skimpy little outfits, I don't see why it matters. BP doesn't need a rocket scientist to take it; anyone will do.

Agree.

Everytime we go to Bkk hospital there is a nurse assisting the doctor.

Don´t know what you are talking about to be honest. Sounds like a different hospital to me.

NO!

At Bangkok Hospital on Petchburi rd on the second floor of the Watanasot bldg (OPD) at the GP's there is either no one or there is a customer service representetive and NOT a nurse. I hope you're not implying that I am a liar, or are you ?

Often I am taken out of the doctor's office to the counter by the doctor himself or as I said earlier a customer service representative. And no, where I come from (sorry not the US) a nurse takes my blood pressure not some customer service agent. And hel_l yes it matters when b]I pay a minimum of 1500 Baht [/b]

or more per visit for the consultation + meds.

From your post it is obvious you have never heard of free healthcare and REAL quality service.

Anyway, I am will be with Bumrungrad starting next week. Hope there at least they will have qualified nurses assisting the doctors not some customer service agent.

When I pay big money, I expect high quality service and treatment in return.

hmmmm 1500 baht to visit an international hospital, what is that 30 pounds? big money?

[nohave]

Sure. 1500 + meds + other stuff 20k-30k Lab/investigations + specialists' fees etc. for a couple of hours OPD at Bangkok hospital or any private hospital for that matter, is big money in Thailand. How long have you been in Thailand? And, I hope you're not playing the "my p_nis is bigger than yours" game, or are you ???

[maccaroni man]

Sure. 1500 + meds + other stuff 20k-30k Lab/investigations + specialists' fees etc. for a couple of hours OPD at Bangkok hospital or any private hospital for that matter, is big money in Thailand. How long have you been in Thailand? And, I hope you're not playing the "my p_nis is bigger than yours" game, or are you ???

i've been in thailand long enough to know better which is to say longer than many and not as long as some. No matter how long anyone has been living in TLS we can all agree that 20k to 30k is a far cry from 1500 My issue was really with your opinion of high quality free health as i have never met any one with public health who thinks that it is superior to private pay having said this, too each his own. cheers.

[jfchandler]

To the OP, good luck venturing to Bumrungrad.... I've had experience there and also at BNH in Silom.

Thus far, I prefer BNH to Bumrungrad, mainly because Bummers appears to have a bit of a conveyor belt treatment attitude these days, in terms of rushing patients thru... The good news there is they're almost invariably always on-time for your appointment. The bad news is, you're lucky to spend 5 or 10 minutes with the outpatient doctor.

I think a lot depends on which doctor and department you go. I'm sure there are good and bad to be found in both places... But I've found BNH doctors seem to be better listeners, more willing to try to understand what's going on in your particular situation, and less inclined to deliver pro forma diagnoses...

I happen to be headed to BNH this week for two separate outpatient appointments with two doctors I've never seen before...catching up on some old medical business. So I'll be interested to see if they show me the same good practices I've had from others at BNH in the past.

[Comehome]

Unless the nurses are really hot in their skimpy little outfits, I don't see why it matters. BP doesn't need a rocket scientist to take it; anyone will do.

Agree.

Everytime we go to Bkk hospital there is a nurse assisting the doctor.

Don´t know what you are talking about to be honest. Sounds like a different hospital to me.

NO!

At Bangkok Hospital on Petchburi rd on the second floor of the Watanasot bldg (OPD) at the GP's there is either no one or there is a customer service representetive and NOT a nurse. I hope you're not implying that I am a liar, or are you ?

Often I am taken out of the doctor's office to the counter by the doctor himself or as I said earlier a customer service representative. And no, where I come from (sorry not the US) a nurse takes my blood pressure not some customer service agent. And hel_l yes it matters when I pay a minimum of 1500 Baht or more per visit for the consultation + meds.

From your post it is obvious you have never heard of free healthcare and REAL quality service.

Anyway, I am will be with Bumrungrad starting next week. Hope there at least they will have qualified nurses assisting the doctors not some customer service agent.

When I pay big money, I expect high quality service and treatment in return.

No need to be RUDE to me!

Yes I DO know what FREE healthcare is, since I have lived in SWEDEN for a very long time.

And I also know what REAL quality service is. I have given BIRTH (normal labour without painkillers) at Bangkok hospital and I was treated like a QUEEN, ALL_THE_TIME!

I think you need to work on your attitude a little bit.

If you feel that they treat you in a bad way EVERY time, perhaps you need to look at yourself and think about what energies you show to them.

And don´t you go on "yapping" about 1500 baht.

You are simply making a fool of yourself.

Take care and good luck.

[citizen33]

My issue was really with your opinion of high quality free health as i have never met any one with public health who thinks that it is superior to private pay having said this, too each his own. cheers.

Well this may indeed be the controversial issue! In the United States this proposition may indeed seem axiomatic, but in much of the developed world, usually through compulsory social insurance but sometimes through national health service-type systems, patients receiving publicly financed care perceive that they are getting a quality service. This includes countries like Germany, France (WHO top ranking system a few years ago), Sweden, Norway and oil-rich countries like Kuwait. Switzerland is probably the only country in Western Europe with a significant voluntary health insurance/OPP sector. Many of the rich do seem to opt for private treatment even when the bulk of the population is happy. But they may run into the well known problems of market failure and moral hazard in the health field. Patients are not nearly as expert as doctors, and doctors stand to make more money by prescribing more treatment. Result: iatrogenesis. Many of us lament the fact that most US citizens do not seem to understand the concept of social solidarity, but do we really want to encourage Thais to share the blind faith in the private sector?

Edited November 17, 2008 by citizen33

[maccaroni man]

My issue was really with your opinion of high quality free health as i have never met any one with public health who thinks that it is superior to private pay having said this, too each his own. cheers.

Well this may indeed be the controversial issue! In the United States this proposition may indeed seem axiomatic, but in much of the developed world, usually through compulsory social insurance but sometimes through national health service-type systems, patients receiving publicly financed care perceive that they are getting a quality service. This includes countries like Germany, France (WHO top ranking system a few years ago), Sweden, Norway and oil-rich countries like Kuwait. Switzerland is probably the only country in Western Europe with a significant voluntary health insurance/OPP sector. Many of the rich do seem to opt for private treatment even when the bulk of the population is happy. But they may run into the well known problems of market failure and moral hazard in the health field. Patients are not nearly as expert as doctors, and doctors stand to make more money by prescribing more treatment. Result: iatrogenesis.

Many of us lament the fact that most US citizens do not seem to understand the concept of social solidarity, but do we really want to encourage Thais to share the blind faith in the private sector?

I don't know where the Thai come in on this OP as they have the 30baht system. As for understanding "social solidarity" Marxism, Totalitarians(sp), seem to fit the bill of which both seemed to lack in a complete voluntary solidarity.

[Mobi]

In the past I have used BNH, Samitivej, Bangkok Pattaya and for the past 3 years, almost exclusively, Bumrungrad.

I have found Bumrungrad to be the most professional in terms of looking after you and having your appointments more or less on time, with one or two odd exceptions.

I once waited about 2 hours for an appointment at BNH to see a diabetic specialists, and I once missed my appointment at Samitivej because I was directed to the wrong floor.

I have never had any problems at Bumrungrad with the amount of time given by the consultant and discuss my condition.

I should add that Bangkok Pattaya is also extremely professional - not only at looking after you, but in maximising their income.

As for non medical people taking blood pressure - well it's not exactly rocket science. I take my own BP every day, and if I can do it then anyone can do it. The machines used by the staff are all automatic so they can't really go wrong. In any event, in my experience, the Doc always follows up with a second reading when I consult with him/her.

The other week at Bumrungrad, I had to wait half an hour to have an intra muscular injection as there was only one nurse in the department, and all the other girls were customer reps. For an injection you need a nurse, but for taking BP - well it's no big deal.

Next week I will attend Bangkok Hospital for the first time, so I will compare the level of service.

[icebkk]

born from samitivej and been going back there all the time i been sick and i have never had a problem i have used Bumrungrad also and found it was also a good place no problems but i still dont see how you did not have a nurse .. seems weird to me

[jfchandler]

As mentioned above, came back yesterday from a double appointment visit to BNH Hospital with two different doctors in two different specialties whom I had not seen before, but selected on the basis of their profiles/specialties listed on the hospital's web site.

And must say, continue to be very impressed with the doctors and general experience there at BNH, consistent with my prior more limited visits. As an American and longtime newspaper journalist, I have a set of things that I consider important in dealing with a doctor, especially a Thai one. And maybe they are things important for you also.. Both of the doctors I saw rated highly on my list.

Those criteria include: they spoke excellent English, so no language communication problems; they had superior academic and training credentials relative to the reasons for my visit, including training in the U.S.; being me, I peppered both of them with tons of questions about options, diagnoses, what ifs, weighing choices, etc etc., and both responded at length without a flinch. None of the somewhat stereotypical Thai doctor attitude of "Hey, I'm the doctor. I know what's best for you. But I don't need to be bothered to explain myself to you the patient. Your job is just to say yes to what I recommend". And, absolutely no feeling of being rushed or hurried out of the appointment. In both cases, I felt I had as much time as we needed to consider and discuss everything and reach resolutions. No watching the clock on the wall or nurses/assistants knocking on the doors to intrude.

I continue to think BNH is a very good medical experience, although I also continued to find their prices for various things to actually be a bit above Bumrungrad's on an identical item-to-item comparison. But considering the difference in my experiences between the two, I'm not minding a bit.

But, in what might be a downer for the OP, upon my arrival to the hospital clinic, the very pleasant young lady who took my weight, blood pressure and temperature was indeed a nurses assistant -- not a full-fledged nurse. But, she seemed perfectly adequate for directing me to stand on the weight scale, and putting my arm in the blood pressure monitor, and telling me to open my mouth to put the thermometer inside.

But when it came time later for a routine blood test, it was an equally pleasant white-uniformed nurse who stuck me with the needle. Somehow, having that lady doing the deed, didn't make it hurt quite so much... I just looked at her, and tried not to think about the rest.

[Flow]

Interesting discussion.

I think what the OP meant wasn't so much about spending 1500 Baht but more on the extras that come with a visit to BKKK hospital. I do think that the OP is makig a valid point. I for one don't want anyone else but a nurse or an assitant nurse or a nurse undergoing training to touch or examine me. Yes, anyone can take your blood pressure I know. But, personally I have to agree with the OP and personally I won't allow " just anyone " to take my blood pressure. Food for thought....

Edited November 19, 2008 by Flow

[Mobi]

If Bangkok Hospital's on-line patient registration and on-line appointment system is anything to go by, then they are a very efficiently run hospital.

I was able to register my details on-line and request an an appointment with my chosen Doctor. I immediately received a reply confirming my details, and that my request was pending. Within an hour my appointment was confirmed. I then requested an appointment for my wife for the same day, and this was similarly confirmed within the hour.

While I sometimes have occasion to email Bumrungrad, they have no system for on-line registration, and their response times are poor to bad, and they clearly lack the sophisticated system that is in place at Bangkok Hospital.

Good computer systems do not necessarily make a good hospital, so I will see how the consultations go next week.

[Sheryl]

I'd worry a whole lot less about who takes the blood pressure than about whether and how that information is used.

Seen/heard many cases where the doctor doesn't even look at the vital signs recorded, or is too quick to dismiss an abnromal reading, or interprets it with reference to out-dated guidelines as to what constitutes hypertension.....

[jfchandler]

When I've used Bumrungrad in the past, making appointments via their web site/email request form, the response usually seems to come the next day. Same for questions asked about what doctor to recommend, and similar things...

But I think they have their priorities a bit mixed up when it comes to timing.... I wouldn't mind relatively slower next day appointment confirmations at Bumrungrad, if they were NOT also so fast, in contrast, to rush you in and out of your actual doctor's appointment when you have it.