Chiang Mai Hospital Recommendations

[yumidesign]

Can anyone give a recommendation on hospitals or clinics in Chiang Mai other than C M Ram

[Lite Beer]

Moved to Chiang Mai.

[Fore Man]

Most farang gravitate to Chiang Mai Ram I...they generally are better at serving and communicating with Westerners but the tradeoff is that they are roughly twice as costly as other area hospitals. I have had good experiences at CMR1 as we refer to it, but you will often need to define your expectations to the doctor as to what treatment you want and what medication you can tolerate. It can be likened to a self-directed system but if you have any experience or previous medical history to call upon it works and they generally are willing to cooperate.

Like many Thai physicians they are good at treating symptoms but do not look deeply enough at preventative medicine. Preventative medicine as practiced in the USA or Europe is just not a concept the Thai medical system pays heed to. Go in with low back pain and they will give you great physical therapy and anti-inflammatory meds but will not take sufficient care to make a detailed diagnosis backed by adequate testing and imagery as we do in the West. This is my own personal opinion and there may be TV members who will disagree with me. I have found exceptions of course but these doctors seem to be in the minority.

If you are interested in CMR1 I suggest you visit the 4th floor family practice clinic and discuss your needs with them and get a feel for how they operate. I have an annual check-up, including a stress EKG and colonoscopy, which runs to THB 17K...it is well done and I would rate the cardio and gastroenterology specialists as first class (yes, it is costly but I get reimbursed by my stateside employers). I'm not so sanguine about the orthopedic and ENT wards...which seem to exhibit a mass treatment attitude...quick to dispense pills but short on tests and long-term advice. We have zero experience with OB/GYN at CMR1 so cannot comment there. Their physical therapy section is good too.

Another facet of medical care in Chiang Mai is the availability of specialty clinics. These are staffed by doctors who are moonlighting from their full-time day jobs at area hospitals...and the advantage is that you can use their expertise but pay a lower price for your treatment. My family and I have used with success clinics specializing in orthopedics, dermatology and neurosurgery. These doctors are highly trained and in one case the prinicipal is a CMU medical professor as well with years of experience and a strong reputation for solving problem cases. The compromise is that for the low fees you will do a lot of waiting...appointment or not. I also had a problem with elbow epicondylitis (golfer's elbow) that was finally resolved after seeing a downtown clinic...the MD gave me a cortisone injection after I pointed out the exact point of pain and the problem disappeared and never came back...and this was 30 months ago. The cost was a measly THB 300.

A popular general hospital is CMU Hospital--also known as Maharaj. Maharaj is low-cost compared to CMR1 and they have talented specialists but the upshot is that you will spend a LOT of time waiting in crowded areas packed with sick Thais who come from every river, mountain and valley who could infect you as well. You can make an advance appointment but you will still find yourself waiting with the coughing throng for 1-2 hours to be seen.

Good luck and welcome to our Rose of the North.

Edited January 5, 2009 by Fore Man

[earlofwindermere]

I'd disagree. Most foreigners who I know (and have been here for more than a couple of months) go to Special Medical Services / Sri Pat. The place looks not nearly as nice as CM Ram but the quality of doctors seems to be generally much better. However; like all hospitals, it really is based on individual doctors that makes it a good experience or not.

[wimpy]

I second this. I use SMS exclusively. You get the best doctors from CMU without the long wait.

I'd disagree. Most foreigners who I know (and have been here for more than a couple of months) go to Special Medical Services / Sri Pat. The place looks not nearly as nice as CM Ram but the quality of doctors seems to be generally much better. However; like all hospitals, it really is based on individual doctors that makes it a good experience or not.

[Mapguy]

Please see the extensive posts on two threads in this forum, one regarding Chiang Mai Ram I Hospital; the other, the Special Medical Service Center (SMSC), which is also known at "Sriphat" and is located as part of the Nakorn Maharaj Hospital complex (aka Suan Doc Hospital).

Edited January 5, 2009 by Mapguy

[PeaceBlondie]

Sripat is nothing like post #3 described the CMU hospital. Half the price of Ram might be about right. If you insist on waiting rooms filled with Brits, Aussies, and Yanks, just pay double and get no better treatment. Based on my experiences..

[Flatouthruthefog]

Sripat is nothing like post #3 described the CMU hospital. Half the price of Ram might be about right. If you insist on waiting rooms filled with Brits, Aussies, and Yanks, just pay double and get no better treatment. Based on my experiences..

Based on my experiences, which I feel are more limited than yours (14 years here full-time: one medium/bad motorcycle accident, 2 illnesses, the birth of a child plus trying to help with 3 terminally ill friends) I offer the following, with the full knowledge of the MODS' duties to obey certain laws.

1. The ONLY hospital in CM about which I have never heard a complaint is Rajavej, opposite the Holiday Inn hotel. Not as flash as RAM but much more reasonably priced; no potential rip off over the extent of your insurance cover when you leave; no big supplements when you check in at night; no exorbitant charges at the pharmacy AND their post-operative care is excellent. Getting my drift betwixt the lines here? Good.

2. I have heard only minor complaints about Lanna on the Superhighway, and when I took a donor of rare blood there (for a fellow farang in trouble) a few years back, they almost got out the red carpet.

3. Suandok, Suthep Rd, is the teaching hospital of CMU, staffed by excellent, dedicated people who are grossly over-worked. But still dedicated. Admitting 2 near-terminally ill farang emergency cases (one of whom had NO money or resources) on seperate occasions, they were fast and superb. The senior night nurse on the baby unit, when our child was born, spoke almost fluent English and we would NOT have had better care in the UK at ANY price! I take on board what another poster said about waiting for hours (sometimes more than half a DAY!) amid poor people coughing and spluttering. I can only say - horses for courses. This and Rajavej remain my first choices. Either of them for us, depending on circumstances.

4. Chang Puak (when the excellent Dr Pal was in charge) was wonderful. I am told that now, this and the one on Superhighway junction with the Mae Jo road, are both owned by RAM. No positive recent info on either, yet, I regret.

5. Kidney problems? There is a little known specialist dialysis unit on Superhighway. As you leave the Rincome cross roads to do battle on Superhighway, this place is hidden behind the trees on your left, well before the 3 lanes merge to 2. The doctor-owner has fluent English and 2 floors full of the latest dialysis kit.

6. McCormick. Very difficult to report the very varied experiences I have had here, personally and with friends. Lovely, sincere medics and nurses, out-dated equipment, medium waiting times, good value, Christian bias (and subsidies, I think), quite good rooms and food and thus, like the curate's egg, "good in parts." If you want an accurate diagnosis of a potential internal ailment, please see my point no.1.

Other things folks should know:

a) Suan Prung (mainly known as "the mental hospital") on the south west side of the moat (on your left before you turn left towards the airport) is THE place for farangs and Thais with serious alcohol or substance abuse problems. Doctors (not staff) speak good English. Hard to fault for anyone with extreme problems in these areas.

If you, as a foreigner, have a work permit and pay 'social welfare' every month, then Suandok is where you are told you must go. But after a time (sorry, don't know how long) you can TRANSFER these benefits to any PRIVATE hospital of your choice in CM. Look into it if you didn't know already.

c) Ambulances from major named hospitals tend to be properly equipped and run by very good professional people, including drivers as well as nurses! Remember - either can kill you!! In an emergency situation, do try to call out one of these, rather than relying on the free "yellow (and white) peril" pick-ups. The latter, tho well intentioned on the surface, have been known to do more harm than good.

Conclusion: Best to drive carefully and stay healthy, eh?

[Dr. G]

I use McCormick.

Never had any complaints.

Many of the consultants have positions at

both Suan Doc and McCormick.

If the pharmacy is unable to supply a certain

medication then the consultant will give you a

chit to use the Suan Doc pharmacy.

g

[Drew Aitch]

Flatouthruthefog, that's a very useful report.

Thanks for taking the time to post it

Aitch

[elektrified]

A popular general hospital is CMU Hospital--also known as Maharaj. Maharaj is low-cost compared to CMR1 and they have talented specialists but the upshot is that you will spend a LOT of time waiting in crowded areas packed with sick Thais who come from every river, mountain and valley who could infect you as well. You can make an advance appointment but you will still find yourself waiting with the coughing throng for 1-2 hours to be seen.

I don't think that is a fair assessment, particularly of SMSC on the 13th Floor of the Sri Pat building; perhaps in the general hospital downstairs. But I don't know of any farangs who would be going there for treatment.

[yumidesign]

Thanks very much everyone for giving time to assist. I have been going to CM Ram for the last 5 years and have reached the end of my patience with them. My blood pressure goes off the dial every time a go through the door knowing it will be a battle first with the nurses who want me to have tests or proceedures that i do not want, then with (most of) the doctors to stop being over serviced, Must ad that the skin doctor is excellent and tends on the under service side, then the 100% plus on retail for the far too many drugs and a final fight at the cashier to have a bill presented before payment. I will try the alternatives suggested. Thanks again

[davidgtr]

Ram now owns

Ram1

Theppanya

Lanna

I thought Lanna was still good value for money until a couple of weeks ago when I sliced my foot open between a couple of toes. Not in any pain, but the blood would not stop gushing out so off I hobbled to Lanna emergency for a couple of stitches.

The service was fast & efficient & only 5 stitches were necessary. Nothing much I thought... until I got the bill - 4,380 baht! I had been expecting something maxed out at 2,000 baht. So 4 thou plus was a bit bloody steep I thought.

The break down

2,000 Physician Fees. OUCH! & a bit greedy I reckon.

300 Outpatient Fees.

20 Other Medical.

50 Nursing.

700 Medical supplies.

1,310 Medication. Over the top & unneccessary.

Overall: Arh, yes I thought a "Ram rip off."

I was asked to go back to Lanna everyday to get the wound cleaned, but I opted for Dr Tawatchai where it cost 60 baht a pop.

Now according to Tawatchai, Ram is 1, Lanna 2, with Theppanya & Rajavej medium priced & Rajavej is slightly better than Theppanya. Ram has a huge new extension planned & will soon be raking in even more customers & doe.

Just my 5 stitches worth.

[Mapguy]

Sripat is nothing like post #3 described the CMU hospital. Half the price of Ram might be about right. If you insist on waiting rooms filled with Brits, Aussies, and Yanks, just pay double and get no better treatment. Based on my experiences..

Based on my experiences, which I feel are more limited than yours (14 years here full-time: one medium/bad motorcycle accident, 2 illnesses, the birth of a child plus trying to help with 3 terminally ill friends) I offer the following, with the full knowledge of the MODS' duties to obey certain laws.

1. The ONLY hospital in CM about which I have never heard a complaint is Rajavej, opposite the Holiday Inn hotel. Not as flash as RAM but much more reasonably priced; no potential rip off over the extent of your insurance cover when you leave; no big supplements when you check in at night; no exorbitant charges at the pharmacy AND their post-operative care is excellent. Getting my drift betwixt the lines here? Good.

2. I have heard only minor complaints about Lanna on the Superhighway, and when I took a donor of rare blood there (for a fellow farang in trouble) a few years back, they almost got out the red carpet.

3. Suandok, Suthep Rd, is the teaching hospital of CMU, staffed by excellent, dedicated people who are grossly over-worked. But still dedicated. Admitting 2 near-terminally ill farang emergency cases (one of whom had NO money or resources) on seperate occasions, they were fast and superb. The senior night nurse on the baby unit, when our child was born, spoke almost fluent English and we would NOT have had better care in the UK at ANY price! I take on board what another poster said about waiting for hours (sometimes more than half a DAY!) amid poor people coughing and spluttering. I can only say - horses for courses. This and Rajavej remain my first choices. Either of them for us, depending on circumstances.

4. Chang Puak (when the excellent Dr Pal was in charge) was wonderful. I am told that now, this and the one on Superhighway junction with the Mae Jo road, are both owned by RAM. No positive recent info on either, yet, I regret.

5. Kidney problems? There is a little known specialist dialysis unit on Superhighway. As you leave the Rincome cross roads to do battle on Superhighway, this place is hidden behind the trees on your left, well before the 3 lanes merge to 2. The doctor-owner has fluent English and 2 floors full of the latest dialysis kit.

6. McCormick. Very difficult to report the very varied experiences I have had here, personally and with friends. Lovely, sincere medics and nurses, out-dated equipment, medium waiting times, good value, Christian bias (and subsidies, I think), quite good rooms and food and thus, like the curate's egg, "good in parts." If you want an accurate diagnosis of a potential internal ailment, please see my point no.1.

Other things folks should know:

a) Suan Prung (mainly known as "the mental hospital") on the south west side of the moat (on your left before you turn left towards the airport) is THE place for farangs and Thais with serious alcohol or substance abuse problems. Doctors (not staff) speak good English. Hard to fault for anyone with extreme problems in these areas.

If you, as a foreigner, have a work permit and pay 'social welfare' every month, then Suandok is where you are told you must go. But after a time (sorry, don't know how long) you can TRANSFER these benefits to any PRIVATE hospital of your choice in CM. Look into it if you didn't know already.

c) Ambulances from major named hospitals tend to be properly equipped and run by very good professional people, including drivers as well as nurses! Remember - either can kill you!! In an emergency situation, do try to call out one of these, rather than relying on the free "yellow (and white) peril" pick-ups. The latter, tho well intentioned on the surface, have been known to do more harm than good.

Conclusion: Best to drive carefully and stay healthy, eh?

There is no final word on such matters, but I simply express my compliments to you, "Flatwhatever," on your post.

Further, there are indeed other hospitals in Chiang Mai than Ram and Suan Doc SMSC, about which I have initiated two separate threads. It is not because I favor any hospital; I simply do not have enough information to begin a thread on others, such as Lanna, McCormick or Rajavej.

One thing everyone should know is that physicians and surgeons often have privileges at a couple (or more) hospitals for their own personal economic reasons too complicated to get into here. As wise heads have often said on similar threads, sniff out the docs as well as the hospitals! That's where TV might be truly helpful.

For a very serious "emergency fix," I suggest Suan Doc, because more specialists are readily on call, but I say that reservedly. In Chiang Mai, there is a hellova lot of medical talent. Anyway, if you don't like where you are, transferring from one hospital to another is really only an ambulance call away.

[Mapguy]

Ram now owns

Ram1

Theppanya

Lanna

I thought Lanna was still good value for money until a couple of weeks ago when I sliced my foot open between a couple of toes. Not in any pain, but the blood would not stop gushing out so off I hobbled to Lanna emergency for a couple of stitches.

The service was fast & efficient & only 5 stitches were necessary. Nothing much I thought... until I got the bill - 4,380 baht! I had been expecting something maxed out at 2,000 baht. So 4 thou plus was a bit bloody steep I thought.

The break down

2,000 Physician Fees. OUCH! & a bit greedy I reckon.

300 Outpatient Fees.

20 Other Medical.

50 Nursing.

700 Medical supplies.

1,310 Medication. Over the top & unneccessary.

Overall: Arh, yes I thought a "Ram rip off."

I was asked to go back to Lanna everyday to get the wound cleaned, but I opted for Dr Tawatchai where it cost 60 baht a pop.

Now according to Tawatchai, Ram is 1, Lanna 2, with Theppanya & Rajavej medium priced & Rajavej is slightly better than Theppanya. Ram has a huge new extension planned & will soon be raking in even more customers & doe.

Just my 5 stitches worth.

What's a "doe?" Ah!!! A female deer, and "ray," a drop of golden sun!! "Me,"a name........never mind! Harmless fun! Please don't puff up your pecs!

Hold on a 'sec while folks can work your "OUCH" physician fees through their currency exchange grinders!! I've done that! What's your problem!

And so on for the rest of the fees you have quoted. Are you really complaining?!

Hey, you can clean such wounds at home. Not difficult, but it doesn't hurt to have a qualified physician to take a look at it, does it? Sure, you can go "local," otherwise, as you did with "Dr. T," but that doesn't mean you were getting ripped off otherwise!

[PFV]

I was just dismissed from Ratchavej, after a 1-week stay for emergency abdominal surgery, and was totally satisfied/impressed with the experience.

The surgeon (Dr. Khomsan), who speaks perfect English, was excellent. He immedately diagnosed a problem for me that had been missed a couple of times before both at Bumrungrad in BKK and by a hospital in Italy last summer.

The internist (Dr. Satit) was also very good and successfully dealt with my high blood sugar levels throghout and the nursing staff was kind, assiduous, and polite, although only a few individuals speak English. They really take their post-op care seriously at this place.

The room was quite large with cable TV and a comfortable couch where my wife had no problem sleeping.

The entire procedure, including ER, CAT scan, X-Rays, Ultrasound, OR, Surgeon, Anesthesia, Medications, Room & Board, etc. was 100K baht for the 7 days.

If this not been an emergency, I would have probably flown down to Bangkok and stayed at Bumrungrad or Samitivej, since I had a horrible exprience at CM Ram last year, but now I am very happy that I ended up at Ratchavej (my wallet is too ) and no longer have any reservations about medical treatment in Chiang Mai.

[elektrified]

If you are really looking to save money or if you don't have medical insurance, try Nakornping Hospital on the way to Mae Rim. My girlfriend was seen by 3 physicians there today and the total cost was 20 Baht! No joke! She went there a few weeks ago and saw 2 physicians and received 4 or 5 prescriptions and the total cost including all the medication was 150 Baht! I saw a couple of farang there today being treated. I suspect not much English is spoken there; I can't say for sure.