The Chiang Mai Medical Check-up?

[caf]

Just checked prices at McCormick and a full 'Dad's' check up including all the usual stuff plus EKG and renal function is 2,000 baht. No need to make an appointment.

I posted earlier about Mccormick. see my previous post. I'm happy there, and theyn speak english

For some reason not a popular hospital on TV

[vagabond48]

For some reason not a popular hospital on TV

Perhaps some may people think that if you are not paying 5k to 7k baht at CM Ram (just a guess) or more in BKK, you are getting what you paid for, if it's only 2K to 3k baht.

Btw, not me.

I must admit, I went there once about 2 years ago to get some information and had a hard time finding someone who spoke English. The part of the hospital where I went, looked a bit dreary as well, which doesn't necessarily mean it has inferior medical facilities.

[Thailand]

I am in my sixties , my wife in is her fifties. Every two years we have a full medical check up.

My wife's last check up detected the very early stages of TB and we were fortunately in time with the right meds and some 8 months of treatment to prevent it becoming life threatening.

We use Klaimor Hospital , Doctor Siam on the Hang Dong road near Tesco Lotus.

I also got the 70 baht cough and go certificate for my recent driving licence renewal.

Priorities!

[Loaded]

Just checked prices at McCormick and a full 'Dad's' check up including all the usual stuff plus EKG and renal function is 2,000 baht. No need to make an appointment.

I posted earlier about Mccormick. see my previous post. I'm happy there, and theyn speak english

For some reason not a popular hospital on TV

I saw your post Caf and that's why I popped in to ask about prices. They have the normal menu of checks with the cheapest starting at around 600 baht. I've used McCormick before for other things and never had a problem. I probably wouldn't go there for something serious because I'd be on a plane back to Blighty but for checks I think they're OK and the nurses are very cute.

[Drew Aitch]

Ok folks, so I decided to get my medical checks at the new Health Care Medical Clinic on the Hang Dong Road with the good Doctor Nisachon Morgan. It was because this place had been talked about favourably on TV, that I decided to check it out. It was also very easy to find which was a big plus.

Having made a prior appointment by email (same day response), I was seen within 2 minutes of arrival. I had a bunch of medical checks done for the first time ever, to include:

==========================

Physical Examination

Kidney function ( BUN/ Creatinine)

Blood Sugar( Diabetic screening)

Lipid profile

• Cholesterol

• Triglyceride

• LDL

• HDL

ECG ( Electrocardiogram

==========================

Don't ask me what that little lot means, because I haven’t got a clue for most of it But what I do know is that once the blood test results where available, I received a comprehensive report detailing all that was done, including a copy of the ECG results. These reports were emailed to me in PDF documents, which is a very convenient format.

As I used to be a chain-smoker, Dr Nisachon also recommended I went for a chest x-ray. Because I was already out and about, I decided to follow her advice, especially as it was so cheap. A ticket was drawn up at the surgery which I then presented to the reception desk at Rajavej Chiang Mai hospital. I was then fast tracked through the system and was in and out within 30 minutes (give or take), carrying my own chest x-ray and printed report.

My appointed at the Health Care Medical Clinic was for 11:00 AM and even with the unexpected trip to the hospital for a chest x-ray, I was back home enjoying a cup of tea and a biscuit as I awaited the start of the 1 o' clock news.

BEFORE YOU START!

Oh, and before we get any of those silly responses about being a share holder or somehow profiting from posting a positive experience on a local business, all I can say, don't bother! This is just a simple update to the thread which may or may not be of some use to others reading here looking for a similar service and or recommendation.

Cheers

Aitch

[PeaceBlondie]

Good on ya' 'Drew. You should be clear for another 5 years. How much did it all cost?

[uptheos]

Glad you feel satisfied Drew.

You didn't have too many tests done and I too would be interested to know how much it cost.

I guess you could have had PSA and some other bits and pieces had you requested them.

[Drew Aitch]

Hi Guys.

I think the tests I had done were more than okay for a fit and healthy 48 year old. That said, when talking to some of my friends who are well into their 60's, they have tended to opt for more comprehensive medical check-ups in the past simply because of their age. Such tests, as per my opening post, can run into thousands of Baht, but if you think you need them, then I'm sure that even these wide-ranging checks are great value for money when compared to getting the same treatment in western countries.

Another buddy of mine has also had some medical complications in the past, so he would need additional tests to check for potential issues related to his past condition.

I'm no medical expert, far from it, but I would assume that anyone who is clinically obese, terribly unfit, a heavy smoker/drinker, or has a family history of poor health and so on, would also probably opt for, and need, one of the more detailed medical check-ups available. There are literally dozens of them out there, and you along with your doctor would best be able to determine what's right for you.

Good on ya' 'Drew. You should be clear for another 5 years. How much did it all cost?

Thanks PB I'll post the total cost at the bottom of this update.

You didn't have too many tests done and I too would be interested to know how much it cost. I guess you could have had PSA and some other bits and pieces had you requested them.

I know that anyone at any age can get various forms of cancer, but from what I've read about prostate cancer it is recommended that men start to get checked for this after they reach the age of 50. I read a report from the British National Health Service (NHS), a while back which said that 8 of 10 men with prostate cancer are over the age of 65. So yes, i probably could have requested this and other checks too, but i'm just 48 right now (next month ), and if i let my mind run away with me, i could have literally produced a never-ending list of things to get tested for.

The total cost for this medical was just 899 Baht, but I believe it's a promotion which ends on the 31 August. The normal cost is 1,250 Baht, but you'll have to contact the surgery for exact costs if you're interested. I also had the chest xray which was an additional 250 Baht. I paid for this at the clinic and just produced the receipt to the hospital reception on arrival. So the total cost was just 1,149 Baht. There might be cheaper medicals out there, but i've never had a medical before so have no experience on the competition.

All i know is that I've spent more than the total cost of this medical on a night out with friends, so for me, it was money very well spent. The service was fast, friendly and informative. I also like the fact that i was issued with some nice medical reports detailing my test results. I can take these with me anywhere at any time if need be,as they are delivered via email in PDF format. In the UK, your medical history is private and patients are not allowed access to their own medical records, so for me, having these health reports is a nice touch. Heck, i've even go the chest xray sitting in the condo, although i'm not sure what i'm supposed to do with that ha ha lol

Aitch

Edited August 26, 2009 by Drew Aitch

[wedders]

Appointment last Frday 28th Highly satisfied with the (Hang Dong Clinic) Dr's manner, professionalism, and especially her willingness to explain every detail in layman's English - and her English is excellent. No rushing, she took her time to explain all the tests she was carrying out.

I was chauffeured to the hospital for X-rays and ultrasound as part of the full range of tests I had opted for. Fully inclusive costs for two x-rays, ultrasound, blood tests etc, follow-up appointment, was 5100 baht, Very reasonable indeed.

[tygerstar]

I got Sripat's 3,300 baht chekup earlier this year.

Hi PB. How did you find Sriphat's level of service? Were the doctors and nurses attentive or did they seem to be in a rush? Did they speak English?

Edited January 3, 2010 by tygerstar

[earlofwindermere]

Our family went to Sripat on Jan 31st and all had the checkup (Diamond package). We were the only people there and had excellent service. No waiting at all. The total test took 1 hour for 3 of us to have all testing. We then went for breakfast and came back. We were escorted to the front of the waiting line, saw a cardiologist and were taken for echocardiograms within 15 minutes (since EKG was abnormal). The service was excellent and I would suggest going on a public holiday as nobody else seems to think to have the test done then.

[coolxten]

Just wanted to recommend Sripat as well. Went in for strep throat and was in and out in about 20 mins. Total visit cost 495 baht; 200 baht of which was for the actual check-up, the rest was for the medication. After registration the "stewardess" accompanied me up to the doctor's front desk to pass me off to the nurse which was nice.

[tygerstar]

Our family went to Sripat on Jan 31st and all had the checkup (Diamond package). We were the only people there and had excellent service. No waiting at all. The total test took 1 hour for 3 of us to have all testing.

Were the tests explained to you or was it just a final OK/not OK kind of thing from the doctor?

How much was the Diamond package? On their website the packages are categorised alphabetically.

Edited January 3, 2010 by tygerstar

[Ulysses G.]

Just wanted to recommend Sripat as well.

I decided to try Sripat for their sleep clinic after seeing so many recommendations here.

All I can say is that it is much less convienient than RAM and you should speak Thai well or bring an interpreter and not mind waiting around a fair bit - a lot longer than at RAM.

They kept sending me to different buildings and different clinics that would have been very difficult to find without a Thai helping me. They also wanted me to bring a Thai to spend the night and tell me what to do during the sleep tests, but I refused as I felt that my Thai should be good enough to work it out - and it was.

There is no way to know the difference in price between the two places as some people claim that RAM pads the bill, but RAM is way easier and more convienient.

[Dr. G]

McCormick

g

[PeaceBlondie]

I got Sripat's 3,300 baht chekup earlier this year.

Hi PB. How did you find Sriphat's level of service? Were the doctors and nurses attentive or did they seem to be in a rush? Did they speak English?

Sripat has always been great for me, my first choice. I speak no Thai, nada, soon. Doctors speak English; nurses less. But I don't believe in sleep tests. No, not in a rush but you have to ask questions.

[Ulysses G.]

I wish that I knew how to compare the prices with RAM. On the net I did see that an international hospital in Bangkok was charging a little less for the sleep clinic and Sripat did suggest some blood tests once I was there that they did not mention before - They seemed like reasonable ones, however.

It makes it hard to compare prices because I don't know what RAM would have suggested without going there.

Edited January 3, 2010 by Ulysses G.

[Mapguy]

After reading this thread --- and several other similar ones over the past three years --- I really can only come to the conclusion that we are all lucky to have such excellent medical services in Chiang Mai.

I happen to have gone mainly to Ram and Suan Doc (Sriphat Clinic). I have settled on Sriphat, not that I think Ram is a bad place; still go there for a couple of good docs. It has great specialists (for the most part), but --- for price shoppers --- you do end up paying more there. There is nothing really wrong with McCormick, Lanna or Rajavej.

On this site, there is a great discussion about ambulance services, including special attention to cardiac care. Ram has a good ambulance service, but so too does Sriphat, if you bother to check it out. And what happens when you get to the emergency room? Where are the best trauma care docs on duty around the clock? Who's going to do the catheter et cetera? Not a lot happens in an ambulance, you know, that is speeding along. Never mind the controversy over Diana!

I have never had any problems at any Thai hospital with inability to speak Thai that common sense couldn't solve in a second. No, they won't cut off the wrong leg jus t because you say "left"instead of "right" by mistake in your fractured Thai!

About price, there really isn't that much difference, but you will pay something for the Chiang Mai Ram convenience. Otherwise, buying medical care shouldn't be a matter of saving a couple of pence. And Ram does have one or two fancy pieces of equipment that others, perhaps, do not have yet for diagnostic purposes.

If you look at the information about obstetrical care that is in a few threads on TV Chiang Mai, you'll find one baby doc (at Ram) highly favored. Fortunately, I am past worrying about some things, but feel well advised,as I have been by a couple of happy new mothers, Thai and farang!

Two suggestions in closing. First, follow the doc, not the hospital Fortunately, you will find several docs work at more than one hospital. Second, don't just think about a few bhat difference for the cost of a routine physical. False saving! Where are you going to end up when there's real trouble? That's why I have decided on Sriphat. I have known cases where initial admittance into Ram ended up as transfers to Sriphat (Suan Doc) when things got really tense and complicated. Why? Because that's where you get a more rapid coordinated care from several specialists, if needed; not because Ram is a place of bad care. The other good hospitals are fine, just smaller. You won't get the "Mayo Clinic" treatment or anything close to it. Sripat isn't the Mayo Clinic, either, but it is the closest thing to it in town.

There are specialized clinics at the bigger (Chiang Mai Ram and Sriphat) for things like sleep tests and some things. One convenience of Ram is the quick lab tests you can get without seeing a doc. Great for those with worries about HIV and that sort of thing, but why anyone would want to skip an intelligent doc who asks thoughtful questions on something like that I really can't understand! Is that some sort of denial thing?

Where you go for medical care is obviously one of the most personal choices one makes. One concern that I have picked up over several years and experience with hospitals and docs is that for too many people "bedside manner" means more than professional competence. It seems that people leap for the comfort first, not the cure. Hugs seem to come first! That's understandable. The good docs are great at both. Just remember that cancer is not cured by your comfort level with your surgeon or oncologist.

All in all, I return to my original point: Feel fortunate that there is such excellent medical care in Chiang Mai. My only complaint, really, is that nurses are sometimes not trained altogether well at sticking veins; that is going for blood samples or inserting IVs! But 99.9% of them sure are cute!

And if that isn't a reason NOT to return to the "homeland" for medical treatment (which panicky decision I really don't understand), I don't know what one is!

Happy health!