Private Hospitals

[poldebol]

Many times I have wondered, what hospital will I go to if something serious happens to me in Thailand. I always thought I would go to a private clinic. They look better, cleaner and more sophisticated.

My wife is a registered Thai nurse. During a small trip she got food poisoning. In the middle of the night she called an ambulance. I followed the ambulance with our car. During the trip she was feeling very bad. The co driver heard she was a nurse in government service and decided to bring her to a private hospital (not logical, but there was nothing we could do).

The doctor gave a prescription for antibiotics and a few other medicines. A nurse came to tell us that if we wanted to stay the rest of the night, the bill would be around 13.000 THB. Suddenly, the doctor reappeared and told that since "you are a nurse, I will take the antibiotics off the prescription..." He saw that as a kind of discount...

When a nurse gave my wife an injection, we both saw her make a serious mistake in the procedure.

So far for this private hospital. I know that government hospitals are from from ideal, but I feel this private hospital was a little bit too money-orientated.

[bankruatsteve]

Yah, I've had similar experience with my wife. To name names - at the private hospital in Nong Rong (BURIRAM).

I have been going to Bumrungrad Hospital for over 16 years and, yes it's probably expensive compared to other Thai hospitals, but the quality of care is world class. So, compared to like USA hospitals, it's a bargain. So, in my opinion, no matter what your ailment, if you can make it to Bumrungrad, you will be in good care.

[SeanMoran]

Yes exactly. Private means 'rich people only'. That's how health insurance companies make an income and why a large number of workers graduate to private places like that if they get lucky and want the big money.

I must commend the piano/sax duo that was playing in the foyer back in Bkk-Rayong hospital a month ago though. Absolutely wonderful timing and melody, as well as the choice of tunes. That's what the money pays for. Live music while you're waiting for a nurse to come and take your blood pressure. It seems to lower the reading somewhat if you wait a few hours and listen to the live band and relax.

[PeaceBlondie]

I usually use Sripat at the university hospital of CMU, and used the ER for my last stroke.

[noahvail]

I've found the KK University Hospital to have excellent quality of care. I've seen two specialists there, and they have both been spot on with initial diagnosis and treatment. And compared to the International hospital, they are ridiculously cheap, assuming you're in the system (have a yellow tambien bahn). There can be a long wait for the pharmacy, but the docs don't mind telling you to go to an off-site pharmacy for better prices. Oh, and they don't script antibiotics automatically, either. Hope this helps a bit...

[deejah]

KK ? konkan? (spelling)

tambien bahn?

mai cowjai

[TerryLH]

"And compared to the International hospital, they are ridiculously cheap, assuming you're in the system (have a yellow tambien bahn)."

They don't charge you more if you don't have a yellow book.

To get in their system all you have to do is register with them, and they'll give you a card with your medical records number on it. When you make future visits, show them your card and tell them what you need. They pull your file and send the records to the atea you're going to.

OP

Can you tell us which private hospital your wife went to in KK?

RAM, Vech Prasit or ??? Can't think of the name, but it's on mittraphap just North of RAM.

[Mario2008]

A private hospital is no guarantee for good care. Nor is a government hospital a guarantee for bad care. Certianly university/teaching hospitals tend to have good care.

Normally I distrust small up-country government hospitals. They tend to have just graduated doctors, who work for the government as part of paying off their study. The problem is little experience and little supervision from experience doctors, if any. Same goes for the nurses. In bigger towns that is less of a problem and many doctors are settled their for years and also have their own private practice on the side.

[thaipod]

For the past 8 years I and my family have used Vichaiyut Hospital which I have found the care to be inline with most international hospitals that I have visited ,where we have had excellent service , good medical care with good specialists and quality pharmaceutical products which are less expensive .

A few years back I had to be treated at Bumrungrad where as I was encouraged to have a minor operation by a surgeon (which later found was not necessary and had to go back for the second to clear up a problem he created which I refused to pay for ) and was shocked with the over servicing and the very high cost of care and medication .

Over the years I've heard of people getting good medical care from different quality hospitals (not top of the range private) throughout Bangkok usually by knowing or being referred to a specialists name and which hosptial they work out of.

[Sheryl]

Chose the doctor, not the hospital

[nephron]

Chose the doctor, not the hospital

The hospital is important too, the quality of the nursing, allied health and auxiliary staff can have a large impact on your recovery.

[TravelerEastWest]

A private hospital is no guarantee for good care. Nor is a government hospital a guarantee for bad care. Certianly university/teaching hospitals tend to have good care.

Normally I distrust small up-country government hospitals. They tend to have just graduated doctors, who work for the government as part of paying off their study. The problem is little experience and little supervision from experience doctors, if any. Same goes for the nurses. In bigger towns that is less of a problem and many doctors are settled their for years and also have their own private practice on the side.

I agree completely in terms of medical skills.

In a small town I would tend towards a private hospital for routine visits and the larger (usually) government hospital for emergency care.

In Bangkok I would not consider public hospitals unless I did not have much money then you have no choice.

I find private hospitals to have much faster service, and overall better care plus a nice environment which I like.

The same doctors will often practice at public hospitals but not have enough time to treat you carefully which is one reason mistakes happen. As for extra meds being prescribed - very simple just clearly tell the doctor you only want what you really need and to explain each and every medicine prescribed. this has always worked for me without any problems. I also tend to buy expensive items outside the hospital.

[tombkk]

A private hospital is no guarantee for good care. Nor is a government hospital a guarantee for bad care. Certianly university/teaching hospitals tend to have good care.

Normally I distrust small up-country government hospitals. They tend to have just graduated doctors, who work for the government as part of paying off their study. The problem is little experience and little supervision from experience doctors, if any. Same goes for the nurses. In bigger towns that is less of a problem and many doctors are settled their for years and also have their own private practice on the side.

A number (maybe 10 or so) years ago I attended a government meeting, as one of the government's targets was to attract "medical tourism", i.e. people coming here for non-urgent surgeries and receiving world-class service for a lower price. At the time, 10 hospitals were on international level, among them Bumrungrad, Bangkok General, Rama 9, and others. Bangkok General has branches in some cities, I know about Pattaya and Phuket, but other than that, I wouldn't know a world-class hospital in the provinces. You might want to check with your embassy rather than trusting a small up-contry clinic.