Chiang Mai Ram Staff

[cerbera]

Just a quick post to say how amazing the staff have been here. Stunning help, care, doctors, nurses. The room is lovely. All in all a great experience. This is my fourth child. First was born in portland street hospital London. Chiang mai ram much much better on all levels this time.

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[BigWheelMan]

Out of interest, how much was the total hospital bill?

[WinnieTheKhwai]

40-50K typically. You'd negotiate in advance though.

[cerbera]

40-50K typically. You'd negotiate in advance though.

Wrong. The package is 30K.

3 nights.

My little thai terrier could have walked out of there after 30 minutes. But shes enjoying the care. so use it.

[sarahsbloke]

Nice hospital, shame about the dual pricing though.

(Hmmmm .... never thought about a baby there though, Thai lady, luk-krung baby, higher or lower price?)

Edited April 6, 2010 by sarahsbloke

[Loaded]

Nice hospital, shame about the dual pricing though.

(Hmmmm .... never thought about a baby there though, Thai lady, luk-krung baby, higher or lower price?)

I think the main factor that decides whether you receive the local price or an inflated price is having foreign insurance. They will ask you when you arrive and a box is ticked. Considering it's the best equipped hospital in the North, I have never been charged unfairly. For example, I walked in off the street without an appointment and had a consultation with a specialist after waiting only 15 minutes. I was billed 250 baht.

[Loaded]

Nice hospital, shame about the dual pricing though.

(Hmmmm .... never thought about a baby there though, Thai lady, luk-krung baby, higher or lower price?)

I think the main factor that decides whether you receive the local price or an inflated price is having foreign insurance. They will ask you when you arrive and a box is ticked. Considering it's the best equipped hospital in the North, I have never been charged unfairly. For example, I walked in off the street without an appointment and had a consultation with a specialist after waiting only 15 minutes. I was billed 250 baht.

I forgot to say, and could no longer edit my original, that I have experienced doctors in the evening try to overcharge or charge for treatments that were not necessary.

[PeaceBlondie]

Please stay on topic. Thanks.

[orang37]

Sawasdee Khrup, Khun Cerbera,

Congratulations on the birth of your fourth child !

best, ~o:37;

[Tywais]

Troll post and flame post removed.

[ManilaLover]

No respect for Ram hospital. The only friendly people without a fake smile are the yellow dressed cleaning girls.

Totally wrong diagnosis could have cost me my life.

Doctors who give unclear answers to your questions or just a vague smile.

Reception staff who ask your passport as a deposit.

Dual pricing.

A cassier who follows you to the ATM because you eventually could run away without paying etc. etc.

Ram is garbage.

Wattana Udon is a world of difference, that people have brains and normal respect.

Stayed there because a gf in Vientiane had an accident and took her there, stayed for 5 days, compliments.

[cerbera]

Sawasdee Khrup, Khun Cerbera,

Congratulations on the birth of your fourth child !

best, ~o:37;

Thankyou very much. Im a Bit hyper sensitive today.

I know ram isnt perfect. We Had a bad experience with my previous child and a mis diagnosis of what was merconium plug syndrome. (They wanted to do a pull through procedure very quickly)

All im saying is this time all is faultless with the hospital ( so far). I think 30K is expensive. But ok for the attentiveness and level of service received. Would say the food could be better.

[CMX]

I have never had a baby, not even once (something about being male) but I can tell you that if I feel like cheering up, the last thing I do is watch televised news - purely depressing (I think their news boards have a depressometer that they use for selections). Televised news always makes me feel grim - locally, nationally, and internationally. And the very best of hospitals with the kindest staff members can't provide entertainment or distractions, either.

But let me add to the congrats. That is the good news. Baby have a name?

Edited April 7, 2010 by CMX

[Hog Head]

Great service but possibly the worst food I have ever had. So bad in fact that the nursing station has take out menus so that you can have your own food delivered. the bad food was the main reason I went home as soon as possible

[PeaceBlondie]

Food was mediocre. Surgery great, but when it got infected later, they had no clue (nor did BKK). I got free consultation along with the Thai hordes at Maharaj, and got cured.

[jayjay0]

I had a physical there and was not pleased with the way it was handled and part of the diaghnose. I have a physical condition for witch I have seen two Specialists in Canada. Both told me that I should not take this route as long as I can stand the pain.What it is my foot is and will always be broke. At Ram the doctor took one look at the x ray and said I needed to have it fused. That was four years ago. I still live with he pain.

What the Specialists said was that 15% of the time it does not work and you are left with the pain and complete lack of mobility in the foot. My ex mother in law had it and it worked for two years. Now her pain is back and she can not move the foot.

This is what I call misinformation and it can drastically affect ones life.

On the other hand the accommodations are stunning for a hospital.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

40-50K typically. You'd negotiate in advance though.

Wrong. The package is 30K.

3 nights.

Wait till you get the bill, there are extras not covered under the package, which makes the word 'package' a bit silly. Also, I believe 30K is for a 'natural' birth, not C-section?

[MESmith]

40-50K typically. You'd negotiate in advance though.

Wrong. The package is 30K.

3 nights.

Wait till you get the bill, there are extras not covered under the package, which makes the word 'package' a bit silly. Also, I believe 30K is for a 'natural' birth, not C-section?

6 yrs ago, we were quoted a package price 25k for c-section.  That's what we paid.  2 yrs ago, they didn't offer a package, but estimate was around 50k for same deal.  We went elsewhere.  Sounds like Ram is offering packages again.  Congrats to OP.

[Shah Jahan]

Great service but possibly the worst food I have ever had.

they told me once I would have to have food brought from outside if I didnt want MSG in my food....

[ilovemangos]

yes not cheap. but much less expensive than in the states...at least until things change

and i love the staff

been there 3 times ...my wifes/my kid broken arm...false heart attack....all 3 times great attentive care

[gotlost]

Yes expensive but cheaper than the states. I love the place.

[hmficc]

Sawasdee Khrup, Khun Cerbera,

Congratulations on the birth of your fourth child !

best, ~o:37;

Thankyou very much. Im a Bit hyper sensitive today.

I know ram isnt perfect. We Had a bad experience with my previous child and a mis diagnosis of what was merconium plug syndrome. (They wanted to do a pull through procedure very quickly)

All im saying is this time all is faultless with the hospital ( so far). I think 30K is expensive. But ok for the attentiveness and level of service received. Would say the food could be better.

Is Ram the best we can hope for in a provincial capital in a third world country that neglects education?

[mcgriffith]

Congrats on the birth of your new baby, cerbera!

[Ulysses G.]

Is Ram the best we can hope for in a provincial capital in a third world country that neglects education?

Try going to a Vietnamese or Cambodian hospital for local people at local prices. Ram and Suan Dok and others in Chiang Mai are pretty darn good for what they cost.

[nikster]

First, congratulations!!!!

RAM is annoying and has many flaws - but it also has many benefits, it's always available, and has reasonably good doctors, and short wait times. It doesn't have any competition in CM, which is the main problem. Found the staff very friendly. Food is probably the worst you can find in Thailand, it's mind-boggling.

If you have a choice go to a better place. I just saw that the Bangkok hospital Samui birth package is 30k (normal birth), we paid about 35k at RAM. Bangkok hospital has a much newer building and from my experience with the chain before is several classes above the RAM. That said the nurses when we had our first were the best anyone could ask for and I will be forever grateful to them. They were amazing. This is why we returned when our second was born but unfortunately the shift changed and the night nurses were borderline useless, almost dangerous, they called the doctor way to late and had to "keep the baby" in until he arrived. All is well that ends well but no recommendation there. That was scary.

[elektrified]

That sounds very practical. Go to Koh Samui when you need medical services while you are a resident of Chiang Mai.

[mouse]

Also keep in mind that the RAM will do direct billing to Foreign Medical/VA for any service connected disabilities for US Military veterans . This is one of the very very few Hospitals in the world outside the USA and one of a handful in Thailand that can do so.

Have questions then contact us at the VFW in Chiang Mai at http://www.vfw-chiangmai.org/ or go the District website at http://www.vfwdistrict5.org/ for other locations throughout Thailand

Edited April 11, 2010 by mouse