Need Help Finding Doctor For My Kids

[lennyh]

Can someone please suggest where I can find a good doctor for my kids ( 9months, 3 and a half). I've been to a few different ones in the past but I'm so sick and tired of being prescribed antibiotics and numerous other drugs every time even when the illness appeared to me to be just a simple cold. It gets so I'm really reluctant to take them to the hospital but my wife gets so worked up every time one of the kids come down with something. I can't believe all these medicines are necessary. Surely there must be doctors who don't hand out antibiotics at the drop of a hat?

TIA for any advice.

[bkkjames]

Where are you first of all?

Secondly, I think I read somewhere that kids get sick about 10 times a year with stuff like colds, flu etc. 

Let's face it, when you go to the DR and pay  - they seem obligated it seems to give you something for your piece of mind.

Antibiotics for colds / flu are useless. Just plenty of clear fluids, some good soups, plenty of rest and some Children's Tylenol if they have a bit of a fever. In a few days of doing this and it doesnt improve then go see a DR. 

Not meant as a slam at the locals, but honestly speaking, it's too easy to be over perscribed here.

Give your Mrs a few good books to read up on Children's Health.

[lennyh]

Thanks. I'm in east Bangkok. I've already tried Bumrunrad and Samitivej and really not happy with either. The facilities are good, for sure but all the doctors seemed to want to do was give me a big bag of medicine and taking the minimum time to do it. Like you said, little kids are always picking up bugs. My eldest comes down with something every few weeks and then his little sister catch it too. A visit for what seems to me an ordinary cold can cost me nearly 2000 bahts per child, this is not right surely?

[Sheryl]

No, it is not right. However over medication is part of Thai medical culture and doctors assume patients/parents want this. In addition many hospitals pressure their staff to prescribe for revenue reasons. However you can always decline to buy the drugs.

What you can do is:

1) Select a doctor(s) who trained in the west and thus is used to parents wanting to have a say and be informed (training in the west does not guarnatee this of course, and some trial and error may still be needed, but it increases the odds as well as ensures the language skills);

2)Tell the doctor very clearly at the onset that you do not want any medication given unless it is really, really necessary. Thai doctors will otherwise assume the opposite e.g. that you would be upset and offended if no or even "only one" medication given.

3) At the conclusion of the visit make sure you know what if any drugs have been prescribed. if antibiotics, again question if absolutely necessary. If you get a "probably not but just in case" sort of response, consider forgoing them.

3) At the cashier, ask to see the bill before you pay. Find out what if any drugs were on it (hopefully same as you have been told, but not unusual for something to sneak its way in) and firmly ask that they be removed. Simplest way to do this without much argument in my experience is just to say you "already have it".

4) Buy any medications that the doctor confirmed were really necessary yourself outside the hospital as the mark ups are considerable.

Your problem with the above is if your wife, rather than you, take the kids in. A Thai is going to be very hesitant to follow the above advice and indeed, may even believe that more is better, medication wise.

If that is the situation then you have 3 recourses: (1) Accompany the kids on the doctor visit (2) accept the over-medication and live with it OR -- and this is actually a pretty good idea --- switch to a government hospital. There will still be some degree of overmedicating but it will be much, much less and also of course much cheaper.

[Old Man River]

Thanks. I'm in east Bangkok. I've already tried Bumrunrad and Samitivej and really not happy with either. The facilities are good, for sure but all the doctors seemed to want to do was give me a big bag of medicine and taking the minimum time to do it. Like you said, little kids are always picking up bugs. My eldest comes down with something every few weeks and then his little sister catch it too. A visit for what seems to me an ordinary cold can cost me nearly 2000 bahts per child, this is not right surely?

I use Samitivej Srinakarin and Thainakarin. I am happy with both. What I would not advise you to do is end up with a hospital for your kids that has you fighting a lot of Bangkok traffic to get to. Been there, done that and won't ever do it again.