Chiang Mai Doctors And Medical Specialists

[uptheos]

Plastic Surgeons: Dr. Somboon at Ram/Sriphat or Dr. Opas at Sriphat or Pruksa clinic

According to a couple of doctors I've spoken to, Dr Witoon Wisuthseriwong is a very famous plastic/cosmetic surgeon. However, he spends most of his time in Bangkok and Phuket, but does come 'home' to Chiang Mai at certain times. http://www.surgery-thailand.com/

[chiang mai]

I find myself having to withdraw my recommendation for the Gastointestinal doctor at CM RAM Hospital, Dr Jaruwat Yossombat, the details of why are unimportant here, suffice to say the far better choice of doctor to address intestinal and stomach issues is Dr Piset Pisetpongsa at Sripat.

I hope that Tywais will modify the list at his next update to include the above change.

[uptheos]

I find myself having to withdraw my recommendation for the Gastointestinal doctor at CM RAM Hospital, Dr Jaruwat Yossombat, the details of why are unimportant here, suffice to say the far better choice of doctor to address intestinal and stomach issues is Dr Piset Pisetpongsa at Sripat.

I hope that Tywais will modify the list at his next update to include the above change.

I think you should prepare a reason why you want to withdraw a doctor as this leaves people in limbo.I think you should decide the reason and let anyone pm you who wants to know, just cut and paste the replies to save time. Then they can then make their own choice. If a name is withdrawn it sounds ominous, so I think the reason should be available, but not on an open forum.

For this list I think only recommendations from those who have actual experience and prepared to back it up if necessary.

Otherwise it will just become a meaningless list of doctors, available from any hospital.

[chiang mai]

I find myself having to withdraw my recommendation for the Gastointestinal doctor at CM RAM Hospital, Dr Jaruwat Yossombat, the details of why are unimportant here, suffice to say the far better choice of doctor to address intestinal and stomach issues is Dr Piset Pisetpongsa at Sripat.

I hope that Tywais will modify the list at his next update to include the above change.

I think you should prepare a reason why you want to withdraw a doctor as this leaves people in limbo.I think you should decide the reason and let anyone pm you who wants to know, just cut and paste the replies to save time. Then they can then make their own choice. If a name is withdrawn it sounds ominous, so I think the reason should be available, but not on an open forum.

For this list I think only recommendations from those who have actual experience and prepared to back it up if necessary.

Otherwise it will just become a meaningless list of doctors, available from any hospital.

I'm happy that anyone who wishes to know the reasons can PM me.

I agree fully with your logic regarding the integrity of the list and it's contents, it was for those reason that I withdrew my recommendation in this case.

Edited December 2, 2011 by chiang mai

[chiang mai]

I've made a couple of changes to the front end narrative that precedes the doctors list, I've done so to more accurately reflect waiting times and language issues so as not to scare people off from using what I think is an outstanding hospital. I've been seeing quite a lot of Sripat lately and have come to know most of the nurses there quite well and to understand the way hospital works more completely, my changes (underlined below) are therefore based on fact rather than desire:

Sripat is the private wing of the 2,300 bed Maharaj Nakorn Hospital - also known as Suan Dok (Suan Dork) Hospital, a large tertiary government teaching hospital affiliated with Chiang Mai University (CMU). All medical specialties are represented and the hospital is fully equipped to a high standard, including an excellent trauma center. At Sripat (also known the “Special Medical Services Center”) it is possible to see many of the most senior physicians affiliated with the CMU Medical School in a private capacity. No other hospital in the area offers the same range of expertise, and it is quite affordable. All of the doctors speak English to a decent standard or better and most of the administrative and nursing staff do also but to varying degrees. There is also an efficient queuing system in place whereby a new patient can see a medical specialist within very short time scales and subsequent visits rarely involve more than a two hour wait. In this as in many government hospitals, the quality of care is much higher than the hospital’s general appearance and lack of amenities might suggest.

[mogoso]

I cannot say much about McCormick hospital as a whole but 13-14 years back I went to their dental clinic for a cleaning. It was the worst and roughest cleaning I've could conceive of. Within a few days two teeth were cracked at past fillings necessitating a visit to a Dentist on Taepae Road. He repaired the damage as he could, but I can't say I liked him or would go back.

Anon the years past and Dr. Korocot and Grace Dental enter into my life. life was good with Dr. Jarunee doing my cleaning and an implant. Now I am awash as they've split asunder leaving me wafting between the two according to my needs. I would recommend either.

At Ram I used a Dermatologist whose name I've forgotten (front office facing the moat on a high floor) was quite good.

[chiang mai]

"Now I am awash as they've split asunder leaving me wafting between the two according to my needs".

[chiang mai]

I mentioned this doctors list project to one of the doctors I know at Sripat and he put me in touch with some Admin staff who were very interested in it. As a result I've been invited to meet with the person responsible for nursing at Sripat who will help try to make our list more complete. Therefore, if there's a medical specialty you'd like to see included here, please shout.

[elektrified]

I mentioned this doctors list project to one of the doctors I know at Sripat and he put me in touch with some Admin staff who were very interested in it. As a result I've been invited to meet with the person responsible for nursing at Sripat who will help try to make our list more complete. Therefore, if there's a medical specialty you'd like to see included here, please shout.

Once again, good job chiang mai! I hope everyone appreciates your efforts. A couple of suggestions when you meet and update the list:

2 topics I've seen come up often and it appears that Thailand does not have specialists in these fields are 1. Podiatry; and 2. Colo-rectal surgery and/or Proctology. Diabetics need to take care of their feet or they often end up amputees. In the USA all diabetics whose treatment is managed properly see a Podiatrist once a month or so. As I understand it (from what I have read), there are no podiatrists in Thailand. There is also no specialty for proctology or colo-rectal surgery in Thailand. Maybe ask them at Sripat who they recommend for these conditions? It might help someone.

[chiang mai]

I mentioned this doctors list project to one of the doctors I know at Sripat and he put me in touch with some Admin staff who were very interested in it. As a result I've been invited to meet with the person responsible for nursing at Sripat who will help try to make our list more complete. Therefore, if there's a medical specialty you'd like to see included here, please shout.

Once again, good job chiang mai! I hope everyone appreciates your efforts. A couple of suggestions when you meet and update the list:

2 topics I've seen come up often and it appears that Thailand does not have specialists in these fields are 1. Podiatry; and 2. Colo-rectal surgery and/or Proctology. Diabetics need to take care of their feet or they often end up amputees. In the USA all diabetics whose treatment is managed properly see a Podiatrist once a month or so. As I understand it (from what I have read), there are no podiatrists in Thailand. There is also no specialty for proctology or colo-rectal surgery in Thailand. Maybe ask them at Sripat who they recommend for these conditions? It might help someone.

Consider it done.

As for the effort you mention, well, it has to be said that this is a labor of love, what sensible man in his right mind would not put in effort when it means spending the better part of his day in the company of large number of caring nurses, some of whom are seriously cute and almost all of whom are really good fun.

Edited December 31, 2011 by chiang mai

[Katmanpu]

Dr. Greg Greer at Sri Phat Medical Center is an excellent GP for physicals and referrals. I have seen him for the past 3 years.

He also writes an occasional column for the Chiang Mai expats newsletter.

Contact Khun Kesani who speaks excellent English to make an appointment at 081-681-1616

[Mapguy]

I was surprised that Dr. Greg wasn't one of the original recommendations. I've heard nothing but good things about him in past threads, but I've also heard that he is out of town. Is that true?

[chiang mai]

I was surprised that Dr. Greg wasn't one of the original recommendations. I've heard nothing but good things about him in past threads, but I've also heard that he is out of town. Is that true?

Yes, at the time the list was put together he was understood to have returned to the US for a year.

[eek]

Endocrinologist (Thyroid, kidneys etc) – Dr Umpiga, Sripat Hospital, Chiang Mai

Doctors name is Dr Ampica

She has been my Endro for years after Ram (wont get into it!) destroyed my thyroid. I had to go to Bumrungrad to get it sorted out. The doctor there (Dr. Rosalee) recommended Dr Ampica in Chiang Mai. Dr Ampica is well spoken, fluent English speaking, respected ajarn and lecturer. She is very thorough and has kept my Hashimoto thyroid condition level.

[chiang mai]

Endocrinologist (Thyroid, kidneys etc) – Dr Umpiga, Sripat Hospital, Chiang Mai

Doctors name is Dr Ampica

She has been my Endro for years after Ram (wont get into it!) destroyed my thyroid. I had to go to Bumrungrad to get it sorted out. The doctor there (Dr. Rosalee) recommended Dr Ampica in Chiang Mai. Dr Ampica is well spoken, fluent English speaking, respected ajarn and lecturer. She is very thorough and has kept my Hashimoto thyroid condition level.

Indeed, Rosalee was also my endo" but I subsequently changed to Dr Ampiga when I moved back to CM, am aware that Rosalee and Ampica know each other. I fell out with Bumrungrad over some botched consultations (and made an official complaint) but was still linked to Rosalee and was seriously disappointed to see that Rosalee tried to talk me out of my belief that a swelling on the side of my neck was normal tissue and identical to the other side, it turned out to be a swollen and infected Parotid gland that had a stone in it but she seemed obliged to toe the party line as set my Bumrungrad and the earlier botched consultation that said It was as a result of using the PC too much, very very sad. After that episode I realized I couldn't trust her so the move was completed.

Apologies that I have not corrected the spelling of the name yet, it slipped through the last update but will get done the next time around. .

[eek]

Wow..thats a shocker on Dr.Rosalee. Maybe her job was on the line..nothing surprises me here much tbh.

I saw her about 5 year ago, and was very grateful to her because i had i think around 5 months of being seriously unwell..heart palpitations,fainting, rapid weight gain and loss..at the hands of Ram doctors (before it all happened i was running 10k every 2nd day, sometimes each day. I was a mess. Also had 5 months of bills i paid out to ram for the courtesy of wrecking my gland). Anyway, definitely grateful for Dr. Ampica here...a great doctor, and at Sri-pat prices.

[virtualtraveller]

My experience (and increasingly others I've heard from) RAM is a complete rip off these days! Unless there's a unique specialist there, avoid unless med aid is paying everything, and even that is an ethical dilemma, seeing how they load the bill.

[elektrified]

My experience (and increasingly others I've heard from) RAM is a complete rip off these days! Unless there's a unique specialist there, avoid unless med aid is paying everything, and even that is an ethical dilemma, seeing how they load the bill.

How could Med Aid pay your bill? Isn't Med Aid a company that donates used medical equipment to third world countries?

[virtualtraveller]

My experience (and increasingly others I've heard from) RAM is a complete rip off these days! Unless there's a unique specialist there, avoid unless med aid is paying everything, and even that is an ethical dilemma, seeing how they load the bill.

How could Med Aid pay your bill? Isn't Med Aid a company that donates used medical equipment to third world countries?

My experience (and increasingly others I've heard from) RAM is a complete rip off these days! Unless there's a unique specialist there, avoid unless med aid is paying everything, and even that is an ethical dilemma, seeing how they load the bill.

How could Med Aid pay your bill? Isn't Med Aid a company that donates used medical equipment to third world countries?

Med aid = Medical Aid (e.g. Bupa) or travel insurance.

[Gladiator]

Maybe subjective.

Have to take as you find.

For sure RAM is expensive.

All I can say is that they did 'The Biz' for me. and I have been to both Srphat , Rajavej, and RAM 2 as it used to be called

Whatever. wherever you go = Good luck and good health

Plus yet another plus1 for Doctor Morgan

[eek]

Just a heads up regarding the "Recommmended Doctors and Medical Specialist" thread. Some amendments:

DERMATOLOGY (Skin)

Prof Dr. Siri Chiewchanvit

Sripat Hospital

053 5394 6909/10

This telephone number does not work. I went instead directly to Sripat to book a consultation, but he does not work within Sripat, he has a private clinic (if he needs the services of a hospital, he uses Sripat, but again, via his private clinic). His clinic is 199 Moonmuang Road, A Muang, Chiang Mai 50200. Tel: 053 214108. Not open during daytime. Opens from 4:30pm onwards. No appointment, just wait. People arrive early, so recommend to arrive before the opening time if you wish to be seen soon (when i went, there were 60+ waiting for him!).

Dr Chatbonkoch Khemacheewakul

Chiang Mai RAM Hospital

053 920300

I booked to see Dr Chatbonkoch for a second opinion. She would not answer any serious questions regarding comparing treatments, or offer a comparative opinion. Would only tell me what they offer at Ram and how much, nothing objective, even when i asked a couple of different ways. Instead she either had a sort of childlike chuckle or smiled and looked down, totally ignoring the question. Found that rather frustrating, but maybe just doing her job in regards to getting business for Ram. But, instead it just put me off.

PLASTIC SURGEONS

Dr. Somboon at Ram/Sriphat

Dr. Opas at Sriphat or Pruksa clinic

When at Sripat made an inquiry about a future appointment with Dr Somboon or Dr Opas..they had not heard of Dr Somboon. I think this detail regarding him working at SriPat is incorrect. Dr Opas does USE sripat for his surgery work, BUT (as in the case of Dr.Siri) not for appointments. Contact him at his private clinic in Hillside 4 condominium (sorry cant find the number at this moment)

There are a couple of more docs on that list that i will visit in the following weeks (treatments following my bike accident 4 month ago). Will update any details missing and personal opinions.

[elektrified]

The best way to go about getting in to see Ajarn Siri is to get there at about 16:15 the minute the staff opens the metal door. Take a queue card, present your patient card (if you have one) and then leave and go about your business and come back at say 18:30-19:00. If they have gotten to your number or even past it by then, they will let you right in to see him. It may be an inconvenience for some but he is extremely popular and the best anywhere in the area. People come from as far as Phayao, Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, etc. every day to see him so the queue can be silly at times and seems to be getting longer as time goes by. The last time I went I got there a bit late and took a queue card. It was close to 21:15 before they called my number.

He still does surgery at the more popular hospitals but apparently is too busy at his private clinic to have time for the clinics elsewhere.

[chiang mai]

I wonder if we can have another push at updating the list in order to keep it current, I've just sent some updates for inclusion into the online list but we've got loads of gaps - please see the list for headings that need names filled in.

thanks

[eek]

The best way to go about getting in to see Ajarn Siri is to get there at about 16:15 the minute the staff opens the metal door. Take a queue card, present your patient card (if you have one) and then leave and go about your business and come back at say 18:30-19:00. If they have gotten to your number or even past it by then, they will let you right in to see him. It may be an inconvenience for some but he is extremely popular and the best anywhere in the area. People come from as far as Phayao, Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, etc. every day to see him so the queue can be silly at times and seems to be getting longer as time goes by. The last time I went I got there a bit late and took a queue card. It was close to 21:15 before they called my number.

He still does surgery at the more popular hospitals but apparently is too busy at his private clinic to have time for the clinics elsewhere.

Agree.

Wish to write note on Dr.Siri. Two days ago he performed the 2nd dermaroller treatment on my scars (5 months ago i had a bad motorcycle accident and despite wearing a helmet, had to have stitches on my face.). This time he did a two step treatment. A new technique with a smaller electrical roller, for more intensive abrasion, followed by the regular roller. Today i received a personal phone call from his mobile phone, asking how i was doing. Im very touched that he checked up to make sure. The procedure was quite painful and he was aggressive. Also it was a new technique. So, big thumbs up for Dr.Siri and his aftercare in thinking of me following the procedure. Very glad to have found him. Not sure how well the treatment will go, but its less frightening to me than laser. Mainly, its so good to find an ethical doctor, who seems to really know what he is doing.

Also, went to see Dr.Opas at his Hillside 4 clinic. VERY long wait. But, VERY lovely doctor. Had a lot of patience for all my questions (broken nose/ crushed septum. Have had two septoplastys, but still having breathing issues and my nose slightly twisted now, with a dorsal hump on one side). He viewed photos i brought in, checked my nose, and talked in depth regarding my questions. He said i have two steps to go through. One: Find out whats going on INSIDE my nose. Two: Wait a year to re-evaluate the outside. He asked me to email him in my hospital number, so he can get the files, and i have an appointment at the end of this month to discuss what to do next. There was no charge for the consultation. ..an ethical doctor is gold, and ethical doctor with apparent skill and knowledge, utterly priceless. I hope he proves to be the latter, and from what i have read, i think so, thankfully

Edited April 22, 2012 by eek

[jko]

My experience (and increasingly others I've heard from) RAM is a complete rip off these days! Unless there's a unique specialist there, avoid unless med aid is paying everything, and even that is an ethical dilemma, seeing how they load the bill.

TOTALLY AGREE

I have used Ram for nearly two decades and had some excellent treatment/service.

In recent years however, greed has apparently gained the upper hand, and they appear to hire physicians to fill the gaps with little regard for qualifications, professionalism or experience. The result is a mixture of some brilliant doctors and some irresponsible buffoons - like the fellow who, without doing any cognitive tests (as I once previously posted) diagnosed me as being 'early Alzheimers' and put me on an extremely expensive medication. A second opinion at Sripat, and some simple tests (which the Ram doctor obviously should have conducted) debunked this diagnosis, totally.

Point is, had I accepted the first diagnosis, I could be living in the shadow of thinking I have a devastatingly fatal and debilitating condition -- this on top of spending thousands of baht per month for medication.

Moral: Never, repeat never, go blindly to Ram, assuming that it is a good hospital with good doctors. First, research the best specialists for your condition on this forum and elsewhere. If that particular specialist works at Ram, and you don't mind paying their inflated prices, you'll be in good hands.

[uptheos]

Moral: Never, repeat never, go blindly to Ram, assuming that it is a good hospital with good doctors. First, research the best specialists for your condition on this forum and elsewhere. If that particular specialist works at Ram, and you don't mind paying their inflated prices, you'll be in good hands.

Well said

I saw Dr. Tanawat (foot orthopod) at Ram yesterday, only because he was recommended by another Dr. I trust, Dr. Paiboon who has worked only at Ram for 20 years. I only bought advice from Dr. Tanawat and immediately got his clinic address and hours. I will go there this evening for a further chat and get the initial dressing and gel that I need from his clinic. If I have surgery I will have it done at Sripat. For those who might be interested, he is an orthopaedic foot specialist and can also adapt shoes, make orthotics etc, at his clinic....I don't think any hospital in CM does that.

Edited April 23, 2012 by uptheos

[qdinthailand]

Who would you recommend I see?

I'm having weight control issues. I've been gaining weight for the past year, at the same time I was cutting back on what I ate, and adding exercise.

I've gained 18 Kilo in just over a year.

Early on I was walking briskly about 1 hour a day 5 - 6 days a week. I started having joint issues.

So I started riding a bike seriously back in December. Doing 1 to 2 hour rides 5-6 days a week. Now, I'm doing 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hour rides, even more, at nearly 16 mph (24 kph) pace. According to info on calorie burn at that rate, that amount of time, I should be burning from 2500 - 3500 calories on a typical ride.

I have not increased food intake with the increased exercise (I have cut back in fact).

But I am still gaining weight.

The one major change I did in the past year was concerning my sleeping. For 30 years or so, I went to bed about 9:30, was up at first light. No naps during the day. Due to my Thai "wife", I changed to fall asleep about 12:30-1:00 a.m. after she got home from work - up around 6:00-6:30 a.m. to get her and her boy up for school (and for her to go to the market to buy for her restaurant) and for me to ride while it is relatively cool, then about a 2 hour nap in the afternoon to get my 8 hours sleep.

So, my question, which relates to why I am in this topic:

Do I see an endocrinologist (a hormonal thing), or an internal medicine doc, or gastro-intestinal specialist? Somebody else?

Edited May 23, 2012 by qdinthailand

[chiang mai]

I saw Dr Kannika and her lovely assistant today, both of whom could not understand why so many farangs were comming to see her about areas that are not within her speciality. A quick look at the pinned list confirms that Dr Kannika is shown under Hematology and Cancer whereas her specialty is with Gastrointestinal issues. We apologise to the good doctor (and her lovely assistant) for any problems caused and hope that Tywais will ammend the list asap.

[onthedarkside]

I saw Dr Kannika and her lovely assistant today, both of whom could not understand why so many farangs were comming to see her about areas that are not within her speciality. A quick look at the pinned list confirms that Dr Kannika is shown under Hematology and Cancer whereas her specialty is with Gastrointestinal issues. We apologise to the good doctor (and her lovely assistant) for any problems caused and hope that Tywais will ammend the list asap.

I have move Dr Kannika from Oncology to Gastro.

[chiang mai]

I saw Dr Kannika and her lovely assistant today, both of whom could not understand why so many farangs were comming to see her about areas that are not within her speciality. A quick look at the pinned list confirms that Dr Kannika is shown under Hematology and Cancer whereas her specialty is with Gastrointestinal issues. We apologise to the good doctor (and her lovely assistant) for any problems caused and hope that Tywais will ammend the list asap.

I have move Dr Kannika from Oncology to Gastro.

Many thanks.