Chiangmai Ram, What Would Your Reaction Be?

[TravelerEastWest]

Get to another hospital for a 2nd opinion ASAP. Sripat at CMU would be an excellent choice. Not as fancy as RAM but there are many good docs there. Ask/demand to see a senior Professor of Neurology for a 2nd opinion.

Best of luck.

This is excellent, grade A advice.

Don`t waste any more time at the Ram, and obtain a proper diagnoses before the situation becomes any worse.

Really, the thread could have ended here...

Absolutely right, but let me add a PS. CM Ram is grossly overpriced on everything they do, especially since they were taken over recently by Bangkok Hospital. (I invite them to defend themselves against this here and now). They will not, of course!

Despite going there some years back after a m/cyc accident with a broken collar bone and 4 broken ribs (the latter being 'invisible' on their x-ray) and sent home in (increasing) agony, I trusted them with my 3 year old sons sudden soaring temperature. Twice. Fool me, huh?

First time there was 2,000b on the bill they couldn't explain, 2nd time, 4,000b. And NO diagnosis!!

The 3rd and last time it happened we took him to Rajavej (opposite Holiday Inn on the river). Excellent, intelligent, treatment and diagnosis and NO hidden charges!

In 17 years in CM I have never heard a single credible complaint about Rajavej.

Your decision(s)!

Interesting post - I recently went to Rajavej and was over charged on two visits once for medical supplies that were not used and once for a set of Xrays that were not taken.

I also had a poor diagnosis of my problem - was given antibiotics when it turned out that I had an allergy only - found this out at Ram.

I spoke to the English speaking nurse who helps non Thai speakers at Rajavej about the numerous errors and she thoughtfully said that it wasn't really the hospital it was Thailand - I tend to agree with her. Although actually hospitals and large clinics everywhere make mistakes.

Note I also took my young daughter to Rajavej for an ear problem on a saturday and she received very good and fast care.

[cheeryble]

Service price quality.

Just go to the Hospital across from the Holiday inn. There is not the nice accommodations you can get at Ram but they were not built for that they were built for medical reasons. There will be stories of woe there also but that is to be expected of any hospital.

I went to Siraphat for a eye exam didn't cost much but a witch doctor could have done better. Went to see a chest specialist and was given an x ray pulmonary test along with a 20 minute consultation on what my problem was. Doctors back in Canada automatically assumed I had Asama. Not so but they never told me what was wrong. This Doctor explained it to me.

I have since been going to the one by the Holiday inn and have no complaint. (Yet) good and fast service plus they have a Chiropractor. Prices are reasonable.

I had dizzy spells recently particularly after a shower. My doctor sent me to see the ENT at Ram. He told me it was common for people with diabetes at my age. Prescribed some pills and said it would go away. I got there pills and had to refill the prescription three time before it went away. He said it was some thing to do with a calcium build up in the ear.

You have been diagnosed with BPPV.

Yo should be aware that there is a physical manoeuvre you can do, sometimes have to repeat, which is quite successful at moving the particles down to where they don't cause vertigo. (Funny enough I had thought there could be something like this could help and then discovered it wasn't an original thought)

Look up BPPV manoeuvre or exercise you can find detailed instructions with pictures I remember.

While I'm here may I recommend complainers about doctors and hospitals to be very exact and careful in what they say. I have seen a great deal of misinformation on this thread and it helps no-one, quite the opposite, it can cause great worry and affect reputations and give people bad advice to think about important matters from.

It's late but I'll start with an easy one. Someone said the Ram cost as much as the big BKK hospitals. My personal experience and observation is that operations in the Bumrungrad cost about three times the price of the Ram. The midrange room rate likewise is about 4000 compared to 1500 or 1600. Wait a minute. I had to share a room in Bumringrad at that price but in Ram you get a private room.

I you mean all the BKK hospitals except the Bumrungrad say so.

Another example:

Tommophysicist, you throw out very fliply that farang are charged double at the Ram.

My girlfriend works there and I know half the doctors. I don't condemn it or recommend it in this post but what I can say point blank is that most patients by far at the Ram are Thai nationals and the prices are exactly the same for them and farang. Exactly.

Edited October 2, 2012 by cheeryble

[chiang mai]

On the subject of charges:

Hospital charges typically fall into four categories, a facilitiy or hospital charge, doctors fee, testing and medication, from my experience a facility charge at RAM will be THB100 for a simple consultation whilst a doctors fee for the same will be between THB200 and THB400, based on the specialty and the time/effort involved - tests and medication are patient specific and infinitely variable although tests fees can be made known in advance and medication can always be declined if the patient feels it's excessive. The charges at Sriphat are not disimilar to the above.

From experience, Bumrungrad charges typically start at THB1,500 for a combined doctor/facility fee.

[tango]

The infection started up just after my last haircut. The barber shaved my neck.

My rule of thumb is to 'never, ever allow a barber to shave or trim as part of a haircut'. A boil is the least of your worry considering they usually reinsert half a blade into a usually unclean razor with attendant blood tainting...think AIDS, whatever.

I carry a small spray bottle of alchohol in my backpack to immediately spray my neck area once I've left the barber shop. Since then no persistent neck rashes. FWIW.