Giving Up On Bumrungrad?

[hermespan]

I have been going to the Bum for several years. I liked the fast service and high quality. I liked the fact that getting copies of all records was not dfficult and my specialist did not recommend tests that would be a waste of money

But I am starting to have my doubts and have several reservations...

1. Not at ease with so many Gulf states patients. I admit that I am not politically correct. I prefer the company of Buddhists and Christians when it comes to religion and Caucasians and Asians when it comes to ethnicity. Unlike five years ago, whenever I go into the waiting room it is really crowded, and with mostly persons who appear to be from Dubai etc. So, there are two factors, being rushed in appointments and my co-patients. I would rather see a doctor in a hospital that caters to Chinese and Caucasians. But mostly, I hate being rushed!

2. My urologist is a kind patient man with a lot of experience. But when I visited an endocrinologist about establishing the ground blood work to deal with the CAUSES of a problem rather than just treating it I asked her why he hadn't informed me about an important fact about a treatment I had undertaken. She said 'because he doesn't KNOW.' Scared the bejeesus out of me.

3. It's expensive. Actually, since medical care in Thai private hospitals has become so expensive for my budget I prefer Malaysia, which is sometimes half the price. But I seldom get south so I still want to be able to get care in Thailand, Bangkok being where I usually come through. I have had good experiences with BANGKOK CHRISTIAN and wish to try ST. LOUIS because I like the concept of non-profit hospitals on the Christian model. If I had some serious medical problem I would go to Bum if I could afford it. But for basic stuff I don't see the need.

Has anyone done a neutral paid-for-as-an-investigative-journalist-rather-than-garnering-advertising-revenue review of Thai hospitals? It may very well be that some hospitals are better for different specialties, e.g. BKK PATTAYA for neurological, SAMITIVEJ for cardio and BKK NURSING HOME for dermatological. I just made the last sentence recommendations up. I would like to find a medical tourism site that is selling not 'tours' but by subscription (or advertising revenue from an unrelated field, e.g. hotels) detailed and up to date reviews.

All I can say with certainty, is I will never go back to SUKHUMVIT HOSPITAL and I usually buy my medication at regular pharmacies.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

FWIW, I've been going to Vibhavadi Hospital for several years now, including a couple of inpatient opns, and am quite happy with the service and costs.

Mac

[Sheryl]

There is no such thing as a hospital where the care is uniform amongst all doctors. there will always be considerable differences in ability, interpersonal manner, how much time they take with patients etc. In addition, time pressures will vary by day according to number of patients and far behind schedule the doctor is or isn't. And, being human, doctors have their off days.

There may be hospitals with no top-notch doctors, but there are NO hospitals at which all the doctors are top notch. you'll find mediocre and even bad ones everywhere.

Which is why you should choose the doctor, not the hospital. Getting the best care will mean going to different hospitals for different thing according to where the doctor you wan t to consult is based.

Of all you mention the only things that are hospital specific (as opposed to doctor-specific) are cost and the patient mix. Well, both of those things are true, no doubt. costs have also gone up at all the other hospitals too, and health care is now far from inexpensive in Thai private hospitals. But certainly Bumrungrad is at the top end of the price scale. You will indeed find St Louis and Bkk Christian to be less expensive, in my experience St Louis more so of the two.

I am not going to respond to your issues about the nationality for your fellow patients. Aside from the prejudicial aspect, it is a just not a rational basis on which to choose where you get health care.

[Dararasmi]

I feel uncomfortable in the company of sick people. Can someone recommend a good hospital?