Ram International Hospital (an Experience)

[jackr]

Anyone know if Ram do allergy testing?

You can check from the list of doctors at CM Ram Hospital. Also you can search for a particular doctor's name or a specialty in here, and then by clicking on the <Appointment> link you get the doctor's brief resume.

Cheers,

G

(BTW Dr Tosporn does really exist )

I think "Jackr" made a joke, which I appreciate.

Secondly, I would prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt, but in this case, excuse me if I am wrong, OP has most likely offended Thai sensitivities, after which the staff gave him a message, which didn't get through yet, unfortunately. I would say "Shame on you, likite !!!"

No, no joke there wozo; I have a bit of a problem with house dust, etc. and wouldn't mind getting it sorted. Cheers for the links Gulliver.

[Rinrada]

Ram is famous for high drug costs!!

They were kicked out by most insurance companies because of their high med costs. They recently reduced these prices and have now been reinstated.

On last visit we checked out the RAM cos k.W had a "koff and sore throat" and found it very good.

5-10 minute wait and the quack quickly identified ....koff and sore throat...

I am/was not complaining...she was and we were soon on our way about 10 minutes later (plus the mandatory goody bag full of tablets specially for....koffs &...etc)...about 400bt in total.

Nice and clean,appeared efficient with all the usual professional white uniformed -emergency ward 10 types of nurses you could wish for...(takes you back...)

Re: best in Country...never had to use one yet although almost got medivaced to the "Bum" once from khmer land in 91,but according to K.W the top 4.. to her mind are... 1- Sami (pronounced -Sa-wee-tee-wet) 2-Sukhumvit (oppos-Ekkki Bus Station) 3 Shree-nak Hospital.(See-na-ka-rin road)and 4th our old fav.Phyathai 2.....but then shes Thai...so...

[Doppelganger]

I got a really severe case of "Road Rash" on New Years day, I didnt go see the doctor and just put some gauze on it. It seemed to be taking forever to heal and was very painful, and about 3 weeks later I woke up in extreme pain ( I thought I was gonna pass out) couldnt walk and decided to go see the doctor.

I went to McCormick and it only took about 15 minutes to see a doctor who spoke excellent english. He said something like "Why didnt you come see me sooner? You have a severe infection and need surgery. Now!"

The knocked me out, did the surgery and gave me a bed for the night. The nurses were all very polite and friendly. Even the cleaning staff and random people working there were all friendly and joking.

The food was actually decent and they were very attentive to my pain (hurray morphine!)

I think alot of the "bad" experiences have to do with language barriers and not understanding Thai culture, from what I can read between the lines.

The bill came to 11,000Baht (kinda high I think) but the experience was as pleasant as it could have been under the circumstances.

[Ajarn]

I think alot of the "bad" experiences have to do with language barriers and not understanding Thai culture

I think the 'bad' experiences have more to do with the position of the stars at that moment, though I do agree that the OP seemed pretty clueless to life here...

[pichai]

My friend and his family (from Malaysia) visited me in December 2005, unfortunately, the son had food poisoning during their trip in Chiangrai. Upon arriving in Chiangmai, I took them to CMR. The nurses were friendly and after giving the particulars he was asked to go into a room for taking BP, weight and height after that, waited for less 5 minutes to see a doctor. He was asked to go to another room for a jab also less than 5 minutes he got the jab. Went over to the pharmacy to collect some medicines and settle the bill.

While waiting for the medicines he started vomitting and a nurse passing by came to ask whether she could help or needed a wheelchair to wheel him. Seeing that, my friend commented, the service here so good, compared to hospital back at home no one would bother.

My wife and myself also visits CMR and we like the service there.

[wozo]

I think the 'bad' experiences have more to do with the position of the stars at that moment, though I do agree that the OP seemed pretty clueless to life here...

Yes, blame it on the stars...

Although I am also inclined to the supernatural world, the OP, in my opinion, has given away too many clues from which one can deduct that his negative experience is, most likely, caused by himself.

[mogoso]

Alas, you folks will never get to experience the old McCormick Hospital when it was the best medical care available in Chiang Mai. Before you ever got to see a doctor there was the mandatory 3 hour wait sitting on the wooden benches surrounded by a cornucopia of ailments straight out of that famous medical textbook Elephantiasis and other Pictorial Diseases of the Tropics.

I "experienced" McCormick and the long wait while screaming in pain from what turned out to be kidney stones. after waiting for hours, they finally gave me a shot in the back that made the pain worse.

I never complain about RAM!

My gf/ now wife took me there to utilize their dental dept. They cracked two teeth. I asked her why she took me there. Well she knew the hospital had a dental dept as she saw it when she went to visit her dad ( who died under their care)

[ode]

Have to agree on OP on Rama... a lot of waiting (all doctors at general medicine were having a break at same time or something...) and overpriced service and medicines. And also, staff not telling us how long we have to wait, just reading cartoon or something.

My favourite hospital is McCormick, very efficient service and cheap. Nurses are busy, but still take the time to advice or take us to some place we need to go.

Lanna seems good too.

[agsnowdon]

Ok I have been visiting CMR very regurally for the past 2 months and found it to be great may be a bit expensive, but I only have one problem no dionostic yet.

Does anyone recomend switching hospitals to see what they say or should I stay with CMR as they have all my records?

Also does anyone know of a good website to get a diognosed.

Thanks

Ash

[Dustoff]

Ok I have been visiting CMR very regurally for the past 2 months and found it to be great may be a bit expensive, but I only have one problem no dionostic yet.

Ah, now THERE you have put your finger on a very real problem with Thai medical advice!

I have had my share of minor medical problems and been frustrated with the lack of verbal diagnoses (I found that going to a good pharmacist works better than local clinics) but didn't worry about it much until I came down with a very serious blood problem that could have ended my life within two years.

Local clinics, the CM University Hospital, CM Ram, even Bumrangrad in BKK.. I could not, NOT (after spending over 40k baht on their recommended tests) get an honest/accurate diagnosis!

My impression is that (depending upon the stars perhaps), you will be told anything they feel like telling you or they will tell you nothing. Have you seen the blinking and blank look when you ask for a diagnosis? Thais would not be rude enough to ask, just accept some ointment or injection, so to 'challenge' a doctor to explain himself/your condition is perhaps almost unheard of here...?

Just my experience perhaps and I am sure that there are capable doctors here who will actually TALK to you like you are an intelligent person; I just haven't found one as yet... Ajarn warned us about a cardiologist I had mentioned and he is right - I went back and when I asked him about the contraindications of a drug he wanted to give me, he not only did not know the answer but didn't know where to find it in the whole &lt;deleted&gt; CM Ram Hospital !! After he got over his obvious discomfort, he said, "I THINK its going to be okay."

My serious blood condition was researched, diagnosed and cured by...ME.

I got on the internet (start by putting your basic symptoms into google and go from there) and found a whole world of information that you likely are not going to find in a doctor's office or hospital here. I use doctors for mere advice (as should we all) which I take with a very large grain of salt, and use them to order the necessary tests to make my own informed diagnoses.

The medications that I self-prescribed and took/take were successful and my condition is in total remission, thank you...

Need surgery? Bumrangrad in BKK...

Edited January 29, 2006 by Dustoff

[pb2003]

My serious blood condition was researched, diagnosed and cured by...ME.

I got on the internet (start by putting your basic symptoms into google and go from there) and found a whole world of information that you likely are not going to find in a doctor's office or hospital here. I use doctors for mere advice (as should we all) which I take with a very large grain of salt, and use them to order the necessary tests to make my own informed diagnoses.

The medications that I self-prescribed and took/take were successful and my condition is in total remission, thank you...

Need surgery? Bumrangrad in BKK...

With a little bit more googling you might be able to operate yourself, just be sure that you apply local anaesthetics !

[Gulliver_in_LOS]

I think asking for a second (or more) medical opinion, or searching for information in the internet or elsewhere is wise. However taking self-prescribed medication is very dangerous and inane to say the least.

Edited January 29, 2006 by Gulliver_in_LOS

[roamer]

From the OP "If you read the thread I was dismayed and surprised that a top International Hospital should treat any patient with a less than average standard of care and be so rude or indifferent (I can’t think of any other ways to describe some of the nurse’s attitudes). My dismay and surprise can be summarised as follows:" Think its the expectation that has let him down

I've had treatment at CMR myself, very satisfied but I would'nt describe it as a "top international hospital" maybe only Bumrungrad would fit that criteria, then again I prefer Bangkok General for most stuff....

[PeaceBlondie]

After two years of excellent treatment at Maharaj (special clinic, 12th or 13trh floor), I found myself in an ambulance with a severely dislocated shoulder, on 16 July 2005. I asked them to send me to Maharaj, but they couldn't operate for at least 72 hours, and had no private room. NO WAY am I going to spend 12 hours in a general ward of a Thai govt. hospital. They took me to Chiang Mai Ram, where I was operated on within two hours. Chief Surgeon, Dr. Kanit; Assitant Surgeon, the more experienced Dr. Taiboon. Excellent private room, good nursing care. Followups are always hassle free, good attention, etc.

The problem is, my wound has taken a serious turn for the worse, starting around 8 December. Three doctors in Hua Hin had no idea. Two ortohpedic surgeons at CMRam, including Dr. Kanit, didn't know, either. Today it got much worse and I went back to the old general physician at Hua Hin, who honestly said, "I have no idea." Appointment tomorrow in Hua Hin with a **** dermatologist, but any fool should see the problem is deep inside the flesh, at the site of the wound, not as a result of contact dermatitis.

I guess I have three choices, and nothing in Hua Hin or Chiang Mai rank in the first five. Go to Bangkok and shop among Bumungrad, Bkk Nursing Hospital, and Samijev (sp).

I dislike it when any honest doctor has to say, "I don't know." I really hate it when a dishonest doctor doesn't admit their ignorance. Not that I'm exactly complaining about Chiang Mai Ram; my neighbor swears by it, rather than AT it. But in Thailand and many of our home countries, it's all pretty much hit and miss. Didn't Thaksin say something about Mercury being in the right orbit?

Overall, I'd go back to Maharaj (Suan Dok) Special Clinic. I think the best doctors in Chiang Mai rotate among there, Chiang Mai Ram, and maybe McCormick or Lanna.

[p1p]

I have used Ram for many years. They have my records and know me there. I have seldom had any problems.

Just this last Sunday I visited the doctor. He reccomended surgery and booked me in on Monday. I arrived at 7am, was on the table by 7:30, in recovery room by 9 and home again before midday. No hassles, pure efficiency.

(I did note the theatre nurse's relief however, when I admitted I spoke Thai!)

It is about the eight time I have had this operation over the years. The last time I had this same procedure in the UK, even with BUPA private health insurance, I had to wait six weeks to see the specialist and a further fortnight to have the operation.

[ThaiPauly]

After two years of excellent treatment at Maharaj (special clinic, 12th or 13trh floor), I found myself in an ambulance with a severely dislocated shoulder, on 16 July 2005. I asked them to send me to Maharaj, but they couldn't operate for at least 72 hours, and had no private room. NO WAY am I going to spend 12 hours in a general ward of a Thai govt. hospital. They took me to Chiang Mai Ram, where I was operated on within two hours. Chief Surgeon, Dr. Kanit; Assitant Surgeon, the more experienced Dr. Taiboon. Excellent private room, good nursing care. Followups are always hassle free, good attention, etc.

The problem is, my wound has taken a serious turn for the worse, starting around 8 December. Three doctors in Hua Hin had no idea. Two ortohpedic surgeons at CMRam, including Dr. Kanit, didn't know, either. Today it got much worse and I went back to the old general physician at Hua Hin, who honestly said, "I have no idea." Appointment tomorrow in Hua Hin with a **** dermatologist, but any fool should see the problem is deep inside the flesh, at the site of the wound, not as a result of contact dermatitis.

I guess I have three choices, and nothing in Hua Hin or Chiang Mai rank in the first five. Go to Bangkok and shop among Bumungrad, Bkk Nursing Hospital, and Samijev (sp).

I dislike it when any honest doctor has to say, "I don't know." I really hate it when a dishonest doctor doesn't admit their ignorance. Not that I'm exactly complaining about Chiang Mai Ram; my neighbor swears by it, rather than AT it. But in Thailand and many of our home countries, it's all pretty much hit and miss. Didn't Thaksin say something about Mercury being in the right orbit?

Overall, I'd go back to Maharaj (Suan Dok) Special Clinic. I think the best doctors in Chiang Mai rotate among there, Chiang Mai Ram, and maybe McCormick or Lanna.

Sorry to hear about your problems PB

I hope they get everything sorted out for you

Get well soon

[PeaceBlondie]

Thanks for the message, ThaiPauly.

I had a long interview today with a dermatologist, who suspects that my immune system is finally rejecting the steel plate in my arm. He asked if I wanted to go back to Chiang Mai Ram and I said, after realizing how easy that would be, "No; I think I'll just go to Bkk this afternoon." Which is what I'm doing. CMai Ram orthopods had their chance to figure it out in mid-December, and they couldn't. But gosh darn it, they're the ones who did the surgery!

So it's off to one of those three Bkk hospitals.

[Jim 50]

I paid my first visit to Ram hospital today following concerns about a persistent chest ache.

Since settling in Chiang Mai my overall impression gleaned from various sources was how good Ram Hospital was. Expensive with up to date treatments and good standards of care and service, as befits a top Thai hospital catering for farangs and Thai’s alike.

However my experience today was not very favourable. We arrived in the main building (myself and my Thai wife) and after casting our eye around considered the best place to present myself was at the information counter. There many staff were busy moving files and pieces of paper around, answering telephone calls, and tapping information into computers. We stood and waited and waited, no one actually looked in our direction and there was distinct feeling of invisibility.

Eventually my wife spoke to man in Thai who pushed a registration form to me and motioned for me to fill it out. This I duly did and again waited as before and waited. My wife finally called to someone who mumbled some words which were unintelligible and told to go to the 4th floor. No mention of how to get there or where the lifts were to get us there.

On arrival on the 4th floor we saw a couple of different desks and finally plumped for home care (this being a pure guess on our part). The same feeling of invisibility descended there was lots of apparent action but no one willing to speak or even look in our direction. Eventually a young nurse said you have come for a cardiac test. I told her I had no idea - this was a hospital and that was for a doctor to decide not me. Just then another nurse broke into the conversation and she quickly started talking to her and ignored us. I decided that rather than stand around and wait for their conversation to finish I was going to sit down. This seemed to have some effect as there was blank looks when she eventually decided she had the time to speak to me and came over to where we had sat down.

She came over and asked us to wait in another room where I was quickly motioned to sit down where another nurse mumbled some half English. She took my weight asked me my height (which I gave in feet and inches) she never flickered at all, god knows what she wrote down. Next there was the same mumble and I decided what she had said was that she would take my blood pressure.

I waited another 10 minutes or so and was told to go to room 2 where there was a doctor. He asked a few questions in passable English and recommended I have an ECG and a chest X-ray. This was quickly carried out but all the while the staff and nurses simply were unable to communicate even the most simple of words of English. One nurse said shoes and I said she meant shirt? She was trying to say take off your shirt.

In the X-ray department another very unhappy farang was being lead back in as I guess the original X-ray have been wrong in some way. Profuse apologises were being made.

We traipsed back up to the 4th floor to be told to come back after 1 pm as the doctor had gone to lunch. On meeting the same doctor I waited while he finished having a jokey conversation which his nursing assistance. He gave me the good news that there was nothing showing up on the ECG or X –ray. He gave no diagnosis and merely seemed to agree with me that he thought it may the after affects of a virus type infection and to come back in a week if the symptoms did not improve. All of this was delivered in a somewhat unconcerned fashion.

At the cashiers I was handed a bill of 910 baht, which I duly paid. I asked the cashier if there was a discount card, she merely ignored my question. I asked her again and she told me there was but wouldn’t venture any details of how I might obtain one.

Ram hospital likes to portray itself as a top class international hospital (check there website) yet staff are seemingly rude, impolite, and unable to communicate even the most simple English terms. Even if the staff had problems speaking English not one even ventured to talk in Thai to my wife who could then interpret. There is a pervasive take it or leave it atmosphere and even a hint of arrogance.

All in all not a very impressive first visit which will probably not be repeated having visited other hospitals in Chiang Mai who have looked after me and my wife to a higher standard to that received at Ram.

We Brits tend to criticise the National Health system in the UK but I’m not so sure we have not overlooked the fact that health care in the rest of the world and perhaps here in Thailand is not nearly as good in any respect.

I did have a final laugh as I left the hospital for there on the ground floor was an office called “International Customer care”

You have very eloquently captured a typical experience of a Farang in Thailand. All show no go.

Almost impossible to overstate Thai rudeness, especially when you need something from them.

[Ajarn]

I paid my first visit to Ram hospital today following concerns about a persistent chest ache.

Since settling in Chiang Mai my overall impression gleaned from various sources was how good Ram Hospital was. Expensive with up to date treatments and good standards of care and service, as befits a top Thai hospital catering for farangs and Thai’s alike.

However my experience today was not very favourable. We arrived in the main building (myself and my Thai wife) and after casting our eye around considered the best place to present myself was at the information counter. There many staff were busy moving files and pieces of paper around, answering telephone calls, and tapping information into computers. We stood and waited and waited, no one actually looked in our direction and there was distinct feeling of invisibility.

Eventually my wife spoke to man in Thai who pushed a registration form to me and motioned for me to fill it out. This I duly did and again waited as before and waited. My wife finally called to someone who mumbled some words which were unintelligible and told to go to the 4th floor. No mention of how to get there or where the lifts were to get us there.

On arrival on the 4th floor we saw a couple of different desks and finally plumped for home care (this being a pure guess on our part). The same feeling of invisibility descended there was lots of apparent action but no one willing to speak or even look in our direction. Eventually a young nurse said you have come for a cardiac test. I told her I had no idea - this was a hospital and that was for a doctor to decide not me. Just then another nurse broke into the conversation and she quickly started talking to her and ignored us. I decided that rather than stand around and wait for their conversation to finish I was going to sit down. This seemed to have some effect as there was blank looks when she eventually decided she had the time to speak to me and came over to where we had sat down.

She came over and asked us to wait in another room where I was quickly motioned to sit down where another nurse mumbled some half English. She took my weight asked me my height (which I gave in feet and inches) she never flickered at all, god knows what she wrote down. Next there was the same mumble and I decided what she had said was that she would take my blood pressure.

I waited another 10 minutes or so and was told to go to room 2 where there was a doctor. He asked a few questions in passable English and recommended I have an ECG and a chest X-ray. This was quickly carried out but all the while the staff and nurses simply were unable to communicate even the most simple of words of English. One nurse said shoes and I said she meant shirt? She was trying to say take off your shirt.

In the X-ray department another very unhappy farang was being lead back in as I guess the original X-ray have been wrong in some way. Profuse apologises were being made.

We traipsed back up to the 4th floor to be told to come back after 1 pm as the doctor had gone to lunch. On meeting the same doctor I waited while he finished having a jokey conversation which his nursing assistance. He gave me the good news that there was nothing showing up on the ECG or X –ray. He gave no diagnosis and merely seemed to agree with me that he thought it may the after affects of a virus type infection and to come back in a week if the symptoms did not improve. All of this was delivered in a somewhat unconcerned fashion.

At the cashiers I was handed a bill of 910 baht, which I duly paid. I asked the cashier if there was a discount card, she merely ignored my question. I asked her again and she told me there was but wouldn’t venture any details of how I might obtain one.

Ram hospital likes to portray itself as a top class international hospital (check there website) yet staff are seemingly rude, impolite, and unable to communicate even the most simple English terms. Even if the staff had problems speaking English not one even ventured to talk in Thai to my wife who could then interpret. There is a pervasive take it or leave it atmosphere and even a hint of arrogance.

All in all not a very impressive first visit which will probably not be repeated having visited other hospitals in Chiang Mai who have looked after me and my wife to a higher standard to that received at Ram.

We Brits tend to criticise the National Health system in the UK but I’m not so sure we have not overlooked the fact that health care in the rest of the world and perhaps here in Thailand is not nearly as good in any respect.

I did have a final laugh as I left the hospital for there on the ground floor was an office called “International Customer care”

You have very eloquently captured a typical experience of a Farang in Thailand. All show no go.

Almost impossible to overstate Thai rudeness, especially when you need something from them.

If they only knew what kind of idiots they must deal with, then they might show some real rudeness.

[LoveDaBlues]

I paid my first visit to Ram hospital today following concerns about a persistent chest ache.

Since settling in Chiang Mai my overall impression gleaned from various sources was how good Ram Hospital was. Expensive with up to date treatments and good standards of care and service, as befits a top Thai hospital catering for farangs and Thai’s alike.

However my experience today was not very favourable. We arrived in the main building (myself and my Thai wife) and after casting our eye around considered the best place to present myself was at the information counter. There many staff were busy moving files and pieces of paper around, answering telephone calls, and tapping information into computers. We stood and waited and waited, no one actually looked in our direction and there was distinct feeling of invisibility.

Eventually my wife spoke to man in Thai who pushed a registration form to me and motioned for me to fill it out. This I duly did and again waited as before and waited. My wife finally called to someone who mumbled some words which were unintelligible and told to go to the 4th floor. No mention of how to get there or where the lifts were to get us there.

On arrival on the 4th floor we saw a couple of different desks and finally plumped for home care (this being a pure guess on our part). The same feeling of invisibility descended there was lots of apparent action but no one willing to speak or even look in our direction. Eventually a young nurse said you have come for a cardiac test. I told her I had no idea - this was a hospital and that was for a doctor to decide not me. Just then another nurse broke into the conversation and she quickly started talking to her and ignored us. I decided that rather than stand around and wait for their conversation to finish I was going to sit down. This seemed to have some effect as there was blank looks when she eventually decided she had the time to speak to me and came over to where we had sat down.

She came over and asked us to wait in another room where I was quickly motioned to sit down where another nurse mumbled some half English. She took my weight asked me my height (which I gave in feet and inches) she never flickered at all, god knows what she wrote down. Next there was the same mumble and I decided what she had said was that she would take my blood pressure.

I waited another 10 minutes or so and was told to go to room 2 where there was a doctor. He asked a few questions in passable English and recommended I have an ECG and a chest X-ray. This was quickly carried out but all the while the staff and nurses simply were unable to communicate even the most simple of words of English. One nurse said shoes and I said she meant shirt? She was trying to say take off your shirt.

In the X-ray department another very unhappy farang was being lead back in as I guess the original X-ray have been wrong in some way. Profuse apologises were being made.

We traipsed back up to the 4th floor to be told to come back after 1 pm as the doctor had gone to lunch. On meeting the same doctor I waited while he finished having a jokey conversation which his nursing assistance. He gave me the good news that there was nothing showing up on the ECG or X –ray. He gave no diagnosis and merely seemed to agree with me that he thought it may the after affects of a virus type infection and to come back in a week if the symptoms did not improve. All of this was delivered in a somewhat unconcerned fashion.

At the cashiers I was handed a bill of 910 baht, which I duly paid. I asked the cashier if there was a discount card, she merely ignored my question. I asked her again and she told me there was but wouldn’t venture any details of how I might obtain one.

Ram hospital likes to portray itself as a top class international hospital (check there website) yet staff are seemingly rude, impolite, and unable to communicate even the most simple English terms. Even if the staff had problems speaking English not one even ventured to talk in Thai to my wife who could then interpret. There is a pervasive take it or leave it atmosphere and even a hint of arrogance.

All in all not a very impressive first visit which will probably not be repeated having visited other hospitals in Chiang Mai who have looked after me and my wife to a higher standard to that received at Ram.

We Brits tend to criticise the National Health system in the UK but I’m not so sure we have not overlooked the fact that health care in the rest of the world and perhaps here in Thailand is not nearly as good in any respect.

I did have a final laugh as I left the hospital for there on the ground floor was an office called “International Customer care”

You have very eloquently captured a typical experience of a Farang in Thailand. All show no go.

Almost impossible to overstate Thai rudeness, especially when you need something from them.

In April 05 I went to Ram in CM with infected tonsils, throat, and sinus problem. My first visit there and was processed, examined, and out the door with medicine in about 25 minutes. Cost was around $27 USD for everything including antibotics. Maybe I caught them at a good time but my experience was okay......not treated rude by anyone.

Where do you live in Thailand? I'm in Udon and have been treated with respect everywhere I go.

[sabaijai]

In Thai hospitals and clinics I've never experienced anything even approaching rudness. Compared to Europe, Mexico and America - the only other parts of the world I've had hospital/medical treatment experiences - Thais have the best 'bedside manner' (or whatever you want to call the way patients are treated) I've encountered anywhere.

[PeaceBlondie]

In Thai hospitals and clinics I've never experienced anything even approaching rudness. Compared to Europe, Mexico and America - the only other parts of the world I've had hospital/medical treatment experiences - Thais have the best 'bedside manner' (or whatever you want to call the way patients are treated) I've encountered anywhere.

Seconding that opinion, although my week in the hospital in deepest, darkest Mexico was made pleasant by the staff. One day when they asked me the usual, "How are youuuu?" I answered, "Lonely." Several staff dropped by during the day to keep me company! The guy who found me on the side of the road called the ambulance, lent me his mobile phone to make intern'al calls to my family, visited me in hospital, etc. The guesthouse owner insisted on picking me up and bringing me back to the guesthouse when I was released. But hey, I can't remember the American staff being that rude, either.

Maybe it's got more to do with OUR rudeness to people, than their response to us.

I've now been to six Thai hospitals and can't recall being treated rudely, even once.

Samitivej appointment was good. Lots of good info from a Thai doctor, spoken so a man from Houston, Texas could understand. I'm not losing my arm, after all.

[Ulysses G.]

In Thai hospitals and clinics I've never experienced anything even approaching rudness. Compared to Europe, Mexico and America - the only other parts of the world I've had hospital/medical treatment experiences - Thais have the best 'bedside manner' (or whatever you want to call the way patients are treated) I've encountered anywhere.

Very true.

Also, much less pain from Dentists and Doctors and nicer, more patient treatment than back in the "civilized" world.

[seeker108]

Here is a fresh report from Maharaj.

After reading this thread during the past couple of weeks I decided to go to Maharaj (govt section, not private) rather than Ram. Not because I feared that I would be treated poorly in Ram, but I thought to see what it would be like in the least expensive of all the hospitals nearby, since I was simply going for a large battery of lab tests rather than brain surgery.

Impression: Excellent++

When I first walked in the general reception area I thought my experience would be like that of the OP. Every sign was in Thai (which I don't yet read). I was by myself with my own limited Thai speaking ability (you can figure all conversation that I refer to here is maybe 40% simple Thai from my side and 80% decent English from their side (or at least good clear pointing to where I needed to go).

There were a number of people surrounding many different desks and counters. I thought "OK, here goes" though it was almost "this was a mistake, get me out of here". I walked up to the nearest, least crowded counter and in Thai asked the lady there if she spoke English. The reply was the usual "nit noi" delivered in the usual very friendly way with the usual nervous look of "I will do what I can to help but don't expect much"

Anyway without much further ado she directed me to the nearby central desk where the crowd was largest and where they were thronging rather than queing, but in a very polite and patient way. Though at first I was still prejudiced by the initial report here and feared I would be stuck there forever, being ignored and again almost thought I maybe had bit off more than I wanted to chew. But again all went well. While waiting the few minutes to be noticed (and I am fairly sure I was taken sooner rather than later than I deserved) I finally did see in some sunken cubbyhole on the desk forms in English rather than Thai. The kind man at this desk helped me fill out the very brief form and directed me to another nearby empty counter where the lady there listened to what I wanted and quickly filled out more forms for me in Thai and directed me to the Family Medical Center (FMC) where I would need to register as a patient of theirs' and see a doctor there who could then prescribe the tests I wanted.

This whole process of entering a hospital new to me and speaking little of the local language while (intentionally) not having a Thai friend along took little more than 10 minutes. On entering the FMC I walked up to the empty counter where the nurse there read my papers and listened to what I wanted. She directed me to take a seat where there were about 20 Thai patients waiting (I was the only farang). Less than 2 minutes later I was directed to see a nurse for the usual BP and weight. Again, directed to take a seat. My only moment of panic came when I asked the BP nurse how much the doctor's appointment would be and I thought she said something about 500 baht. At this point I did resort to my mobile phone to call a nurse friend at the govt. hospital in Lamphun to talk to the nurse at the desk to sort this out. Clearly some misunderstanding from my side as she told me there would be nothing charged for the doctor visit. I would only be charged for the tests which I already knew would be cheaper than Ram.

Maybe 7 more minutes waiting and I was in to see one of the several doctors there. Warm, friendly, open minded and open hearted. We discussed the tests I wanted. For one obscure test that a Naturopathic Doctor friend recommended, seemingly not related to my diabetes condition at all, he actually went off for a few minutes and came back with some printouts from the internet regarding this test and what it measured. I was very impressed that he would do that.

Total cost at Maharaj FMC for all tests I wanted including 1 pre test doctor visit and 2 post test doctor's visits came to 1,400 baht compared to 2,600 at the private Maharaj hospital compared to about 2,900 at Ram compared to 16,000 baht+ in America.

But for me it is much more than just the money. At every step I was treated warmly as a human being by other warm, caring human beings. At every step I was treated as an intelligent human being who had as much right and more to decide what was needed for me as the patient. I could see that each doctor I saw had quickly evaluated that I had done my homework and was supportive and willing to allow me to make choices on how to deal with the condition. Enthusiastically, not grudgingly.

I have always been impressed by the Thai medical community that I have encountered. Such a great lack of egoism sadly not usually found in the west. Such a ready willingness to admit that they do not consciously posses all knowledge. And therefore a great willingness to expand their knowledge. This is not to say that they are all saints. I have heard sad stories similar to some told here where egoism had caused some doctors here to cause much damage and distress. I know I have been lucky, but I also know that the odds here are much higher of having such luck.

One other interesting note, that I found out today at the FMC, is that they have an American doctor that is there on Wednesday (and possibly Thursday and Friday, though I did not get this completely figured out yet). He has a Thai wife and 3 children and has lived here for a while. I look forward to meeting him. Maybe some of you know him already. Maybe one of you is him.

The FMC is located about 100 meters north of Suthep Rd and a couple hundred meters south of Ram Hospital on Bun Ruang Rit Rd. Tel: 053 945 463. I think you can just go straight there and register as a patient and bypass the central registration area where I started.

seeker

[Ajarn]

Maharaj used to be Suan Dawk, right?

Your experience sounds like mine at Suan Dawk...

The only reason I don't go there now is due to parking issues and my physical disability in regards to walking

Edited February 7, 2006 by Ajarn

[seeker108]

That is correct Ajarn. It used to be called Suan Dok (or Dawk). I think they may have improved the parking. At least there is some parking at the FMC.

[Steve2UK]

Reading Seeker108's detailed and (IMO) highly objective/balanced account of his visit to Maharaj FMC really gave me a good feeling on so many levels.

Others have already suggested that there's at least a chance that the OP's experience may have had more than a little to do with the mindset he took with him to Ram and (as per the well-worn cliche), your mileage may vary................... luck of the draw etc. I wasn't there, don't know him - it's not for me to judge.

But - I found Seeker108's account (particularly when backed up by Ajarn's long-established experience) hugely encouraging and it does reinforce my view that so much depends on how we (expats) approach a Thai situation. There are initial expectations on both sides and too often the outcome is allowed to be steered from the outset by simplistic stereotyping that with a bit of effort can be overcome more easily and more often than many allow. Seeker108 made that effort and it paid off at every stage - the service he wanted, a lower price and a (plainly) very rewarding and valuable experience.

For me, the clear message is: it doesn't always have to be "you're Thai - you go this way" versus "you're farang - you go that way".