Dermatologists Familiar With Farang Skin Cinditions Esp. Melanoma?

[hermespan]

Previous posters have suggested two MDs - one at St. Louis, one at Samitivej I think it was. Certainly there are private clinics and public hospitals that have competant dermatologists? I have a card for Siriraj in Bangkok Noi. Besides the pleasant ferry ride and great corpse museum, as it is a teaching hospital according to a Canadian suthor this is the way to go -- more oversight, more enthusiastic students, and much cheaper than BUM etc.

Don't get me wrong, I have been going to private hospitals suchbas BKK and MISSION etc for years, but am questioning whether it isn't overkill and poor value for run of the mill matters. It has been said that the very same doctors work at both places. My only major concern is thst maybe at public hospitals, the doctor will be rushed. But, frankly I get rushed at Bumrungrad by many MDs there. It seems to be a high standard assrmbly line.

One advantagevof a hospital used to seeing foreigners is our skin is fair, but there are fair-skinned Thais too. Don't they get skin cancer as well?

[hermespan]

SIRIRAJ HOSPITAL, Bangkok Noi, ferry pier. #10 with green flagged line. Walk down E-W street to last building, turn right, left after a few builfings when you see a concrete footpath going up. The door on right leads to a busy OPD (out patient department) full of people on gurneys and in wheelchairs. I actually made appointment on fourth floor first. It has taken me several visits to start to get to know this campus hospital. For example, I pressed floor 4 in elevator, got out, saw a sign reading '4' with an arrow pointing up, went up the stairs only to find out that was the fifth floor (opthalmology). Perhaps the sign read 'This is the 4th floor, for the eye clinic go up one'

Skin clinic today (Thursday) is open 15:00 ->18:00. I know because I called, on the phone and in my very poor Thai found out. Be forewarned if you are used to hospitals in Cambodia (good luck!), Malaysia (at least all Chinese and most Indians) or Philippines and Singapore -- not speaking the local language will be a significant handicap. A common question when in Thai hospitals other than the most expensive private ones is not 'how much time will you need for appointment sir -- we can book you a double appointment, but it will cost twice as much', but rather 'Khun phoot phasat thai dai mai kha?'.

Contrary to my experience last visit when in order to see a physician about another problem, and it was wait in line and get seen on the same day, today I was told to make an appointment - four days hence with a specialist in melanoma who comes then, a Dr. Rangsima. I got the impression the patient screening person with a white hat (nurse?) was making sure I got to see the most suitable MD.

I was surprised this nurse (?) made a preliminary diagnosis, suggesting that it was probably XYZ. I am not saying this is good or bad -- just how different it was than Canada where she would risk losing her job for practicing medicine without a license.

By the way, this setting up the appointment was with my already having registered two years before and being in their system. Today I arrived at 18:30, half way through the derm evening shift.

Keep you posted about prices, speed, communication, treatments, etc. I am concerned as during a bicycling in short sleeves for 3 days in Indonesia, when my freckled skin got brutally sunburned, my growing brown spots from three years sgo increased in real estate and started somenew junior developments. Funny, you'd think the sun would be a healer not a catalyst for skin diseases - I mean the romantic in me would like to think so.

The more important question of course is could I have saved several hours travelling, ferry and BTS fares and crowds, and done this whole appointment making by just picking up the phone? I doubt it. If it is like doing anything else by phone in Thailand for a farang monophone I would spend twenty minutes spelling my name. Actually, I jest -- presumably I could have used my hospital card number as I can at least make an aproximation of numbers in Thai.

Don't believe everything you read at Siriraj. In the elevator I saw a poster of four smiling professional-looking uniformed staff members waiting to take enquiries by phone. Website, email and telephone contacts. Wow, talk about organization! I immediately called in order to find the answer to my question about about appointment making. Hotline us 9228.... Not working. Then a staff member advised me I must dial 02 first from my mobile phone.

Silly me. O2-9228.

"Sorry, the number you've dialed does not exist"

An optical illusion or they ran out of money?

What say you?

Edited March 21, 2013 by hermespan

[Sheryl]

Your second post already answers the question raised in the first.

Yes, govt hospitals are less expensive, and the best docs in the private hospitals work at govt hospitals, but the waiting time and red tape are fairly formidable and frankly I don't think it is worth it for just a consultation. The cost in time and travel (with as you have discovered often 2 visits needed, one to make the appointment and one for the appointment) usually make it just as costly as having seen the doc at a private hosp which can be arranged easily by phone or email.

It is also usually the case that there is less time for discussion when seeing docs in a govt hospital and the general atmosphere is rushed and does not encourage asking questions. And, you will often be mainly seen and treated by a resident (doctor in specialty training) under the supervision of a seniopr specialist rather than being directly treated by the senior specialist as is possible privately. Possibly you will fare a little better in both of these respects since your consultation concerns an unusual (for Thailand) problem.

I have at times brought Thai neighbors receiving care in specialty clinics at government hospitals to private hospitals to consult the same doctor who heads the clinic they attend at the public hospital -- simply in order for them to have the chance to get actual explanations and ask questions.

Personally I recommend seeing a specialist privately when all that is needed is a consultation...especially iof time for you is money, as it is for many of us. . But if costly treatment or surgery are indicated and you don't have insurance then indeed the extra time required to get services at a public hospital may be well worth it.

[hermespan]

Dermo at Siriraj was THB50 - a bargain. But she was able to determine 'problem' "Scebboraic ketosis" (something like that) 'Aging/wisdom spots... Not to worry.'

Maybe she listed her consuktation so cheap because it took her one minute. I am *not* complaining. Even Bumrungrad is too high traffic compared to ten years ago. So except for something exotic for me a public hospital will do fine.

[GarryP]

Many years ago I went to the Institute of Dermatology near Victory monument. It is nothing to look at but they got me sorted out for next to nothing. I assume that the pricing will be the same as other government hospitals as it falls under the Ministry of Public Health. Check out their website.

[lopburi3]

Dermo at Siriraj was THB50 - a bargain. But she was able to determine 'problem' "Scebboraic ketosis" (something like that) 'Aging/wisdom spots... Not to worry.'

Maybe she listed her consuktation so cheap because it took her one minute. I am *not* complaining. Even Bumrungrad is too high traffic compared to ten years ago. So except for something exotic for me a public hospital will do fine.

If you have any family history I would have pathology done. Over the years I have had both BCC and SCC that doctors would have ignored without my point out previous history. Very hard to tell what some of these things are and most doctors here have very little experience with western skin and conditions.

[Sheryl]

Agree. For westerners with a questionable skin lesion it is important to see a dermatologist who has trained or worked in the west. Unlike other health problems which do not differ much between Thais and westerners, the incidence and types of skin cancer very much do.

[CM4Me]

Sheryl, can you recommend a Dr based on your criterion? Tks

[Sheryl]

In Pattaya area, Dr. Anna at BPH.

In Bkk: Dr. Niyum at Bumrungrad or Dr. Parichart at St Louis.