What's your favorite private/public hospital with reasonable price and good medical treatment level?

[jiangaq]

Ram hospital is good for everything, but the price is a little bit expensive than I expected. But I haven't been to other hospital, any good choice?

[kalbo123]

Rajavej opposite the Holyday inn hotel.

Cheaper and good service.

[jiangaq]

How about lanna hospital its near me?

[beau thai]

I think you may need to be more specific about what you want done to get a useful response. I find Rajavej very good but have only used them as an outpatient.

[Rama]

I go to Lanna Hospital. The owner is the same for both Ram and Lanna. It also depends on what you want done. For a 'everything' hospital I like Lanna. I've used Ram, Lanna, McCormick, and the one to the south of Chiang Mai gate before. If you are looking at surgical options, Most surgeons work several hospitals and will adjust their bill according to the hospital they are working in. you can get the same surgeon at a different hospital at different prices..........

[chiang mai]

Sriphat Hospital, it has some of the best specialists and the cost is less than RAM, plus they have all the ncessary technology..

[Gonzo the Face]

Lanna Hospital has been my choice for the last 10 - 12 years.... To me the comfort level I get going to that hosp. is worth just as much as the professional care. Good care, Good staff.

They have the Gonzo seal of approval.

[scorecard]

Rajavej opposite the Holyday inn hotel.

Cheaper and good service.

Do they have many doctors who speak good English?

Do the nursing / admin. etc., staff overall speak some English / good English?

[chiang mai]

Rajavej opposite the Holyday inn hotel.

Cheaper and good service.

Do they have many doctors who speak good English?

Do the nursing / admin. etc., staff overall speak some English / good English?

Many of them do - there's a very useful customer liasion function there that is staffed with English speaking nurses, mostly from the Phillipines and they are very good at acting as the patient/doctor interface and cutting through the administrative red tape.

EDIT: if you look at the pinned list of doctors and medical specialists in this forum, the doctors on that list from Rajavej all speak good levels of English.

Edited September 30, 2013 by chiang mai

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Lanna.

I mostly use the social health insurance department though, but they'll readily send you to the non-communist part to see a specialist if needed. And they have a very good pediatric section too.

[jiangaq]

Lanna Hospital has been my choice for the last 10 - 12 years.... To me the comfort level I get going to that hosp. is worth just as much as the professional care. Good care, Good staff.

They have the Gonzo seal of approval.

Can nurse and admin speak english well?

[Gonzo the Face]

Lanna Hospital has been my choice for the last 10 - 12 years.... To me the comfort level I get going to that hosp. is worth just as much as the professional care. Good care, Good staff.

They have the Gonzo seal of approval.

Can nurse and admin speak english well?

I've never had a moments problem with communication there.

I second the comments made by Winnie. I have had occasions in the social section and also been seconded over to the specialist section. Not a bit of a problem.... I actually get the feeling that they really do care about you, and not just the money.

[jaideeguy]

For routine health issues, my family and I use the Thepanya [Ram 2], which is more convenient, has some good Drs.......a great GP and one of the best ortho Drs in CM and I find their prices to be much less than Ram1. A few less frills, but a decent well maintained hospital.

[northernjohn]

Here was my experience 2 weeks ago

"I had posted earlier about having a hip replaced Dr Chanakarn Phornphutkulm did the surgery at the Rajavej hospital opposite the Holiday Inn. The total price was 185,000 baht"

Prior to the procedure I had asked him if he could do it at the Ram or Siraphat. He said Yes.

He estimated the cost at Rajavej to be around 200,000 baht. The Ram about 350,000 baht and Siraphot about half way between the two.

I was completely satisfied with the service I received at Rajavej. English was no problem. I was in a private room my choice and four days. I elected the fourth day myself. I found the food to be good. The room has a TV and refrigerator as well as a hot water kettle. It was plain so to speak it did have a big bench my wife slept on. Also a little balcony you could watch the river from.

I had previously visited a friend in the Ram he was in a private room. I have to admit it was much nicer than mine. About like a three and a half star hotel.

The cost of the room was 1,100 baht 200 baht for food and 400 baht for hospital services for a total of 1,700 baht a day. I think it was 1,100 baht for a four bed ward all in.

[Konini]

I'll put in another vote for Rajevej - once for elective surgery and earlier this year I spent a night in their ICU. Always someone around who speaks good enough (if not perfect) English and surprisingly inexpensive.

No complaints at all from me.

[wolf5370]

Only one I have any experience with (for my daughter as a short term in patient a few years back) is Klaimor (2 doors down from Tesco Lotus near Airport Plaza) - which I found very professional, clean and much better than I ever got in the UK (including very, very expensive private clinics I used there). We were covered by insurance, but all in all was just 4k and some change (we paid nothing of it, but got the receipt)

[elektrified]

Here was my experience 2 weeks ago

"I had posted earlier about having a hip replaced Dr Chanakarn Phornphutkulm did the surgery at the Rajavej hospital opposite the Holiday Inn. The total price was 185,000 baht"

Prior to the procedure I had asked him if he could do it at the Ram or Siraphat. He said Yes.

He estimated the cost at Rajavej to be around 200,000 baht. The Ram about 350,000 baht and Siraphot about half way between the two.

I was completely satisfied with the service I received at Rajavej. English was no problem. I was in a private room my choice and four days. I elected the fourth day myself. I found the food to be good. The room has a TV and refrigerator as well as a hot water kettle. It was plain so to speak it did have a big bench my wife slept on. Also a little balcony you could watch the river from.

I had previously visited a friend in the Ram he was in a private room. I have to admit it was much nicer than mine. About like a three and a half star hotel.

The cost of the room was 1,100 baht 200 baht for food and 400 baht for hospital services for a total of 1,700 baht a day. I think it was 1,100 baht for a four bed ward all in.

Cost per day certainly sounds reasonable. I really like their PT Dept. It is first-class. But 200 for food? I've never known anyone in Thailand to ever eat the food prepared at the hospitals. Usually, relatives bring food or the patients order food and have it delivered. The one time I spent some time in a Thai hospital I was able to get someone from the hospital to get me some food from 7-Eleven. My g/f spent about 10 days in the hospital a few years ago and she lived on food delivered by www.mealsonwheels4u.com . She would stock up once a day. The driver told her they often delivered to patients in C.M. hospitals.

I also don't understand the thing about Thais sleeping in hospitals or expecting foreigners to sleep in hospitals if they are hospitalized. That would never happen in the West. Who would want to sleep at a hospital if you are not a patient? I can understand if a small child is hospitalized.

As for favorite I would have to say Sriphat. McCormick is O.K. for some things but it takes some getting used to seeing the rats and cockroaches running around at night as the doors are always open and it's a rustic setting. Can't beat the prices; that's for sure. We have had good experiences with the pediatric department there. As for the E.R. late at night, I can't recommend it. Many of the doctors on the night shift are young and inexperienced.

Edited September 30, 2013 by elektrified

[Krupnik]

I'd like to add another vote for Rajavej. I recently broke my arm and went there due to recommendations. I had surgery and was there for a few days and was completely satisfied with everything. I heard other people complain about some aspects of RAM, and they were not encountered for me at Rajavej. I will always use Rajavej in the future.

Before I started using Rajavej I went to Lanna as an outpatient once, and I noticed they charge extortionate prices in their pharmacy.

[Dean1953]

I was taken to Mc Cormack after a motorcycle accident. They treated the cuts to my leg and the shoulder that took the brunt of the impact but missed the hole in the skin, just below the elbow. As they were just about to discharge me, I pointed out the hole. They'll cleaned it and kept me for a day to check for infection and to clean it out a few times. I have no real complaint with them, as they took care of the situation as soon as it was pointed out to them. My son was born at Klaimore about 6 years ago and was pleased with the care and bill, around 28,000 baht. By the way, When my father was in his mid eighties and had major surgery, he was in the hospital for 3 days and I slept there (a US hospital) for 3 nights, to make sure that his medical concerns were addressed.

[junglechef]

Saraphat

[DaamNaam]

Ram, Rajavej and 13th floor of Maharaj all good.

Bangkok-Chiang Mai hospital building here soon, if not already. Another competitor for the "ATM" type of hospitals we have grown to love and hate.

[northernjohn]

Here was my experience 2 weeks ago

"I had posted earlier about having a hip replaced Dr Chanakarn Phornphutkulm did the surgery at the Rajavej hospital opposite the Holiday Inn. The total price was 185,000 baht"

Prior to the procedure I had asked him if he could do it at the Ram or Siraphat. He said Yes.

He estimated the cost at Rajavej to be around 200,000 baht. The Ram about 350,000 baht and Siraphot about half way between the two.

I was completely satisfied with the service I received at Rajavej. English was no problem. I was in a private room my choice and four days. I elected the fourth day myself. I found the food to be good. The room has a TV and refrigerator as well as a hot water kettle. It was plain so to speak it did have a big bench my wife slept on. Also a little balcony you could watch the river from.

I had previously visited a friend in the Ram he was in a private room. I have to admit it was much nicer than mine. About like a three and a half star hotel.

The cost of the room was 1,100 baht 200 baht for food and 400 baht for hospital services for a total of 1,700 baht a day. I think it was 1,100 baht for a four bed ward all in.

Cost per day certainly sounds reasonable. I really like their PT Dept. It is first-class. But 200 for food? I've never known anyone in Thailand to ever eat the food prepared at the hospitals. Usually, relatives bring food or the patients order food and have it delivered. The one time I spent some time in a Thai hospital I was able to get someone from the hospital to get me some food from 7-Eleven. My g/f spent about 10 days in the hospital a few years ago and she lived on food delivered by www.mealsonwheels4u.com . She would stock up once a day. The driver told her they often delivered to patients in C.M. hospitals.

I also don't understand the thing about Thais sleeping in hospitals or expecting foreigners to sleep in hospitals if they are hospitalized. That would never happen in the West. Who would want to sleep at a hospital if you are not a patient? I can understand if a small child is hospitalized.

As for favorite I would have to say Sriphat. McCormick is O.K. for some things but it takes some getting used to seeing the rats and cockroaches running around at night as the doors are always open and it's a rustic setting. Can't beat the prices; that's for sure. We have had good experiences with the pediatric department there. As for the E.R. late at night, I can't recommend it. Many of the doctors on the night shift are young and inexperienced.

Actually I suppose I could have only paid 1,500 baht all in for the same room less the food. When I came to in the recovery room I sent the wife to get me a sub from subway. After that I just ate the hospital food with the exception of breakfast it was good and I noticed quite a few trays of food on the delivery cart so apparently there were others eating it also. The breakfast was shall we say adequate 2 toast 1 egg and marmalade.

Now as for the wife sleeping in the room with me. I call it a good curse.

It is a curse in that she can and does over do it. I have to say no at home every so often. I needed her there like I needed another hole in my head. If she left she had her son in law sitting there.

As for it being a good curse it is a really good feeling to know that some one cares that much for me. Then again I doubt I would have stayed there unless she was dying. But I am western raised and have not been able to get rid of all my western inhibitions. She is Thai raised with all the old values.

In Canada I had a girl friend who's father's girl friend had a bed moved into the room with him when he was dying of cancer.

Here in Thailand I think it is common. I had a friend who's wife stayed over night at the Ram when their daughter was sick and if you look on the list of costs they all have a charge for an extra bed in the room.

[NancyL]

I, too, was baffled about the need for someone to sleep in the room with a patient, until it was explained that the purpose of that person isn't to provide patient care, but to help orient the patient and go for help if problems develop. This is especially important with older people during the 1st 24 hrs after surgery. They can wake up, be disoriented, think they can get up to use the toilet, etc, suffer a fall and the staff may not be aware, especially if it's a private room. Also, many hospitals don't have their best English-speaking staff available at night and/or the patient may have trouble understanding Thai-accented English.

[scorecard]

My Thai family always have someone stay over regardless of the patient condition / illness.

About 12 months back I seriously sprained my back and stayed overnight at McCormick hospital. My Thai son was beside himself about who would stay over with me, he has two youngsters and both were ill at the time, plus his Thai wife also quite ill. He had to stay home with his family.

I tried to convince him to just go home, he wouldn't listen and called a close Thai friend (who I know well), the friend was at the hospital within minutes.

I tried to insist there was no need for somebody to stay there with me (no language problem). Waste of time, the friend insisted that it was just not possible for me to be there alone.

What a nice tradition.

There was a long quite comfortable sofa in the room. A nurse brought a clean extra blanket and good pillow and politely gave some simple instructions of who / where to contact is needed during the night. No extra charge.

Edited October 1, 2013 by scorecard

[elektrified]

My Thai family always have someone stay over regardless of the patient condition / illness.

About 12 months back I seriously sprained my back and stayed overnight at McCormick hospital. My Thai son was beside himself about who would stay over with me, he has two youngsters and both were ill at the time, plus his Thai wife also quite ill. He had to stay home with his family.

I tried to convince him to just go home, he wouldn't listen and called a close Thai friend (who I know well), the friend was at the hospital within minutes.

I tried to insist there was no need for somebody to stay there with me (no language problem). Waste of time, the friend insisted that it was just not possible for me to be there alone.

What a nice tradition.

There was a long quite comfortable sofa in the room. A nurse brought a clean extra blanket and good pillow and politely gave some simple instructions of who / where to contact is needed during the night. No extra charge.

I understand what you are saying. I have long given up on the argument that it is not necessary. In fact, every time their is a major argument in my house I am reminded of the time 5 years ago that I refused to stay overnight at the hospital when the g/f was sick. To me and my Western thinking it was ridiculous to stay at the hospital; especially Sriphat where there is a large nursing staff even at night. I am reminded about this "cold and heartless act that will never be forgotten."

[Frank James]

I love McCormick Hospital, except for their eye clinic.

Great staff, near-universal English proficiency, low cost.

[jko]

I would be interested to know if anybody has made price comparisons for medication between Ram, Rajawej, Lanna, & Sriphat.

I once found Ram be more than double the 'local' price, and asked to return the unopened prescription for a refund. They rather red-facedly agreed.

I therefore always decline medication from Ram as their charges are clearly way beyond what is reasonable and ethical. I therefore ask the doctor for the name of the drug, and buy from my local pharmacy - no physician at Ram has ever objected to this, and I usually just get a knowing nod.

It might also be interesting to compare those 'add-on' (i.e. rip-off) charges for 'Administration' or 'Nursing Charges' which many hospitals add to the final account.

This should not be allowed.

If you bought something from a department store, and they tried to charge you for the service, or the paperwork, you would laugh your head off.

[circusman]

I would be interested to know if anybody has made price comparisons for medication between Ram, Rajawej, Lanna, & Sriphat.

I once found Ram be more than double the 'local' price, and asked to return the unopened prescription for a refund. They rather red-facedly agreed.

I therefore always decline medication from Ram as their charges are clearly way beyond what is reasonable and ethical. I therefore ask the doctor for the name of the drug, and buy from my local pharmacy - no physician at Ram has ever objected to this, and I usually just get a knowing nod.

It might also be interesting to compare those 'add-on' (i.e. rip-off) charges for 'Administration' or 'Nursing Charges' which many hospitals add to the final account.

This should not be allowed.

If you bought something from a department store, and they tried to charge you for the service, or the paperwork, you would laugh your head off.

You would not be able to return a prescription in advanced countries once you have paid for it and left the counter. Tampering is the reason.

[circusman]

Only one I have any experience with (for my daughter as a short term in patient a few years back) is Klaimor (2 doors down from Tesco Lotus near Airport Plaza) - which I found very professional, clean and much better than I ever got in the UK (including very, very expensive private clinics I used there). We were covered by insurance, but all in all was just 4k and some change (we paid nothing of it, but got the receipt)

This is a rat maze of rooms and departments. Very old and not clean looking. My time there for an infection a doctor gave me penicillin which he never bothered to ask if I was allergic to. If I had know it was an antibiotic I would have asked if it was penicillin. Careless doctoring.

[hellodolly]

Only one I have any experience with (for my daughter as a short term in patient a few years back) is Klaimor (2 doors down from Tesco Lotus near Airport Plaza) - which I found very professional, clean and much better than I ever got in the UK (including very, very expensive private clinics I used there). We were covered by insurance, but all in all was just 4k and some change (we paid nothing of it, but got the receipt)

This is a rat maze of rooms and departments. Very old and not clean looking. My time there for an infection a doctor gave me penicillin which he never bothered to ask if I was allergic to. If I had know it was an antibiotic I would have asked if it was penicillin. Careless doctoring.

Doesn't say much for the UK hospitals does it?