NIEM confirms critical patients

[Lite Beer]

NIEM confirms critical patients
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- PEOPLE WITH ANY of six critical symptoms can now seek free medical treatment at the nearest hospital, National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM) chief Anucha Setthasathien confirmed.

The confirmation came in relation to the new policy issued by NIEM and the Public Health Ministry, which aims to prevent unnecessary disability and death of patients. The six conditions that can be immediately treated are:

- No heartbeat, no breathing or patient being unresponsive;

- Acute anomaly in patient's awareness of time, place and the near and dear;

- Respiratory problems, including breathing abnormally fast, hard or making strange noises; being unable to speak; choking and turning blue;

- Displaying at least two symptoms of problematic blood circulation - becoming cold and pale, excessive sweating or fainting;

- Tears in an organ causing excessive bleeding with a risk of disability;

- Other life-threatening symptoms such as severe chest pain, acute limping and seizures;

Anucha said there had been several problems in implementing the policy, such as people being afraid to seek treatment at private hospitals out of fear of high costs, while several hospitals were unclear about the definition of a "critical emergency patient" and hence refused treatment. NIEM and the Public Health Ministry recently discussed ways of ensuring each person's right to access emergency services and came up with the following guidelines:

- Clear definition of the term "critical emergency patient";

- A medical team would be stationed at the NIEM to help clarify symptoms in case a conflict arises;

- A working team will be set up to coordinate with and advise private hospitals about the policy and solve any conflicts or problems.

Anucha said when people seek medical attention they will be examined to see if their symptoms fit the definition of "critical". This way, lives can be saved without people having to worry about medical bills. If there are doubts about a patient's condition, cases can be forwarded to the medical team stationed at the NIEM, he said, adding that this procedure would be fast.

Patients not deemed to be "critical" can still call the 1669 hotline for advice and they will be referred to appropriate treatment as per their healthcare packages, he added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/NIEM-confirms-critical-patients-30257447.html

-- The Nation 2015-04-05

[bkkjames]

Splitting hairs I know but the group in list 1...how do they propose they accomplish this?

[bangkokfrog]

Really ???

If you have no heartbeat and aren't breathing, you can now seek free medical treatment at the nearest hospital.

Zombies will be celebrating.

[Commerce]

Nice to see the nurse giving it the one finger while getting ready to treat an emergency.

[ezzra]

Note to self, should you find yourself with ' No heartbeat, no breathing or patient being unresponsive '

I can seek free medical care... how very reassuring....

Edited April 5, 2015 by ezzra

[Strangebrew]

So let me get this right if no heartbeat and not breathing Isn't that condition mean your dead? So in other words if your dead you get treated. Why not do it this way and make it a law all patients who need emergency treatment get treated instead of wasting time having a knucklehead figure out if your worthy of treatment. Then after treated get to the insurance part. Just add an extra 100 baht per patient to help hospitals cover the uninsured treatment costs. At least in the US all are treated first then checked for insurance. Yes not perfect but humane. As a Doctor I will do no harm. As a hospital I will overcharge for everything and check to see if insured before treating.

[NongKhaiKid]

Item 1

Lots of other items are also present in ' acute ' drunkenness or so i'm told.

[Commerce]

Acute anomaly in patient's awareness of time, place and the near and dear

Seems most of Thailand will be entitled to free treatment.

[NongKhaiKid]

Nice to see the nurse giving it the one finger while getting ready to treat an emergency.

Is it a medical sign that she's a stargazer and about to examine Uranus ?

[Thaddeus]

- Acute anomaly in patient's awareness of time, place and the near and dear;

Free hospital sleep-overs for drunks.

This is just ridiculous, what it basically says is that if you are dead or on the verge of it, there will be no charge.

The thought of money should not even enter the mind of any health worker for aiding a fellow human in a critical state.

Wait a sec, the announcement came from NIEM and the Public Health Ministry, not real health workers then.

[MaxLee]

Irrepairable brain damage from propaganda is missing on the list.

[pookiki]

I have had acute 'limping' for quite some time. The doctor attributed it to age. Can't take any 'anti-limping' medication because of hypertension meds.

As for those in group 1, this is to address the recent problems in finding bureaucrats who had died on the job but refused to fall over. The press has been muzzled in reporting the true extent to which this is a serious issue. Just don't want to give a 4% raise to anyone who doesn't deserve it!

Edited April 5, 2015 by pookiki

[nzexpat]

Why the cynicism ?

This National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM) document/statement was issued in Thai.

The poor translation/presentation of the document/statement rests with "The Nation"

All the emergencies described would be recognised as potentially life threatening in the West.

[connda]

Is the word "people" farang inclusive in this article? My instincts says not. "No breathe, no heart sound: 100,000 baht and doctor see you quick quick." More like it imho. "Only 500 baht buy box. We send box to wat. Monk burn tomorrow quick quick."