Is this hospital actually a four letter word?

[bangmai]

I'm about ready to order with Zenni. My two pairs of glasses are four years old. I decided to do it right and get an eye exam by an Ophthalmologist. I went Saturday and they said 5-600, can do tomorrow. I agreed and was given a slip with my information, and a 14:00-16:00 time slot. I arrived at the EENT desk at 14:45 and showed them my slip. I was told to take a seat. It didn't seem busy, at all. They weighed me and took BP, and printed an outpatient ID tag. At 3:45, I told them I was taking my business elsewhere, and left. I realize doctors have emergencies, but they did not keep me informed. I don't even think the doctor was there for the beginning of the time slot. Call it foreigner sense of entitlement, if you want, but I say premium price, at a private hospital, with an appointment, for something that takes less than 15 minutes.....and government hospital service. For me, they have shown much greater efficiency at Mccormick. There was a recent good review of the same service, but there have also been a couple of bad ones regarding the prescription. I thought, with my current glasses, I can probably see as well as 90%+ of the local population (if their driving is any indication of their vision), so maybe If it ain't broken.......

Oh, and the mandatory nurse report. Quite a few very good lookers. Saw one, who was a bona fide "9," and countless 7s, but there were actualy similar numbers at HomePro in Hang Dong, yesterday. One efficient EENT clinic would have been fine.

[chiang mai]

You left 15 minutes before the stated appointment window (14:00 to 16:00), silly thing to do after waiting so long but hey, up to you.

[bangmai]

So next time, I should get there at 15:55, and expect to be seen in five minutes?

[chiang mai]

I wouldn't, but I might show up on time at 14:00 and if I hadn't been seen by 16:00 I would have a genuine reason to complain, leaving 15 minutes prior to the "window" seems a bit daft.

[MJCM]

Oke let me think of this

You were given a 14:00-16:00 time slot, but you arrived at the EENT desk at 14:45 and left at 3:45.

So you arrived late and left early. Maybe the Doc was already waiting but you weren't there ?

If it was me, I would have arrived at around 13:55 and if not been seen at 14:45, I would have asked the "Nr 9" Nurse

[Chicog]

Oke let me think of this

You were given a 14:00-16:00 time slot, but you arrived at the EENT desk at 14:45 and left at 3:45.

So you arrived late and left early. Maybe the Doc was already waiting but you weren't there ?

If it was me, I would have arrived at around 13:55 and if not been seen at 14:45, I would have asked the "Nr 9" Nurse

Far too sensible.

The OP should pack his bags and go home, he clearly can't acclimatise (or tell the time).

[northernjohn]

Back in Canada it was the same way. You arrived on time or preferably early and had to wait your turn. Doctors can not practice medicine properly on a time schedule.

How ever arriving 45 minutes late and expecting service before the latest time you were given just goes to show you they don't know who you are.

[dutchisaan]

Oke let me think of this

You were given a 14:00-16:00 time slot, but you arrived at the EENT desk at 14:45 and left at 3:45.

So you arrived late and left early. Maybe the Doc was already waiting but you weren't there ?

If it was me, I would have arrived at around 13:55 and if not been seen at 14:45, I would have asked the "Nr 9" Nurse

Far too sensible.

The OP should pack his bags and go home, he clearly can't acclimatise (or tell the time).

You have to help the op, his eyeside is not that good now.

[LivinLOS]

I am going to guess the OP is talking about RAM ?? And if so to be honest I find the outpatient treatment at RAM pretty poor in this regard.. I have had some injuries, wife has to have ongoing checkups, basically we have more than our fair share of visits.

They never stagger appointments.. Everyone is given the 9 - 12 timeslot (for example) instead of running a system of batches.. So it pays to be either early or late, being on time at 9 often means a multi hour wait..

Also as per the OP.. I have noticed with a time slot, say 1 - 4.. Very often the doctor doesnt show at 1.. So theres x amount of people, sitting twiddling thumbs and staring at phones, and no one is being seen at all for a long period.

Considering RAM is probably the premier private hospital in town, I think thats pretty shoddy.. I compare it to even the second tier private hospitals I used to visit on Phuket where you basically walked in, and saw a Doc within 5 - 15 mins 90% of the time. I have had 2 or 3 hour waits for a fixed scheduled appointment, thats not top tier private is it ??

I have been very impressed with the quality of inpatient care, and surgery results, skills of surgeons, etc etc.. I always go to Ram without shopping around, I have to have another op soon and they will get the work.. But on this one aspect, outpatient scheduling and waiting times.. I agree they are pretty poor.

[LivinLOS]

Back in Canada it was the same way. You arrived on time or preferably early and had to wait your turn. Doctors can not practice medicine properly on a time schedule.

Yet its perfectly reasonable to allocate batches.. give people times set 10 minutes apart..

Which is how every other high end private hospital in Thailand I have used does it.

[Chicog]

Back in Canada it was the same way. You arrived on time or preferably early and had to wait your turn. Doctors can not practice medicine properly on a time schedule.

Yet its perfectly reasonable to allocate batches.. give people times set 10 minutes apart..

Which is how every other high end private hospital in Thailand I have used does it.

That would be good if every patient took exactly 10 minutes.

Unfortunately the older folk usually need an outlet so that they can have a lengthy moan about their ailments.

Not all of them know how to use Thaivisa.

[bangmai]

I was never instructed to be there at 14:00. I was given a window. I chose to get there at 14:45, to let the crowd simmer. If some of you all would expect up to a 2 hour wait for a simple eye exam; you're dumber than I previously thought. And as LOS stated, I don't think the Doctor was even in the building at 14:00. It's not Immigration; it's suppose to be the top private hospital in Northern Thailand....and it is priced accordingly.

[chiang mai]

If say ten people are given the same 2 hour appointment window, it follows that the first person there closest to the time the window opens, will be seen first. It also follows that the last person there, you from the sounds of it, would be seen last. It's not an unfair system really, showing up at 2:45 however and hoping that only three people not ten, were given the same appointment window, doesn't seem like a great strategy.

[Chicog]

I was never instructed to be there at 14:00. I was given a window. I chose to get there at 14:45, to let the crowd simmer. If some of you all would expect up to a 2 hour wait for a simple eye exam; you're dumber than I previously thought. And as LOS stated, I don't think the Doctor was even in the building at 14:00. It's not Immigration; it's suppose to be the top private hospital in Northern Thailand....and it is priced accordingly.

Well as I see it, you have three choices.

- Learn from the experience.

- Throw your toys out of the pram and never darken their door again.

- Repeat the exercise and come back and moan about it again.

[MaeJoMTB]

Vision Express in Rataviti road (between UN Irish and Siam Bank, Opposite side to Loco and Fat Elvis)

They have the most modern equipment and you can usually just walk in for an eye test.

I bought my glasses from Zenni after having a test there.

No need to use a hospital.

PS. that hospital is renowned for wrong eye prescriptions.

PPS. dental care isn't good there either, they 'accidentally' drilled through the side of my tooth.

(great for minor plastic surgery and STD tests though)

I used to use them before I knew any better.

Edited December 20, 2015 by MaeJoMTB

[NancyL]

This is one reason I'm now using Bangkok Hospital for most of my outpatient needs.

The dental dept at CM Ram still schedules "real" appointments and not these stupid queue-card clinics like they do in other practices. But, that's probably because it's difficult to take care of most dental needs with a simple 10 minutes consultation.

[Chicog]

Vision Express in Rataviti road (between UN Irish and Siam Bank, Opposite side to Loco and Fat Elvis)

They have the most modern equipment and you can usually just walk in for an eye test.

I bought my glasses from Zenni after having a test there.

No need to use a hospital.

PS. that hospital is renowned for wrong eye prescriptions.

Look like the darken door option just won

[northernjohn]

Back in Canada it was the same way. You arrived on time or preferably early and had to wait your turn. Doctors can not practice medicine properly on a time schedule.

Yet its perfectly reasonable to allocate batches.. give people times set 10 minutes apart..

Which is how every other high end private hospital in Thailand I have used does it.

10 minute visits doesn't get it. That is the same time scale my doctor used back in Canada. Never made it work. Always had to wait past my appointment time. The only ones who didn't were the first couple in the morning. There is more to seeing a patient than hello goodbye the doctors should be keeping records. I don't expect any better here in Thailand.

I see only one doctor and she has all my records. She has sent me to see other specialists and gets a report back from them. I would never dream of seeing a doctor who could only allow me 10 minutes. There has been times when that was ample and times when it was not. I am just talking about the time with the doctor. She has to write a report after each visit.

[pgrahmm]

Let's → you're given a 2 hour window at which to be seen....

You "check in" 45 minutes late - putting you further behind in the queue....You then have 1 hour and 15 minutes left for everything to fall in place and you leave 15 minutes before the allotted time is up ? → After placing yourself in a deficit queue/situation?

Is it possible if you'd been there on time you might have been seen and gone quickly? Maybe they chaulked you up as a no show.....

If you had been there the entire 2 hours - then seen possibly 15 minutes late you might have had a minor gripe....But to show up late & then stick around for 1/2 the time of your time slot → then whine and cite a 4 letter word?????

No speculating on whether they did their part or best - but you sure didn't do yours.....

In my opinion.....

What do I know → I'm one of those 15 minute early guys.....But never seem to encounter this type of problem....

Guessing you're short sighted.....

Or - maybe just a bad day....

Edited December 20, 2015 by pgrahmm

[bangmai]

I should add that there is no numbering system for the que. So you have no idea where you are in line, and there are a few other doctors serving the EENT area, at the same time. The seven ladies behind the counter didn't feel it was necessary to inform me of my wait. Chicog, I am taking the never darken their door again option. It's a matter of competence and trust. I think somewhere along the line, their reputation allowed them to cut corners and get away with it.....it was great for their shareholders.....not on my dime, though.

[chiang mai]

There's no need to slag off the doctors at RAM just because the hospital appointment system isn't perfect, Dr Rachada is an outstanding ophthalmologist and the head of dental, Dr Varaporn has trained huge numbers of younger dentists operating in the Province currently. Equally, many of the specialists working at RAM are some of the best in the North, Dr Patarapong in Cardio is one that springs to mind.

Edited December 20, 2015 by chiang mai

[bangmai]

The dental work I had there was very good, but...they made it clear that they were doing me a big favor since it near closing time, since it took 30 minutes for the Filipino lady to sort things with the insurance company, who they charged double what my regular dentist charges and were paid electronically, before I left.

[lopburi3]

Actually it is quite normal to wait in a private hospital setting - regardless of the price. In most cases doctors follow a first come first served system regardless of the specific time on appointment slip - yes a good reception will give you an indication of your queue position and expected wait - and they will provide that if you ask. But to expect immediate service in Thailand is a bit much - clock watching is not the national pastime - even there TV programs do not run to any real schedule.

[Singerman]

Clearly the OP needs to book a (hopefully) expensive fight back to his own country when he next wants an "eye exam"(sic)

Once in the home country he can book an appointment at a very specific time with a very expensive Private Specialist.

If that Specialist keeps him waiting then maybe there will be something to complain about.

[chiang mai]

I should add that there is no numbering system for the que. So you have no idea where you are in line, and there are a few other doctors serving the EENT area, at the same time. The seven ladies behind the counter didn't feel it was necessary to inform me of my wait. Chicog, I am taking the never darken their door again option. It's a matter of competence and trust. I think somewhere along the line, their reputation allowed them to cut corners and get away with it.....it was great for their shareholders.....not on my dime, though.

From what you've written I'm starting to get the feeling that you expect standards of service that you design rather than what's on offer and I'm comparing now the system at RAM with that at Sriphat.

At Sriphat there are no two hour blocks, everyone who rocks up at the door gets a number based on what time you showed up, if you showed up later than most you could easily find yourself waiting four hours or more.

OK so that's a poor system I hear you say and it's not RAM which is supposed to be the best private hospital in Chiang Mai. Well it's the system they use and Sriphat is arguably the best hospital because of its teaching connections with CMU and the costs there are on par with RAM.

So based on all of that it looks like the RAM system is actually much better than that at RAM yet it's still not good enough because it doesn't give instant personalized appointments or status updates by staff every now and again, not like the Bumrungrad experience or indeed, not like it is back home! What more can be said.

[bangmai]

Isn't that why they have outpatient clinics at hospitals, like the one I was at, not to be confused with the ER waiting room, which can take 8 hours+ for non-life threatening injuries.

[Loaded]

I had a 1pm appointment at the CM Ram dermatology dept. today. I arrived early at 12:40, waited 15 minutes, saw the doc for 15 mins, waited 10 mins to pay the bill and still manged to get to Rimping Meechok to buy a few beers before the 2pm curfew. Also bought a couple of bagels and considered buying some cream cheese. But from there the rest of my day went pear shaped.

[Mapguy]

OP, the only things I can give you credit for are (1) a stab at "cute" headline writing and (2) if you're talking about CM Ram, then having selected one of the best ophthalmologists in town. Next time, indeed, "take your business elsewhere." You won't be missed.

More generally, where I came from getting an appointment with the best opthalmologist in town took weeks!

Next time, take a book, or a magazine!

[bangmai]

It wasn't Dr. Rachada.....

[sappersrest]

Try Lanna Hospital. First class service all round.