Where to go to see a Dr at Suan Dok Hospital & not get into the Sripat system.

[zeekgarcia]

If I want to see a Dr at Suan Dok Hospital, where do I go to get in line or registered into their system and not into the Sripat system as I have read that Sripat is more expensive then Suan Dok.

 

I know when you walk into the drive leading to the ER that Sripat building is on your right and I think the Suan Dok building is in front of you on the left (the white U shaped building) .

 

But where do I go to get into the Suan Dok system instead of the Sripat system? 

 

Thanks for your help!

[elektrified]

Can't answer but would recommend Sriphat instead. Many, many Thais - my relatives included, go to Sriphat. At Suan Dok, you could wait many hours - to end up seeing someone who graduated medical school a year before.

 

Why even consider it?

[Thailand]

7 hours ago, elektrified said:

Can't answer but would recommend Sriphat instead. Many, many Thais - my relatives included, go to Sriphat. At Suan Dok, you could wait many hours - to end up seeing someone who graduated medical school a year before.

 

Why even consider it?

Money for one.

[junglechef]

 

7 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Money for one.

 

Especially if one has Thai family members under the 30 bht scheme 

[Dante99]

".,..Sripat Building is on the right". There is a building next to it on the left (north side), behind the ER, walk between ER and Sripat Bldg to enter.  The north side of the first floor that building is the Suan Dok Hospital pharmacy. On the south side there is a small booth where they can register you and where you check in after you have been registered.

 

There are some great doctors that work at Suan Dok and not all of them also work at Sripat or any private hospital.

 

By seeing a doctor at Suan Doc you can get meds at the pharmacy which offers some things not available elsewhere and in my experience favorable prices. Refillable perscriptions available from the Doc.

 

 So there's are a couple of reasons to go there plus the mentioned 30 baht service for Thais.

[NancyL]

It can be very difficult to navigate the Suan Dok system unless you read and speak Thai or bring a switched-on assertive Thai person with you.  There are few English-language signs and the initial staff people you interact with speak limited or no English.  Also, the doctors you see, at least initially, are usually resident doctors and some of them have limited English language skills, also.  If you need to be admitted for a procedure that is considered non-urgent, like a hip or knee replacement due to gradual wear-and-tear, you'll be quoted a wait time of months and encouraged to go to Sripat for immediate service, where the price will be about 40% higher.  

 

However, if you have time and patience and are able to assume responsibility to educate yourself about your health care so you know what questions to ask, then Suan Dok can be a good place for low cost, high quality health care and an interesting window into Thai society.  Once you've had a few outpatient appointments you learn "the system" and can navigate the place.  

 

OP,  what specialty do you need?  Like much of medicine here, they operate in functional silos, so you have to know which function you want to access and make your appointment with that specialty.  They're not all in the same building on the campus.   I've assisted people in out-patient appointments at many, so I could probably direct you on where to start.

 

 

[junglechef]

5 minutes ago, NancyL said:

educate yourself about your health care so you know what questions to ask

 

Highly recommended advice for any medical needs here, actually for most any needs 

[elektrified]

1 hour ago, junglechef said:

 

 

Especially if one has Thai family members under the 30 bht scheme 

That is only if you live in Amphur Muang and Suan Dok is your assigned facility - or you get  a transfer authorization from another hospital or clinic. Otherwise the bill could be....well sky's the limit (inpatient of course).

[junglechef]

8 minutes ago, elektrified said:

That is only if you live in Amphur Muang and Suan Dok is your assigned facility - or you get  a transfer authorization from another hospital or clinic. Otherwise the bill could be....well sky's the limit (inpatient of course).

Of course one has to follow the proper procedures, that really should go without saying.

I also don't recommend just walking right into a doctors office off the street without checking in with the front desk first. 

[NancyL]

Nakorn Ping Hospital is the 30 baht hospital for Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai, not Suan Dok.  If a Thai person who lives in Amphur Muang CM wants to be seen by a doctor at Suan Dok under the 30 baht scheme, they first must get a referral from a doctor at NKP.  The hoards of Thai people you see at SD have either been referred or are paying out of their own pocket.  Or have another insurance scheme besides the 30 baht program.

[NancyL]

This brings to mind another couple options for low cost, fairly good quality Thai gov't health care.  Nakorn Ping Hospital is just beyond Lanna Golf Course on the road to MaeJo and has fairly good quality care.   CMU's, Geriatric Medicine Hospital near Hang Dong accepts patients as young as age 40 and has both inpatient and outpatient facilities.  There have been good reports from expats who have used their services and it seems to be easier to navigate for a newbie than Suan Dok or NPK.

[junglechef]

2 minutes ago, NancyL said:

Nakorn Ping Hospital is the 30 baht hospital for Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai, not Suan Dok.  If a Thai person who lives in Amphur Muang CM wants to be seen by a doctor at Suan Dok under the 30 baht scheme, they first must get a referral from a doctor at NKP.  The hoards of Thai people you see at SD have either been referred or are paying out of their own pocket.  Or have another insurance scheme besides the 30 baht program.

Also, from personal experience, living in a neighboring Amphur, we have been referred to NKP from our local hospital, which in turn has referred us to go to a specialty clinic for test to be brought to Suan Dok with another referral from NKP. 

[simoh1490]

You cannot just walk in to Suan Doc and get a consultation, members of the 30 baht scheme must be referred there.

 

To Add: you could always identify the specialist you and to consult with and find their private clinic, they will almost certainly have one. Alternatively, find out which private hospital they also work at, pay for one private consultation there and get the referral to Suan Dok that way.

Edited May 7, 2017 by simoh1490

[Dante99]

11 minutes ago, simoh1490 said:

You cannot just walk in to Suan Doc and get a consultation, members of the 30 baht scheme must be referred there.

I have just walked in to Suan Doc and got a consultation, no problem.

 

Also a Thai friend got emergency treatment there and stayed there 10 days without a referal from anyplace else.

 

1 hour ago, NancyL said:

It can be very difficult to navigate the Suan Dok system unless you read and speak Thai.....

The staff there are helpful and will find an English speaker to help you if needed, at least in my experience.  Sometimes you get a response "no English" but try a few times and you find English, good enough to navigate with.  

 

But of course many farangs feel very uncomfortable there because they are out of their zone.

 

[simoh1490]

2 minutes ago, Dante99 said:

I have just walked in to Suan Doc and got a consultation, no problem.

 

Also a Thai friend got emergency treatment there and stayed there 10 days without a referal from anyplace else.

 

The staff there are helpful and will find an English speaker to help you if needed, at least in my experience.  Sometimes you get a response "no English" but try a few times and you find English, good enough to navigate with.  

 

But of course many farangs feel very uncomfortable there because they are out of their zone.

 

"members of the 30 baht scheme must be referred there".

 

"I have just walked in to Suan Doc and got a consultation, no problem".

 

I believe you are not Thai nor a member of the 30 Baht scheme.

[NancyL]

Yes, foreigners can just walk into Suan Dok and seek treatment.  No need for a referrals. 

 

Also Thai people will probably receive emergency treatment there without a referral, depending on the nature of the emergency and the location of their "home" hospital.  Within the 30 baht program there is a list of "life threatening" emergencies and members of the program can go to Suan Dok without a referral if suffering one of these conditions.

[Dante99]

8 minutes ago, simoh1490 said:

 

I believe you are not Thai nor a member of the 30 Baht scheme.

Enjoy your assumptions until they kick you in the ass.

[simoh1490]

2 minutes ago, NancyL said:

Yes, foreigners can just walk into Suan Dok and seek treatment.  No need for a referrals. 

 

Also Thai people will probably receive emergency treatment there without a referral, depending on the nature of the emergency and the location of their "home" hospital.  Within the 30 baht program there is a list of "life threatening" emergencies and members of the program can go to Suan Dok without a referral if suffering one of these conditions.

I wonder if in practise there is much difference between the cost to a foreigner of using the Suan Dok or Sriphat systems as a point of entry. Of course treatment and consultation costs of mild events would likely be cheaper via Suan Dok but major events would almost certainly involve the same medical staff in both cases, albeit room charges would be significantly less in the case of Suan Dok.

[simoh1490]

4 minutes ago, Dante99 said:

Enjoy your assumptions until they kick you in the ass.

I haven't assumed anything, I've seen your posts for years and I know.

[junglechef]

1 hour ago, Dante99 said:

I have just walked in to Suan Doc and got a consultation, no problem.

 

Also a Thai friend got emergency treatment there and stayed there 10 days without a referal from anyplace else.

 

The staff there are helpful and will find an English speaker to help you if needed, at least in my experience.  Sometimes you get a response "no English" but try a few times and you find English, good enough to navigate with.  

 

But of course many farangs feel very uncomfortable there because they are out of their zone.

 

Might be helpful to clarify if you or your Thai friend are getting service under the 30 bht scheme (I love that term) or self-insuring (another cute term meaning paying for oneself)

Edited May 7, 2017 by junglechef

[Dante99]

My Thai friend was getting service under the 30 Baht program.  I was not, then I was, then was not.

 

[junglechef]

1 minute ago, Dante99 said:

My Thai friend was getting service under the 30 Baht program.  I was not, then I was, then was not.

 

Same same for me but don't have any friends to speak of 

[simoh1490]

Why not try to figure out which area of specialism is required, identify one or two and then find out where to consult with them - that seems far better than trying to decide between Shripat and Suan Dok.

[junglechef]

2 minutes ago, simoh1490 said:

Why not try to figure out which area of specialism is required, identify one or two and then find out where to consult with them - that seems far better than trying to decide between Shripat and Suan Dok.

I found that there is often a few local respected specialist in a field, or just a few all together, and most of them work at a few different hospitals so pretty much I could find one of them at any of the major ones. 

[simoh1490]

3 minutes ago, junglechef said:

I found that there is often a few local respected specialist in a field, or just a few all together, and most of them work at a few different hospitals so pretty much I could find one of them at any of the major ones. 

 

Have you looked at the pinned list in the CM forum? If you can't find what you need, feel free to PM with your requirement and maybe I can point you appropriately.

[zeekgarcia]

5 hours ago, Dante99 said:

".,..Sripat Building is on the right". There is a building next to it on the left (north side), behind the ER, walk between ER and Sripat Bldg to enter.  The north side of the first floor that building is the Suan Dok Hospital pharmacy. On the south side there is a small booth where they can register you and where you check in after you have been registered.

 

There are some great doctors that work at Suan Dok and not all of them also work at Sripat or any private hospital.

 

By seeing a doctor at Suan Doc you can get meds at the pharmacy which offers some things not available elsewhere and in my experience favorable prices. Refillable perscriptions available from the Doc.

 

 So there's are a couple of reasons to go there plus the mentioned 30 baht service for Thais.

 

Are you talking about this building? >>> www.google.co.th/maps/@18.7897626,98.9754536,3a,75y,258h,94.93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sCdUv7DpjU8cAAAQvOgNNww!2e0!7i7116!8i3558

 

[zeekgarcia]

4 hours ago, NancyL said:

It can be very difficult to navigate the Suan Dok system unless you read and speak Thai or bring a switched-on assertive Thai person with you.  There are few English-language signs and the initial staff people you interact with speak limited or no English.  Also, the doctors you see, at least initially, are usually resident doctors and some of them have limited English language skills, also.  If you need to be admitted for a procedure that is considered non-urgent, like a hip or knee replacement due to gradual wear-and-tear, you'll be quoted a wait time of months and encouraged to go to Sripat for immediate service, where the price will be about 40% higher.  

 

However, if you have time and patience and are able to assume responsibility to educate yourself about your health care so you know what questions to ask, then Suan Dok can be a good place for low cost, high quality health care and an interesting window into Thai society.  Once you've had a few outpatient appointments you learn "the system" and can navigate the place.  

 

OP,  what specialty do you need?  Like much of medicine here, they operate in functional silos, so you have to know which function you want to access and make your appointment with that specialty.  They're not all in the same building on the campus.   I've assisted people in out-patient appointments at many, so I could probably direct you on where to start.

 

 

Long story short my friend has a dr in BKK but its expensive to go there and see the dr basically for getting a refill for their meds so they been buying them at pharmacies here which is expensive and I was thinking since Suan Dok is a government hospital that they could maybe get in to see a cardiologists to get the meds they need at a cheaper price.  

[NancyL]

The cardiology clinic is one of the busiest at Suan Dok.  It's located in the Sripat Building tower.  I can't remember which floor, I think 11th floor, maybe 9th.  (Yes, some of the outpatient clinics for Suan Dok are in the Sripat building, just like most of the Sripat in-patient rooms are in a tower in a wing that most people would consider to be part of Suan Dok.)  

 

It's going to be an all-morning wait to see a doctor.  I would suggest that your friend bring all test results, including EKG printouts with him to avoid having the doctor want to run the tests again.  

 

But before your friend spends a day trying to see a doctor at Suan Dok, could I ask what meds have been prescribed?  Many cardiac meds aren't very expensive, even from local pharmacies.  It may be that the doctor in Bangkok has prescribed some new meds that are basically combinations of two older drugs or perhaps your friend is just going to the wrong pharmacy.

[Dante99]

4 hours ago, zeekgarcia said:

 

Are you talking about this building? >>> www.google.co.th/maps/@18.7897626,98.9754536,3a,75y,258h,94.93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sCdUv7DpjU8cAAAQvOgNNww!2e0!7i7116!8i3558

 

Sorry, that link does nothing for me.  Check your PMs

 

[NancyL]

The link worked for me just fine.  The Sripat building is the cream colored building to the left.  The main building in the photo is part of the "Suan Dok" complex.  I don't know the name of the building in Thai.  I always call it "the escalator building" because it's dominated by a big escalator in the lobby.  This is a good place to start to try to figure out how to access outpatient services in Suan Dok.

 

This view isn't taken from the main circular drive that goes into the Emergency Room, but rather a road that is to the east, one road closer to the Old City off Suthep Rd, same side of Suthep as the "main entrance".

 

Incidentally, the cardiology outpatient section for Suan Dok is located in the building to the left, the Sripat building.  As I said it's on floor 9 or 11.  I can't really remember.  Next time I'm there, I'll check.  This building has a very long queue for the lifts every morning because there are outpatient clinics for Suan Dok on floors 9 and 11 and outpatient clinics for Sripat on floor 13, plus treatment rooms and patient rooms on other floors.