Another San Paulo story

[Takiap]

Bigideas, and anyone else who is interested, if your child or children have a problem, I would recommend taking then to Samet Clinic which is more or less over the road from SP. He has a very good reputation, so unfortunately you usually end up waiting a while before he sees you. Although he works almost entirely with kids, I have used him on one occasion as well, and he sorted out my problem which several doctors, both here and in the UK, were unable to solve.

If he cannot help you, then I would recommend Petcharat Hospital even though it is a bit far to travel.

[VincentD]

BB
While a little off topic (as this in not in HH but in Bangkok) I have avoided using Bangkok Hospital as it is run more as a business model than as a hospital. Being prescribed a very strong intravenous antibiotic for something that was nothing more than a stomach upset was the final straw. I did have company medical insurance, and the cost of this treatment was over the top - I went to another hospital a few days later and had it sorted out with just some oral medicines and a diet of plain rice gruel. But I digress..

The allure of avoiding a potential queue and the general assumption that a private hospital should be better is not necessarily true.

Back in August of last year I had a full medical done that tested for cancer markers at a well-known and respected private hospital in Bangkok. Among the tests was a treadmill test to check for heart function. I passed 100%% for the specs of my age group (over 60).. Fine.
About a week before Christmas, I started feeling aches in the back of my neck, and sometimes down the back of my shoulders. Didn't think much of it as I had passed the treadmill only months before. A few days later, this started to also include aches in both upper arms. I tried to convince myself that there should not be anything serious, but when I started feeling a weight on my chest after only a brisk 200 meter walk, I decided to go to the hospital where I have my social welfare card registered. It was a Saturday afternoon. By Saturday evening, two ecgs, one chest x-ray, some blood tests and a visit to the heart specialist I was in the semi-icu. Spent Christmas there Out after a few days of observation, doc would not allow any exertion for at least two weeks. Practically no cost at all for me, all was covered under social security.
Went back after that, he scheduled a dye test for a couple of days later.
Long story short, the dye test revealed three major heart blockages, and the test turned into an angiogram. I now have one stent inserted, with another scheduled to go in in a couple of weeks time.
Total cost again, including stent insertion, was practically nil, all covered by social security.

My point? Most doctors who come from (or have had extensive experience in) government hospitals have the experience many in the private sector may not have. They recognised and recommended treatment and have probably helped me in not becoming another casualty - he did say if left untreated I'd probably croak within the next six months. I'm inclined to believe him.
So next time, maybe it may just be worth your while to brave the queue and save a bit of dosh while still receiving a decent level of treatment.

Now limping around the house with a rather dented ego but thankful for the extended lease on life. And the dread that in a few weeks I'll have to go through the same procedure all over again. At least the nurses were cute..

[Big Boy]

I use BKK hospital exclusively, mainly because its the only way to get reimbursed by my US insurance (long complicated story).

I tried to use BKK hospital exclusively, but the mistakes were mounting. Cost wasn't too much of an issue because I used to get mates rates.

[StevePIraq]

I previously posted the following on another thread, but here it is again to highlight the incompetence of staff

1. I had a motorbike accident and was taken to SP, my back and chest were X-Rayed and I was told no broken bones. I returned and complained about severe pains in my back and chest, X-Ray again oops 2 broken ribs, 2 days later X-Ray again oops 4 broken ribs. WTF. I asked to see the original X-Ray and the 4 breaks were obvious.

2. Wife has been having severe headaches and facial pains for a few weeks continuous. The doc at SP said she should see a specialist, we met the "specialist" 2 days later, he talked to her in Thai for about 10 minutes, no examination, then told me in English she has a brain tumor and needs brain surgery. WTF. I asked is there a way to confirm this, answer oh yes she can have CAT scan but this will make the tumor bigger, any other options? yes she can have special X-Ray of her brain but this is expensive. Please do the X-Ray to confirm, ok booked into SP the next day, blood sample taken, colored dye injected into wife, "Special" X-Ray done. Outcome NO Tumor, but she has high cholesterol which can lead to restrictions in blood vessels possibly leading to headaches.
Outcome do not go near San Paulo. Nurses are good for simple things like dressing changes. Our insurance company has raised the issues with SP but no satisfaction

[HHTel]

When my son had a serious m/cycle accident some years ago, HH Hospital wanted to send him to SP for surgery (HH Hospital, as it is now, hadn't been built) but SP said that they don't have the facility of expertise! So he was sent to Petcharat, thankfully. After surgery and a couple of weeks recovery, we moved him to SP for convenience.
On a lighter note, each visit to him was greeted by complaints,.... "It's taken them 5 attempts to soft boil an egg!" among others. Even their after-care was lacking. The room was much smaller, the facilities dated and almost twice the price of Petcharat.

[Big Boy]

That is actually the only part Petcharat were lacking in. Their food was inedible when I was there for a week. Also on a few outpatient visits. I'd doubt they could even boil an egg, let alone a soft boiled egg.

[StevePIraq]

Slightly off topic but a funny story (now), maybe SP Hospital is not so bad.

I once worked in Botswana and had to attend David Livingstone Memorial Hospital (now Scottish Livingstone). When examined for extreme pain in my chest the doc tried to find my heart on the right side of my chest, then pronounced I have a heart problem as he could not hear a heart beat. I was then take to the main hospital on the same grounds and left on a stretcher in 40C+ sunlight for 2 hours, I was finally admitted for sever sun burn, they never found my heart. They served grilled spaghetti.

[Homer]

... Because the doc didn't know my wife's medical history there was a severe reaction, which she's only just recovering from now. I do not blame the doc. He did the best he could with the knowledge he had about my wife. Stopped her moaning about her knee pain though .

Seriously, a hospital knowing your medical history is very important. Choose your hospital, and try to stick with it.

At my request, Bangkok Hospital (BH) printed a copy of my entire medical history with them. It was free.

Eighteen months earlier a BH doc said I needed a specific followup. Mayo Clinic website confirmed it was standard practice. Emailed BH and BNH Hospital in Bangkok about cost. BNH was half the price. Unlike the usual docs I'd never seen before at BH who all too often have not opened the medical history sitting on the desk in front of them, the BNH doc spent the first 5-8 minutes of the appointment reviewing the history and asking me questions.

[HHTel]

That is actually the only part Petcharat were lacking in. Their food was inedible when I was there for a week. Also on a few outpatient visits. I'd doubt they could even boil an egg, let alone a soft boiled egg.

They obviously didn't tell you that you could order from a nearby hotel. My son certainly did. The staff had a menu and would phone the order through and it got delivered.

Maybe you can't do that anymore.