The new Bangkok Hospital in Hua Hin

[JulieWM]

This is probably not a widely held view, but I prefer to have older, more experienced staff.

I'd go for the older more experienced staffer almost every time. In Thailand - as most other countries - the young'uns rely more on scans and other equipment rather than past experiences to help in the diagnosis. So already your costs are higher.

And generally here very few Thai doctors will admit they are unsure and will not call for advice or a second opinion until the patient has already run up a significant bill. Then they may suggest calling in another doctor or suggesting, in the case of the Dusit Group, you go to Bangkok for further care.

But I've learned to stay away from the senior doctors, the "professors", those who are in virtual retirement. Care may not be as good, and none of the younger doctors will care to help you out.

One tip - if it's suggested you need to go to Bangkok for tests that the local doctor could not read definitively, suggest instead that they send the digital images to Bangkok, not the patient. That's one of the reasons for electronic medical imaging after all.

[Dr Mike]

In the past posters have asked me about ENT--We have a full time ENT Dr.Dr Nathita is a Hua Hin native and is delighted to be moving here. She isa delightful young lady and has good clinical skills--her English is good. I think you will be happy with her care.
There will bea bio piece about her in Hua Hin Today next month.

[barrys]

Had a small accident at the marina last night and broke 3 toes of my right foot.

When to the Bangkok HH hospital at around 10.30 this morning.
Was in to see the doctor within 5 minutes.
Straight into x-ray and then back to the doctor.
Confirmation of 3 broken toes.

After a short discussion, I was offered 3 options:

1. Just let everything heal as it is, with 2 toes pointing in directions never intended for them!

2. In for an operation to have a pin inserted.

3. The more painful option as the doctor put it - an immediate local anaesthetic followed by traction, splints and a tight bandage to straighten the toes that way.


I decided on option 3 - straight into the treatment room, where the same doctor carried out the procedure immediately - and he was right about the pain too!!

Back for 2nd x-ray and then to the doctor again to see how effective the traction was.
I was shown the before and after x-rays on the screen and could see that the result was very good.
Only one toe was still a tiny bit out of alignment.
The doctor then said we could do the traction again right then on that toe if I wished.
I decided that the result was more than good enough and we mutually called it a day.

Having read the issues here regarding the prescription of medications, I broached the subject myself before going to pay.

The doctor said I should have pain killers and calcium tablets.
I said ok, but no need to prescribe them, I would sort that out myself.

I was provided with a wheelchair and after paying (the bill was very clearly itemised and in English), an orderly said he would push me out to the car park where my car was waiting for me.

I said I needed a coffee so he pushed me to the coffee area.
He came back just over 10 minutes later and asked if I was finished and then pushed me to the car.

The whole thing took less than 1 1/2 hours and the bill was 4,100 baht for everything.

I can't find fault with anything that happened today, the service was excellent and the doctor extremely competent and thorough.

If I was being really picky, though, I would have had some difficulty understanding the doctor if I couldn't speak Thai.


As an aside, does anyone know where I can get a pair of forearm crutches.
Tried in MV today, but would have to wait 3 days for them - and I need them like tomorrow morning

[Dr Mike]

Opthalmology----- Eye problems
We now have two eye Doctors viting BHngiving consultations--- Dr Paricgart and Dr Nuchanat
These two ladies are experienced to help with any vision problems-- They will visit oncea week--call 1719 for an appointment.

DERMATOLGY--I have had more requests fora skin Dr than any other topic. We will have a Dermatologist visiting two or three times a month starting soon. I'll let you know when

[buksida]

Afternoon Dr Mike, two questions please ...

Does Dr Jiravadee (ENT) still come to Hua Hin or is Dr Nathita your full-time ENT Doc now?

Are you Lasik Eye surgery ready yet? If not any idea when?

[Dr Mike]

No Yes

No No
Dr Nathita being here full time--Dr J is not scheduduled to visit anymore.

We are not doing Lasik at the moment--No date fixed to start.

[benmo]

Dr Mike, Still awaiting reply to my PM re knee surgery

[buksida]

No Yes

No No
.

Double neg then - thanks for the honest answer ... Bangkok bound it will have to be then ...

[Dr Mike]

Benmo--ask me about your knee again.
We have not done any joint sirgery here in HH and I think it will be awhilee. We do have the Drs with the experience but orthopedic surgery requires a lot of equipment

[Dr Mike]

DERMATOLOGY

Dr Kanchana Sermswan

Of all the requests that I have received asking for added services Dermatology has been the most frequent.
We now have a very senior member of the Department from Bangkokm Hospital Bangkok she will be visiting the first and third MONDAY of the month.

If you havea SKIN problem call (1719) and make an appointment to see Dr Kanchana.

[wpcoe]

There is currently a notice at the reception desk saying that direct billing to insurance companies by Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin is not yet in place. The hospital can only issue a "medical certificate" and the patient submits it with an invoice for reimbursement, meaning the patient pays the hospital up front in full regardless of insurance coverage.

The gal working the reception desk assured me that will change "very soon." I assume it is one of the growing pains for a brand new facility.

No, what it says is: direct billing for OPD (out patients), is not available yet.

According the the older lady (who appears to be a supervisor of the cashiers) at the cashiers' desk, they cannot accept BUPA for ANY treatments yet: outpatient OR inpatient.

When I asked how much longer it would be before BUPA could be direct-billed, she said "by the end of the year." However, she said BUPA was meeting with the hospital today (18-Aug-2011), and *maybe* they could get an arrangement in place earlier.

[brianks]

Today I was left to sit and wait at the cashier/pharmacy station for well over 15 minutes, watching people come and go while I sat there. When I said something at the counter I was immediately directed to the cashier who miraculously had my paperwork in hand. I was then told what I owed the hospital without presenting we with a bill. I requested to see the bill (which took a minute or two of fiddling with printer) to find the sneaky "pre nursing" charge on it.

Whats up with the 150 baht "pre nursing" (or something like that) charge on my bill when I had an appointment to see the new dermatologist? When I asked what the fee was for I was told it was a Service Charge. Never seen that before in my previous two visits to the hospital. If they have a revenue problem why not be more direct and up the fee to see the Dr instead of trying to slide a sleazy fee past you. It was removed from my bill after my protest and I paid up and won't return unless dire emergency.

Have they now hired a set of bankers to teach them how to nickle and dime their customers with fees and up the profit level of the Hospital?

[Piesat42]

LOL They used to put "other hospital expenses" in the BPH. I jokingly asked one cashier if that was to pay for the new extension they were building at the time ... she/he said "yes"

[NOKYAI]

In the past posters have asked me about ENT--We have a full time ENT Dr.Dr Nathita is a Hua Hin native and is delighted to be moving here. She isa delightful young lady and has good clinical skills--her English is good. I think you will be happy with her care.
There will bea bio piece about her in Hua Hin Today next month.

We had need of this 'delightful' Dr's service on my last visit. We were very happy with the service (and price). I wish the UK Dr's were as pretty and accommodating, offering appointments here and BKK.

[richard]

Someone told me the BK hospital was around here somewhere but I see no signs

You'd have thought they might paint it across the road

No wonder their fees are a little heavy