Bumrungrad International Hospital--my experience

I am an American use to the level of service and quality provided by US hospitals and US military hospitals.

First, all public areas of the hospital are very clean, plush, and similar to a ';airport lounge'; for frequent flyers. All the staff was well groomed and wearing specific uniforms to identify their roles.

Second, as I moved from each speciality department, I was escorted by a staff member. Much different than my US experiences of roaming the hospital and getting dirty looks from the staff when asking for directions.

Visited for a Comprehensive Health Check which included vitals, blood / urine test, chest x-ray, stress test, and other more detailed tests. Was expecting to pay 13,000 baht ($390), but I was only charged 8,600 baht ($258). They seemed to skip a few of the tests and when I questioned the doctor about why these tests were missing, he stated that after our initial exam, those tests were not needed for somebody my age, race, and medical background.

Wow. A doctor that decided not to run tests that would have cost me an additional 4400 baht ($132). In addition to the 8600 baht, I was charged 877 baht ($26) for 2 prescriptions. I checked the prices on a US website, and those prescriptions would have cost me at least $140.

Yes. Maybe I should have insisted on the additional tests because they may have turned up something, but I specifically selected this doctor because he did his residency in my US hometown. We were able to communicate very well in English.

By Thai standards, this hospital is very expensive. That may explain why it was full of foreigners. Many of the Thais I know were very impressed that I would be visiting this hospital, and said that was only for rich people. Estimate that I saved about 50% of what I would have spent in the US, and the difference in level of customer service was dramatic.

My recommendation is to ask a lot of questions of the hospital via e-mail. Since I am a tourist with no Thai insurance, I paid via credit card. They even gave me a choice of being charged in Baht or USD.

Bumrungrad International Hospital--my experience

';I am an American use to the level of service and quality provided by US hospitals and US military hospitals.';

Quite a difference, isn%26#39;t it!

It%26#39;s also great that you get your test results in real time, not a week or two later.

A Bumrungrad doctor once prescribed an antibiotic that I didn%26#39;t tolerate well. We called the pharmacy, who contacted the doctor. He withdrew the prescription and they said I could return it for a refund.

This concerned me. I really didn%26#39;t like the idea of a pharmacy taking medicine back in. But, when they said that there would be a 20% fee, because they had to toss the meds, I was relieved.

Don%26#39;t try this in the States!

Bumrungrad International Hospital--my experience

Yes, this hospital maintains a remarkable standard. I had a dental emergency some months back while on a short holiday in BKK and the concierge at the Peninsular hotel recommended this hospital. The dentist I was appointed to did a wonderful job and went to great length to inform me of the possible complications and precautions I should take.Very professional indeed.

Thanks for the info, TokyoBob! :-)

Great place, I have been there many times and have always been happy with both the customer service and the fair pricing.

Its ironic though that they have a large heart by-pass clinic and their own mc donalds on the same floor !

I had some tests in there once and the Doc told me that I had to shed a few pounds, I had to wait for further results and ended up lunching in mickey dees. Could they not have thought of a more healthier option to offer people.

I still go back there annually for tests and a big mac.

Bumrungrad has a very good reputation but is expensive. The Op%26#39;s experience is fairly typical of the better private hospitals in Bangkok, including Vichayut, Vibavadhi, and several others.

There are dining options at Bumrungrad. We usually hit the food court, down the hall from McDonalds. There is also an upscale food court on the 11th floor.

I always find the presence of Au Bon ';Pain'; bakeries a bit ironic in a hospital setting.

I would say Bumrungrad, Sametivej and BNH would be in a similar class. At many of the larger ';Thai'; focused facilities, although the care might be great, and the doctors will often speak English well, the staff may not. This is important, especially for an inpatient.

I found one doctor at Vichayut, who practiced for ';17 years in the States';, to be a complete hack.

Unfortunately most of tests carried out are wase of time and serve no reall medical purpose - Bumrungrad has a reputation for being the top hospital in Thailand - as pointed out - it DOES comp[are favorably with an airport lounge - BUT - I have several accounts from foreign medical workers who have worked there which would indicate that the standard of medicine practiced there is FAR from satisfactory.

This also applies to most of the other International Hospitals - please don%26#39;t be taken in by leather chairs and fish tanks - some of the treatments and Doctors are OK but if you have any problems with the care in these places - and this is quite likely - your chances of any comeback are NIL!

THe training of nuses and auxiliaries is appalling, the knowledge and methodology of some of the doctors is questionable and the arragance and patient communication is stone-age.

DON';T BE FOOLED - BEWARE!!!!

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