I have used Sripat about 9 times this month, so far. The usual fee for a specialist and nurse has been 250 baht. I am often the only farang in the clinic (out of more than 80 waiting patients), and speak no Thai, and have no problems making my needs known and cared for. I notice they have clinics for otolaryngology (ENT), maternity, obesity, surgery, orthopedics, eye doctors, cardiology, neurology, dermatology, etc.
One of my orthopedic surgeons at Maharaj and Sripat has a clinic at Rajavej, also. Charges were quite reasonable for post-surgery follow-ups. Cute nurses, too.
0
Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital (aka Maharaj Or Suan Dok)Sriphat Medical Center.
Started by Mapguy, 2008-07-12 18:56
#27
Newbie Posted 2008-07-23 18:36:00
I had my gallbladder removed at Sri Pat in May - PeaceBlondie was very instrumental in convincing me to go to Sri Pat as we were already frustrated by Ram's method of charging our credit card in dollars using an unfavorable conversion rate when we did our physicals there. Dr. Sandhu was my surgeon and I was very pleased with his skill as well as his bedside manners. I was in one of the rooms on the 14th floor, the room was great and the nurses very efficient plus they all spoke English well enough not to need any translators. We have since then gone back to the Special Medical Services on the 13th floor and plan to use Sri Pat whenever a need arises.
#28
Super Member Posted 2008-07-24 22:48:21
I have only used Ram's out-patient services, I found it to be adequate but not exceptional. I found out recently that my BCBS has world-wide in network in-patient hospital coverage but unfortunately only Ram, Lanna and Rajavej are on the list not Maharaj. There is very little talk about Lanna and have never heard anything about Rajavej. Yes, Blue Cross Blue Shield and others in other lands have certain certification credentials they look for or other contractural arrangements. Apparently, the hospitals you mention don't have them. It could well be that they don't wish to go through the hassle. Want to start threads on Lanna and Rajavej? Please do! I know of at least two quite positive comments about Rajavej. I recall reading one nice miscellaneous comment on Lanna; no bad comments.Lanna is owned by the same people as own Chiang Mai Ram. The two hospitals apparently tend to cater demographically to different clienteles. Edited by Mapguy, 2008-07-24 22:49:42. #29
Incredible Member Posted 2008-07-25 09:54:58
What/where is Sripat? Is it another big hospital? Where is it located and how would locals call it?
#30
Super Member Posted 2008-07-25 11:10:57
What/where is Sripat? Is it another big hospital? Where is it located and how would locals call it? Sripat or Sriphat is the name of the building in which the clinic is located in the Maharaj Complex on Suthep Road. Read the original post for directions. #31
Senior Member Posted 2008-07-27 18:47:22
the only directions I can find are by Earlofwindemere, who suggests asking for the correct building when you get there.
I use the Maraj hospital, and had a poor experience, due to my not asking to see a consultant urologist- I saw the consultant surgeon on duty, he operated, and now I'm stuck with the result. Do canvass extensively regarding surgeons, the results can be permanent. This forum should be good for this, but what about libel in Thailand -no doctor is going to be pleased with a poor review. Having said all of this, I still think it is the best place to go, even if it is cheaper than the Ram. #32
Senior Member Posted 2008-07-27 18:55:27
Hmmm
on reading through the posts yet again, it seems likley that the Sri Pat is a.k.a. the Special Medical Services Centre. #33
Star Member Posted 2008-07-27 20:57:17
Hmmm on reading through the posts yet again, it seems likley that the Sri Pat is a.k.a. the Special Medical Services Centre. #34
Newbie Posted 2008-08-29 08:22:40
Hello.
Does anyone know if it is possible for a retired expat to use the public section of Maharaj Hospital? Not floor 13, the private section. Thank you. #35
Platinum Member Posted 2008-08-29 08:34:42
Hello. Does anyone know if it is possible for a retired expat to use the public section of Maharaj Hospital? Not floor 13, the private section. Thank you. #36
Star Member Posted 2008-08-29 10:09:06
I doubt it, but am not sure. When I went to Sripat for an ortho consult, I was referred to the Wednesday morning ortho clinic in the main section of the hospital. My Thai partner accompanied me, and we had to basically re-register downstairs in the general area of the main hospital. Then we waited many hours to get a free consultation. We also went there for post-op followups. There was no charge until one of the dressing changes of the surgical wound had a complication. However, my surgery was done under the Sripat scheme, and I paid in full for that. While we were at the big Wedn. morning consult, with hundreds of Thai nationals, we met an old coworker who is a govt. officer. She was there for her cancer follow-up (such officers normally use Sripat).
#37
Senior Member Posted 2008-08-29 10:14:39
Hello. Does anyone know if it is possible for a retired expat to use the public section of Maharaj Hospital? Not floor 13, the private section. Thank you. It was a couple of years ago but you had to pay their normally small fees. #38
Senior Member Posted 2008-08-30 16:06:06
I got treatment at the regular section at sun doc(maharai) hospital in may.it was no problem you just fill in a form and wait with everybody else.i had to wait longer and when it was finally my turn the doctor got up and went away.after some more waiting it turned out that they made sure they got somebody who was not too shy to speak english since my thai is only good to order beer and food.i had a consultation and subsequently x rays ,more consultations and some medication.everything was cheap,around 600bt.the service was great ,i talked to a real specialist .the med's were good too.if you can sit in a crowd ,it's doable,just bring a book.
previously i had some outpatient experience at ram which was also very good and reasonably priced. x rays,diagnosis and doctors advice for around 1000.- cm ram has great service.no waiting around there. when i admitted myself with what turned out to be dengue fever at ram they did a great job and the room was very posh.two full days with all the treatment and tests rang up at 20 000 bt.a little more than i expected from my outpatient experience there -that's why i tried out sun doc to find cheaper alternatives for the future. #39
Senior Member Posted 2008-09-01 11:48:53
BUPA, which I continue to use after a decade, lists the Special Medical Service Center under the hospitals it covers, but no longer lists Ram I - no reason given. I have had excellent service at both hospitals. At Ram, 5 years ago, treatment for an injured back due to a 2 meter fall: nothing but praise for RAM staff and BUPA. Until recently, I had suffered for 2 years from a rash on the front of my lower legs what I had mistakenly thought was caused by road dust (including most probably the dried feces of the thousands of dogs in town) kicked up by my motorcycle. Went to most hospitals and clinics in the are and was treated with antibacterial pastes and pills that failed to work or did so for a week or two. Finally after 2 years I went to the dermatologist at the Special Medical Service Center where he diagnosed the rash as eczema, prescribed an ointment, and within three weeks the inflammation disappeared. Sorry, do not have the presciption at hand so am unable to recall the specialist's name. He, like many doctors, are there only twice a week; I am told that many specialists apparently rotate amongst the various hospitals. The Special Medical Service Center is now my hospital of choice.
#40
Senior Member Posted 2008-09-01 11:51:12
BUPA, which I continue to use after a decade, lists the Special Medical Service Center under the hospitals it covers, but no longer lists Ram I - no reason given. I have had excellent service at both hospitals. At Ram, 5 years ago, treatment for an injured back due to a 2 meter fall: nothing but praise for RAM staff and BUPA. Until recently, I had suffered for 2 years from a rash on the front of my lower legs what I had mistakenly thought was caused by road dust (including most probably the dried feces of the thousands of dogs in town) kicked up by my motorcycle. Went to most hospitals and clinics in the are and was treated with antibacterial pastes and pills that failed to work or did so for a week or two. Finally after 2 years I went to the dermatologist at the Special Medical Service Center where he diagnosed the rash as eczema, prescribed an ointment, and within three weeks the inflammation disappeared. Sorry, do not have the presciption at hand so am unable to recall the specialist's name. He, like many doctors, are there only twice a week; I am told that many specialists apparently rotate amongst the various hospitals. The Special Medical Service Center is now my hospital of choice. #41
Advanced Member Posted 2008-09-28 21:46:22
I found this topic very interesting and helpful. Which led me to the hospital's web site where you can find the pricing for their CHECK UP packages - and their IN-PATIENT room rates. Rather than post that info here that can get out of date - check the site yourself.
The start page: http://www.cmed.cmu..../container-eng/ The check ups page: http://www.cmed.cmu....ainer-eng/?p=34 The room rates page: http://www.cmed.cmu....ainer-eng/?p=53 Special Medical Service Centre, Chiang Mai University 110/392 Sriphat Building, Inthawarorot Road, Sriphum, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200 Telephone 053-946900-1 Ambulance Service - part of the Intensive Care Unit - 053-946623-4 Open daily from 08:00 to 20:00 at 13th Floor Sripat Building and after 20:00 to 08:00 at 14th Floor. #42
Newbie Posted 2008-11-17 20:11:52
Hello, thanks for this thread!
Can someone confidently recommend a really good Ear Specialist at Maharaj Hospital, please? From what I gather about Thai medical standards, it's not consistent, and I don't have much confidence in the specialist my dad is currently seeing. Thank you tremendously. #43
Super Member Posted 2008-11-17 20:59:54
Hello, thanks for this thread! Can someone confidently recommend a really good Ear Specialist at Maharaj Hospital, please? From what I gather about Thai medical standards, it's not consistent, and I don't have much confidence in the specialist my dad is currently seeing. Thank you tremendously. The ability of physicians varies anywhere. After all, someone had to graduate at the top of the class and another at the bottom! I was talking recently to a faculty member at CMU, and he was beginning to worry about in-country training at Thai medical schools. The problem, he believes, is that classes are getting too large too fast and that there is not enough clinical time that teachers can spend with students. His concern is not unlike that of some hospitals in the USA. For example, the University of Texas has recently decided to shut down most of its Galveston hospital (built on what most people would call a large sand bar) which was really clobbered by the recent hurricane. As a result the medical school based there is left "high and dry" (ironically) because the number of patients and the range of conditions have been severely reduced, thus affecting training of medical students because they haven't the same quantity of cases and range of conditions to look at (i.e., enough guinea pigs to poke and prod!). Anyway.... Consultation is available from just about any medical specialty at Sripat SMSC, but clinics per se do not open every day in every specialty. For example, there are two excellent dermatologists, but they are only there for half-days on Monday and Thursday afternoons now from what I was last told. Basically, what you have to do is call the SMSC and tell them what your problem is. They will help arrange appointments so that you are not always waiting with scores of patients who are dropping in. Start by dialing 053.94.6508. Worried about waiting for care? Want to return to England? Get an appointment in the USA?! Edited by Mapguy, 2008-11-17 21:02:50. #44
Senior Member Posted 2008-11-18 07:49:37
I am needing both knees replaced and have been given information leading me to believe this would be the best choice here locally. Have been given the recommendation to see a Dr Sataya...I will meet him next week. In the meantime is there anyone lurking out there who have first hand experience with this particular Dr. OR had total knee replacement here locally with some stories that won't scare the stuff out of me? My 82 yr old M-I-L had him replace her knee; did good job. Her operation was covered by my F-I-L's retired RTAF military medical benefits, though we paid extra for a private room. Medical wise I would say he did a great job, plus he showed more concern and provided more care and attention to an old lady who refused to do her exercises ("It hurts") than I expected. He was superficial in his explanations of processes, procedures, and rationale (which was OK for the MIL as she didn't understand even that and didn't even want to know). I had to push a little, as a mere S-I-L whose was slowing down his clinic, to get any details. I would imagine he would be more descriptive with the actual patient that wanted to know details. My only real complaint was that ,being on the teaching staff, he was teaching or in surgery all day and we could only see him at his clinic at 5 pm or later. #45
Senior Member Posted 2008-11-18 09:03:06
Maybe I am wrong about prices at the two places being nearly equal. I seldom have paid 400 baht at Sri Pat to see a specialist like a cardiologist or a neurolgy professor, sometimes 250 including the nurses fee. So much talk of comparitive cost and no actual figures save this last one. Here are my figures for last weeks job at Chiang Mai RAM : Problem : Pain in Side. Result : Nothing found : possibly muscular. Medical supplies : 14 LAB : 1910 An x-ray : 300 ultrasound scan : 1920 Nursing : 50 Consultant : 300 Extras : 50 Grand Total 4544 baht I thought it was rather a lot. No insurance. But at £82 , could well be a bargain. What do you think? #46
Star Member Posted 2008-11-18 12:05:34
Well, I spoke to my medical plan last night. I currently have to swallow the first US$20 for an outpatient visit. She laughed out loud when I told her I paid $6 per visit for two neurologists who are medical school professors, even when the second one spent an hour with me each time! The limb specialist who dressed my wounds charged about the same. Eye surgeon exams, including lens selection and looking inside my eye, about 300 baht. My shoulder surgeries cost 60K at Ram, 50K at Sripat, if I remember correctly. This month I had a hand needle electromyography and a nerve conductivity test, 500 baht for each test, and only 200 baht for an hour of the professor's time to conduct the tests and interpret the results in good English.
Now I think Chiang Mai Ram is much more expensive, for no better care, than Sripat is. More than once, I have paid nothing at Maharaj for a visit. #47
Super Member Posted 2008-11-18 17:03:10
I am needing both knees replaced and have been given information leading me to believe this would be the best choice here locally. Have been given the recommendation to see a Dr Sataya...I will meet him next week. In the meantime is there anyone lurking out there who have first hand experience with this particular Dr. OR had total knee replacement here locally with some stories that won't scare the stuff out of me? My 82 yr old M-I-L had him replace her knee; did good job. Her operation was covered by my F-I-L's retired RTAF military medical benefits, though we paid extra for a private room. Medical wise I would say he did a great job, plus he showed more concern and provided more care and attention to an old lady who refused to do her exercises ("It hurts") than I expected. He was superficial in his explanations of processes, procedures, and rationale (which was OK for the MIL as she didn't understand even that and didn't even want to know). I had to push a little, as a mere S-I-L whose was slowing down his clinic, to get any details. I would imagine he would be more descriptive with the actual patient that wanted to know details. My only real complaint was that ,being on the teaching staff, he was teaching or in surgery all day and we could only see him at his clinic at 5 pm or later. #48
Senior Member Posted 2008-11-19 08:00:42
Realizing your insurance paid, what was the total bill? I have no insurance and wondering what it would cost for both replacements at Sripat. The operation was back in July and the bill included the extras we paid for (e.g., private room at 300 baht or so a day). I do not have it here at my house, so I can't check it for details. But, if my memory serves me correctly, I think her costs for the actual surgery were about 40,000 to 45,000 baht. This does not include the costs of the clinic visits. And the cost may be billed differently for Thai govt medical coverage than for private patients. #49
Senior Member Posted 2008-11-19 11:45:03
I went to Special Srvices Clinic at Maharaj last week for the first time about a minor orthopedic problem.
I was in and out in an hour, very pelased with staff service and doctor. Total cost including doctor and medication was 530 baht #50
Super Member Posted 2008-12-08 15:14:05
the only problem I have with Suan Dok is parking. Where do you guys park you cars? If you are headed West and past the hospital buildings on Suthep Road, turn left at the first soi and quickly left again into the tree shaded lot which is on the corner of that soi. (Used to be an entrance just before the soi but could be closed now). It is a bit of a walk back to the Hospital but they usually have spaces available. Here is a clear map showing where the Special Medical Services Clinic (in the Sriphat Building is). Hard to park so see above. Or take a Tuk Tuk or Songtao. Any further comments on the clinic out there? Attached Files
Edited by Mapguy, 2008-12-08 15:14:50. |
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