Bangkok Pattaya Hospital

[PattayaMale]

Pattaya seems fortunate to have several choices of hospitals in the city. Bangkok Pattaya Hospital is one of those choices. For me however I would advise expats in Pattaya that are in need of serious medical help to consider Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok

 

Over a year ago I was having severe chest pain and sweating. I drove to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital emergency and I could not have had better care.They stabilized my heart and admitted be to the CCU. Care in the CCU was excellent. The doctor assigned to me had appropriate tests performed and it was decided that I needed angioplasty. I was very happy with the procedure and the after care.

 

However, 8 months after the 2 stents were inserted I got out of my swimming pool and fell onto my shoulder. Since I could not move my arm I made an appointment and went again to Pattaya Bangkok Hospital. They took some x-rays which the doctor looked at he sent me home suggesting I take aspirin and come back in 3 days. My arm was hurting so much I decided to get another opinion and went to Bumrungard.

 

As soon as the doctor started to examine me he said that it appeared that I had completely torn my rotator cuff. They sent me for x rays and then an MRI. Sure enough I needed Arthroscopic surgery to fix it.

 

Before the operation they did a pre-op physical which included a stress test because of my heart problem. My left descending artery was again blocked. I was going to need an angioplasty before they could proceed with repairing my shoulder. While doing the angioplasty, the doctor noticed that something was wrong. He used another machine and told me that the size of the stents inserted were the wrong size. They were too small..............Ok 2 mistakes by Bangkok Pattaya Hospital doctors.

 

Today, I wanted to get a flu vaccine so went to Bangkok Pattaya and got the shot. When I went to pay, they wanted a bit under 2000 baht. I asked why so much when it was advertised at 939 baht. They started to give me all sorts of different reason........none that I believed. I decided enough was enough. I went to floor M where the hospital director has his office. They staff did not at first seem to know what to do, but I politely insisted that I would see the director and not a nurse supervisor. They tried several times to have me see different people but I was polite and firm that I would see the director..........which I finally did. He too was polite, apologized, and yet also seemed a bit detached until I called Blue Cross International customer care on my mobile. While I was on hold, he seemed to decided that maybe he would be more concerned.

 

I decided to compare the doctors qualifications at each hospital. I learned that Bumrungrad's doctors seem to have greater experience.

 

There are many people that really like Pattaya Bangkok hospital. They have had good service and the hospital is convienent. My suggestion in this over long post is that people may want to compare before going into a important proceedure

 

 

 

 

[Guest jtrack33]

PattayaMale, that's amazing! I had almost exactly the same experience involving both the above hospitals last year. I also had chest discomfort while running despite no risk factors and although I had previously had an angiogram at Bumrungrad many years before, I was suckered into Bangkok Heart Hospital(same group as Bangkok Pattaya Hospital) by the fancy exterior. I had several tests carried out including stress test and was advised all results normal and to take a very expensive antacid. A month later I was still unwell and worried and went back and insisted on a 64 slice CAT scan which showed I was in "imminent danger" of a heart attack. Next day they did an angiogram and while in the middle of the procedure said they would need to put in 3 stents at around Bht170,000 each (Total bill around Bht600,000). No alternative was given. They did it and after several visits and tests later, I still felt bad. This time I took my Bangkok Heart Hospital angiogram CD along to my previous doctor at Bumrungrad, who viewed the insertion of the stents from the CD and advised they were in locations that could lead to rapid re-clogging. Another stress test and angiogram and Bumrungrad recommended an urgent by-pass. This I had done at Bumrungrad immediately for no more cost than the 3 stents at Bangkok Heart Hospital and immediately felt better and still do more than a year later and also running again.

Bumrungrad said I should have elected to have had the bypass originally...which of course I would have done had it been mentioned as an option...especially after finding out what the 3 stents would cost (before the procedure Bangkok Heart doctor advised only one would be needed). I have since found out that the stent dealer in Asia sells them at around Bht60,000 to the hopsitals). In my experience, the level of nursing and professionalism at Bumrungrad is far superior to that at BHH..and the room rates are significantly less.

The doctors at Bangkok Hospital are often incompetent and act in ways that will maximize profits for the group even at the risk of the patient's health.

 

BNH hospital in Bangkok...another hospital in the same group...seems similar from a greed viewpoint. A friend of mine went there for his medical check back in the days when it was still necessary for a retirement visa extension. He was sent for a full range of expensive blood tests and told that he had to see a heart doctor about his marginal blood pressure before the certificate would be given. The bill was over Bht5,000. I had the check/certificate done for Bht220 at Bangkok Christian Hospital at the same time.

 

Has anyone any experience with Pattaya International Hospital on Beach Rd/2nd Rd soi 4? It looks good inside and their prices seem reasonable.

[Guest laurence]

Well, I was a big fan of B-P Hospital until I read the above posts! I had a friend who also went to B-P Hospital for a heart condition and was pressured to have stents but deferred for a second opinion at Bumrungrad where other options were given.

Now I think Bumrungrad will be my choice for the Big One. No, not cancer but the facial makeover!

[2lz2p]

They tried several times to have me see different people but I was polite and firm that I would see the director..........which I finally did. He too was polite, apologized, and yet also seemed a bit detached until I called Blue Cross International customer care on my mobile. While I was on hold, he seemed to decided that maybe he would be more concerned.

 

So, what did you wind up paying for the flu shot?

[Guest Geezer]

Expertise at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya (they seem to have changed the name a bit) is spotty. If you need a dermatologist Dr. Anna, educated and board certified in the US is outstanding. Beyond that BKK-PTY has been a gamble. My Thai friend was an inpatient there for two days, and received very good care. I had a colonoscopy performed at BKK-PTY and was well satisfied.

 

Nine years ago, a few months after retiring to Pattaya, I had an intense itching in the groin, went to BKK-PTY and was diagnosed with herpes. After three weeks of treatment with no results I went to Bumrungrad, where the problem was immediately identified as scabies. (Think miniature crab lice.) Scabies! Bar boys can diagnose scabies!

 

Five years ago, at sixty-nine years of age, I visited BKK-PTY for a packaged checkup, was diagnosed with emphysema and told to quit smoking. (I never smoked.) I went to Bumrungrad, had extensive tests and was told there was a minor lung problem; not emphysema. The doctor said that in fifty years I would have only fifty percent of my present lung function.

 

At Bumrungrad I’ve had open heart surgery (the lead cardiologist had five current US board certifications), arthroscopic hernia repair, and a sleep study and have been well satisfied.

 

After open heart surgery at Bumrungrad I was in the Cardiac Care Unit for a week. The nurses were very caring and attentive. Upon my transfer to a general floor, the CCU nurses came to visit me after they finished working their shifts. I don’t think that would happen in the US.

 

My BF has little confidence in BKK-PTY, and prefers Samitivej Sriracha Hospital up the road in Sriracha, where he has found a very competent physician. I went there two times. On both occasions the doctor examined me, said the problems would resolve themselves with no treatment, and charged nothing. Both times my Thai friend went into town, bought a small gift and returned to present it to the doctor. That hospital has now been acquired by the BKK(-PTY) group and has raised prices to match BKK-PTY.

 

Summary:

 

1. BKK-PTY Hospital has at least one, and likely many competent physicians, but I don’t know any way to identify them.

 

2. BKK-PTY Hospital’s charges are higher than Bumrungrad's.

 

3. BKK-PTY Hospital is much nearer to Pattaya than Bumrungrad.