Mo

I've been trying to get an appointment at the hospital for the last 2 weeks. I registered and have requested an appointment 2x now on their web site with no reply. Has this happened to anyone else? Any suggestions. Tweety817 thanks for all of your advice.

Guenmai

The first time I went to them, I was in BKK, and called them up and was offered either a same day or whatever other day appointment that I wanted.
Then some months before going back to BKK, I tried making an appointment over the internet before arriving in BKK, but never heard back from them via internet. Happy Travels!

Kathie

I've been successful at making appointments via the internet, but there are sometimes glitches. Sometimes their return email is caught by a spam filter, sometimes I think my email doesn't get through to them. Be persistent, and if you don't get an appointment set before you get to Bangkok, call and make an appointment when you get there.

MichaelBKK

I've noted that different clinics at Bumrungrad seem to have different attitudes to email. The dental clinic almost never answers it, while the general health clinic is usually pretty good about it.

BTW, I've recently switched away from Bumrungrad for my general health care. For me the issue was that I felt I was spending a lot of money there on a regular basis, yet my doctor rarely spent more than 5 minutes with me. I've since heard some real horror stories about the level of care there. I switched to Vejthani hospital, which is close to my office, where I got the most thorough health check of my life (mostly good news) and unlike Bumrungrad they didn't automatically assume I would buy my regular medications from them.

Other expats I've talked to swear by Samitivej Hospital, which is also just off Sukhumvit, not far from Bumrungrad.

Guenmai

Yeah, I've heard that Samitivej is supposed to be good. Happy Travels!

Kathie

Michael, I've set up dental appointments via the website a number of times. I just think it doesn't work consistently.

I've heard that there are a number of very good hospitals in Bangkok. I have to admit that Bumrungrad's JCAHO accredititation sways me.

Mo

Thanks all for your stories and advice. I fear that if I go without making an appointment they might not be able to see me while over there. I guess I'll just keep trying via the internet. Michaelbkk the care at Bumrungrad has to be better and cheaper than in the US the most recent trip to my Dr to find out about a pain I had (which after many tests and money still can't be diagnosed)my dr. didn't even touch me. Thanks again everyone.

Hanuman

For most basic check-ups or dental work I think Bumrungrad is the best but it might not be the cheapest as Michael pointed out. However, if it's more serious(tumors, cancer, organ transplants etc) I would go to where the best doctors hold clinic hours.

Also, for the "wow" factor Bumrungrad is the leader especially if you've been into their new building.

pat

Is Bumrungrad the only one that is JCAH approved?

MichaelBKK

As far as appointments at Bumrungrad go, for basic health checks you don't absolutely have to have one. But definitely make one for getting dental work done or seeing a specialist.

Just to clarify, my motivation for changing to another place was not price, but the feeling that they just weren't paying attention. I actually spent a lot more for the checkup at Vejthani than I usually pay to see a dr at Bumrungrad.

Agree that Bumrungrad is definitely a posh-looking place, but Vejthani was nice enough, and even better in the hospitality area. When my test results were taking a bit longer than expected to come back, they invited me for a complementary foot massage. The 'lounge' where you waited between seeing specialists also had three free-to-use Internet stations as well as a small kiosk selling rolls and drinks.

Not to over-sell Vejthani though - the English skills of the nurses and assistants wasn't that good, but the doctors seemed to speak quite well.

Kathie

Yes, Bumrungrad is the only hospital outside the US that is JACHO approved.

janev

We have just booked for Bumrungrad for dental and had really prompt email responses - it took a few emails, because the person we usually see doesn't work Saturdays (the only day we can do this trip) and the one we then booked is going on leave. So we have had about 8 emails going to and from - all efficient.

mohan

Thanks for bringing up the topic.

I have heard about the 60 minutes interview. I know the hospitals look like the Manderin hotels and the services are great but what about the quality?

Where (what websites) can I learn about the type of services rendered in the hospitals?

US news reviews all the national hospital annually. Accurate or not, that's one way to find out something about the hospitals. Are there anything equavelent in Thailand?

Thanks in advice.

Kathie

Go to each hospital's own website to see what services they offer.

I don't know of any reviews of hospitals in Thailand.

easytraveler

I was at Bumrungrad in February of this year and found their services to be very efficient. Their dental clinic was the busiest place and was the only clinic where I felt they were trying to rush through as many patients as possible.

I'd suggest you keep trying. My recollection is that I had a "preliminary" appointment set up online and then set up all the follow-up appointments thereafter while already in Bangkok. Unlike in the States, the follow-up appointments were either same day, next day, or very soon thereafter.

I had a full physical, some dental work, and minor cosmetic surgery done.

My health plan here in the States is Kaiser, so in comparing the two now several months later, I'd say that Kaiser's equipment is more current (latest and greatest type of thing) and the Kaiser doctors are more up to speed on new medications. This is probably because the US drug companies are pushing their drugs more aggressively. However, my appointments here in the US are sometimes months away.

Bumrungrad is clean, efficient, and the care is excellent when paired with the low cost. I couldn't see paying an arm and a leg to remove two puff balls under my eyes (they were getting in the way of my glasses) and the several hundred dollars I paid at Bumrungrad was worth saving the thousands I would have paid in the States.

For new glasses, Tong's husband was great.

Hope this helps a bit.

Guenmai

Michaelbkk...I was watching a clip on YouTube yesterday and it was on the hospital that you've switched to. Happy Travels!

mohan

thanks Kathie and easytraveler.

easytraveler: i also have bags under my eyes. I have spent several hundreds on topical cream over the years and it's not helping. If worse comes ro worse, I might consider your option. Thanks for sharing your experience.

easytraveler

mohan: if you are considering cosmetic surgery, then yous hould seriously consider staying in Bangkok at least a week. You will need that even for bags under your eyes, which is an outpatient procedure at Bumrungrad.

The other thing you should consider is staying at the hotel on hospital grounds or very close by. I was in a hotel directly across the street.

The third thing you need is to have a small refrigerator in the hotel room because you will need to have ice packs on your eyes and cheekbones.

Here's my trip report, hope it helps a bit.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=27

mohan

Thanks easytraveler for the detail info

I would love to read your trip report. I clicked on the link, went thru many pages and still cannot find it.

I typed in 'trip report' as key word still could not find it.

Can someone tell me how to retrieve the info?

Thanks.

Kathie

try this link
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35103722