Best Esarn Hospitals by Province

[Hampsha]

I figured I would put this here because all the Esarn people will see it. I'm curious what are the best hospitals in Esarn by province in your opinion. I'd especially like to know about Korat and Ubon as I am closest to those and will probably get a check up at one of those places soon. Any responses welcome.

[Marmite the Dog]

Best in Udon.
Panyavej International Hospital - Formerly named Paolo Hospital, but that was too easy to pronounce.

AEK Udon is a bit like Bumrungrad. They overcharge and couldn't diagnose their way out of a paper bag.

Udon Military Hospital is also reportedly quite good.

Watana is a bit wank and Udon General is 'Thai'.

[Hampsha]

They've got Paolo in BKK. Wonder why they changed the name in Udon.

[rickschoppers]

Best in Udon.
Panyavej International Hospital - Formerly named Paolo Hospital, but that was too easy to pronounce.

AEK Udon is a bit like Bumrungrad. They overcharge and couldn't diagnose their way out of a paper bag.

Udon Military Hospital is also reportedly quite good.

Watana is a bit wank and Udon General is 'Thai'.

Right Marmite, took my son to Panyavej and things were pretty good as far as service and overall knowledge. After working in hospitals for 30 years, I would rank it as one of the better one's in Thailand that I have been to.
My son was born in the Udon Military Hospital and I made many trips with my wife to the pregnancy clinic pre and post birth. The staff seems to be OK, but the service was not what I would call great. Long waits like in most military hospitals and no one seems to be in any hurry. Price was right in every instance though.

[Chairman Mao]

AEK Udon is a bit like Bumrungrad. They overcharge and couldn't diagnose their way out of a paper bag.

Also do, or did apartments. Stayed in one for a month in 2006. Shagged a nurse and a cleaner. Bless.

[superman]

BKK hospital in Korat is shit. All glitz and glamour, which is exactly what you pay for. I went to St Mary's, in Korat, but they didn't have the equipment to treat me for an ailment. I said to the doctor 'I'll go to BKK hospital then'. She said 'don't bother as I work there as well, and they don't have the equipment either'.
Aside from that I was admitted to BKK hospital with Hemorrhagic Dengue fever but they never had any blood to give me. The place was a nightmare and the food was shite. They gave you the option of farang food but still cooked it Thai style ie spaghetti bolognese, loaded with sugar and served cold.
Don't get ill in Isaan.

[ceburat]

Nov 2008 I suffered a heart attack and was rushed to BKK Hospital in Korat. One night in ICC and three in regular room. My only complaint was the price which could cause a man a second heart attack. I like and use St. Mary's for regular visits due to my being a diabetic. I have never used them for IP. I like both hospitals.

[Spin]

Avoid any gov hospital in Roi-et at all costs.

There is a private hospital there but I would not commend them on what I've seen so far.

Khon Kaen Ram hospital have in the past with me prescribed medicine for ailments that were unsuitable. This guarantees a return and another prescription purchase for them, at this point they seem to get it right. Their pharmacy is very expensive. Overall I would say avoid Khon Kaen Ram as it is run more like a profit minded business than a hospital that is interested in diagnosing problems correctly and quickly and prescribing the correct medicine.

[theudonshawn]

They've got Paolo in BKK. Wonder why they changed the name in Udon.

currently married to a sister of a former manager there...
story goes something like this... In the beginning, the owner needed name and fame to make the hospital work, so he partnered with the Paulo name to build up the hospital. When the hospital was stood on it's own feet and making plenty of money, he decided that he didn't need the Paolo name and didn't need to share the profits with the Paolo company anymore, so he cut business ties with them and renamed the hospital with his own name.

That's the scoop... not that it matters much... just has a funny name if you read it phonetically now... Panyavejinter....

As far as a hospital, it's overpriced and I wouldn't bother going there or to Aek Udon unless I had money to waste. (or insurance to cover it) Wattana is much cheaper and is sufficient for all the needs that I've had. Wife had a baby there, I recovered from some weird stomach virus there, and a terrible motorcycle accident... No problems, great service, good price and they speak reasonably good English, short wait for treatment and friendly-ish nurses.

The thing to remember is this: A friendly face... even if you are in pain and annoyed will get you more attention and better service than a mean face. seriously... they say something to the effect of Nah Doot (mean face) and dismiss you as an asshole and keep their distance.

Been to Aek Udon... not particularly international.. the doc looked into my throat with a big yellow flashlight like I keep in the trunk of my car... didn't speak any english and gave me the same medicine that I got at the 200b clinic just up the road.

There's another sufficient budget hospital called Chaikaseem... it looks like a townhouse on Phosri road down from the Phosri post office, proficient doctors at "thai" prices. They treated me right when I showed up with my babe in the middle of the night who had a fever and wouldn't sleep... he looked over the screaming little thing, decided it was a bit dehydrated, spent some time talking to the wife and sent us home happy without charging us a thing.

Returned while on an insurance lapse with a sinus infection... got the treatment and care I needed at a reasonable price and left happy within 20 minutes of showing up.

In Udon Thani, Aek Udon and Panyavejinter(Paolo) will kiss your ass and make you feel pretty, but the care is about the same, if less ass kissing is done at Wattana... and if you can stand the flies, the Udon Thani hospital actually has all the fancy equipment... if you are too sick for Aek Udon, they send youto the Gov hospital for the expensive stuff.

Military hospital will treat anybody who works for the government as a priority over you, regardless of your round eyes and skin color. Had my first baby there and couldn't get any better than the ward with like 20 other people who just had babies (regardless of how much money I tried to sling around)... It was a nightmare of strangers poking and breathing on my little half-thai baby... and they only let me in during visiting hours. I HATED IT.

I've been just about everywhere in Udon as far as clinics and hospitals go... and the parents of my students are doctors at just about every hospital in town... if you want any scoop, I can possibly give it to you. Pharmacies too...

[Marmite the Dog]

Paolo tried to charge me 7k for some pills the other day. They're half that price in a normal pharmacy.

[withnallstoke]

The somtamslap memorial hospital

Out in the sticks somewhere, it specialises in snake bites, chicken chewings and insanity.
The doctors are permanently pissed on Ya Dong, and indeed Ya Dong is the prescribed treatment for all ills, even if you are well.
At 10 baht a pop, you know it makes sense.

[Norton]

Avoid any gov hospital in Roi-et at all costs.

100% agree. I use Thonburi Hospital. Good all rounder for routine stuff. The best Roiet has to offer IMO but for serious stuff, best go to Bangkok.

[somtamslap]

The doctors are permanently pissed on Ya Dong, and indeed Ya Dong is the prescribed treatment for all ills

Ya Dong or leeches, yes. And if you don't walk away satisfied ,I insist one of my staff dig the grave for you..or burn you of course.

[OhOh]

The doctors are permanently pissed on Ya Dong, and indeed Ya Dong is the prescribed treatment for all ills

Ya Dong or leeches, yes. And if you don't walk away satisfied ,I insist one of my staff dig the grave for you..or burn you of course.

Nurse pictures please. Have you any surgery specialities? Any experience of Alzheimers care?

[lockman]

I figured I would put this here because all the Esarn people will see it. I'm curious what are the best hospitals in Esarn by province in your opinion. I'd especially like to know about Korat and Ubon as I am closest to those and will probably get a check up at one of those places soon. Any responses welcome.

I use AEK Udon as they have all my meds and do a proper bill for my insurance, while for specialty care I go to Khon Kean Ram who has a Rheumatologist (have psoritaic arthritis most here have no idea) on most weekends and a decent dermatologist on some evenings; as the Mukdahan International doesn't seem to get the billing and are much more expensive on my meds. Just my 2 cents worth.
Have been to Ubon Thonburi but was advised (by the hospital via e-mail) they had a rheumatologist and they did not; and DR I saw was a bone DR, while knowledgeable of some stuff, no help for me at all. I was not happy with that. Went to KK a few days later for proper treatment.

[Anteak]

The somtamslap memorial hospital

Out in the sticks somewhere, it specialises in snake bites, chicken chewings and insanity.
The doctors are permanently pissed on Ya Dong, and indeed Ya Dong is the prescribed treatment for all ills, even if you are well.
At 10 baht a pop, you know it makes sense.

It's worth adding that the operating theaters are well stocked with the very latest in paperclip technology.