Medical Safety And Doctors

[robert k]

2 hours ago, Benington said:

One thing to be aware of is doctors claiming wide areas of expertise, especially surgeons. Took my wife to see an oncologist at a slightly provincial but generally good standard hospital in Cavite. Because no specialist oncologist was available at the time we ended up seeing a doctor claiming to be a "Surgeon Oncologist". After tests he was very eager to recommend my wife undergo expensive spinal surgery while making pessimistic and negative comments about other interventions to deal with the cancer. Don't wear a rucksac on a projected hiking trip, he said!

Took a second opinion from a specialist oncologist at a top hospital in Manila who raised his eyebrows at the idea of spinal surgery and who is now successfully treating the cancer non-surgically.

Had a similar experience a few years previously, where the surgeon, who, to be fair, did do some necessary breast surgery, was not so clued up about the options for post operative treatment. She even tried to sell us unproven and expensive bottles of Mangosteen juice!

Surgeons love to do surgery and it's more lucrative for them than overseeing non-surgical treatment. And they spend so long in theatre they can't keep up with developments in any claimed "co-speciality".

Nobody likes to lose a sale.

 

 

[RBM]

21 hours ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

 

I am of the opinion that "developed world" hospital care only exists in a few places, like St Lukes in Manila and that are decent if you pay for their best treatment (such as Chong Hua in Cebu).  Other than that, pray.

Not so fast Dave......I was admitted to Chong Hua around 3 years ago as an emergency case. If it had not been for the intervention of  an off duty doctor visiting a friend I would not be writing this now.

Yes was late at night and I guess interns, was to sick to know but confirm this off duty doc saved my life.

Not suggesting it's common, did in fact happen. 

My experience in Holly Child Dumaguete after a motor cycle accident also not positive.

 

[Dave Hounddriver]

1 minute ago, RBM said:

Not so fast Dave......I was admitted to Chong Hua around 3 years ago as an emergency case

Thats exactly why I said

1 minute ago, RBM said:

(ME quoting you quoting me LOL) . . . decent if you pay for their best treatment (such as Chong Hua in Cebu).

I wrote that because I realize Chong Hua is as bad as the rest of them for us normal folk, but if you go in there like MikeB and tell them you have good insurance with unlimited cap then you will be treated great.

[RBM]

21 hours ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

Yes, my friend, I agree.  I would go back if I needed to.  But I felt the need to make those negative comments only because the op asked:

 

And I think the good, safe medical care here is rare as hen's teeth, but we'll make do with what we got.

Dave although fortunately not fully tested I have been satisfied with Bacolod Riverside. The organization in particularly the out patients leaves any other hospital I have had dealing with here for dead. They are helpful, polite and appear very professional. The place seems also very clean.

Would be great to receive additional comments here.

[RBM]

4 minutes ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

Thats exactly why I said

I wrote that because I realize Chong Hua is as bad as the rest of them for us normal folk, but if you go in there like MikeB and tell them you have good insurance with unlimited cap then you will be treated great.

Please refer to my earlier post.  In addition Dave my GF paid P20k up front and informed them I was fully insured. It was how ever around mid night.

[Dave Hounddriver]

16 minutes ago, RBM said:

In addition Dave my GF paid P20k up front and informed them I was fully insured.

That is surprising and I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience at Chong Hua.

Did your GF tell them to spare no expense because you want the best care and did they give you one of the executive suites up on the 12th (or was it 10th) floor?  I mean 20K 'might'pay for one night in that room, (you had to have visited Mike in there to know what I'm talking about), that suite was SWEET! And he had more doctors working on him than I have ever seen in Philippines, so I stand by what I said about us normal folk getting normal care but those with unlimited budgets (probably a better phrase) get treated by first world standards in Chong Hua.

I am with you that 20K up front is a lot of money for us normal guys, but not in Chong Hua. 

[Nutz2U2]

22 hours ago, Jack Peterson said:

 Having been involved with nutz2u2( Norbert's) Recent illness  I can say that I am more than happy with SMUC (Silli

 

Hi Guys,

SM Hospital saved my live. For me that is the end of the story.

Were there things that shocked me ?? Absolutely YES.

We went there the 1st time after I collapsed on our way to Cebu. In emergency - Sorry Sir, but you can not stay - we have no doctors here - they are on a seminar in Manila. Come back in a few days. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

2nd visit - made it to the doctors office and collapsed again. Back to Emergency. No beds (well explains the extensions). Sat in a wheelchair. Pretty much ignored by the staff. My angel Sherry came to the rescue. She hounded the nurses for a bed, for admission, for taking my vital signs. And they pretty quickly found a bed.

We mentioned I can not eat or drink. Doctor and 2 nurses came and insisted I have a drink. I took a mouthful, swallowed and instantly vomited it up - yellow / green stomach acid followed by blood. That should have been an indication that it was not heart or lung - but what do we know. BTW never saw the doctor again.

Anyway from there we will observe you for a few days - we good a room for a few days. I was allowed to use the mobile toilet. Whilst they are moving me out of bed onto the toilet, I collapse again and ALL of my orifices relaxed. Well there was a mess and a smell that one can not believe. But the penny dropped - off to ICU.

I actually went into Hypovolemic shock. In ICU my body is shaking uncontrollable. Everybody is asking me - are you cold sir?? Well the doctors still stuck to heart and lung, till someone finally put the symptoms together. After 4 days - finally someone looked beyond my oz records.

From there is was all POSITIVE.

Nurses were polite, effective and happy. Nurses Aides very very capable.

My feeling Doctors have limited experience, thus multiple doctors see you (which reflects on the bill).

 

But my biggest shock was the obvious priority of MONEY MONEY MONEY and more MONEY.

The administration has to learn how to deal with stressed and emotional and grief stricken people. 

 

Did the Hospital do it's job - YES. And I am thankfull for it.

[Nephi]

9 minutes ago, Nutz2U2 said:

Hi Guys,

SM Hospital saved my live. For me that is the end of the story.

Were there things that shocked me ?? Absolutely YES.

We went there the 1st time after I collapsed on our way to Cebu. In emergency - Sorry Sir, but you can not stay - we have no doctors here - they are on a seminar in Manila. Come back in a few days. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

2nd visit - made it to the doctors office and collapsed again. Back to Emergency. No beds (well explains the extensions). Sat in a wheelchair. Pretty much ignored by the staff. My angel Sherry came to the rescue. She hounded the nurses for a bed, for admission, for taking my vital signs. And they pretty quickly found a bed.

We mentioned I can not eat or drink. Doctor and 2 nurses came and insisted I have a drink. I took a mouthful, swallowed and instantly vomited it up - yellow / green stomach acid followed by blood. That should have been an indication that it was not heart or lung - but what do we know. BTW never saw the doctor again.

Anyway from there we will observe you for a few days - we good a room for a few days. I was allowed to use the mobile toilet. Whilst they are moving me out of bed onto the toilet, I collapse again and ALL of my orifices relaxed. Well there was a mess and a smell that one can not believe. But the penny dropped - off to ICU.

I actually went into Hypovolemic shock. In ICU my body is shaking uncontrollable. Everybody is asking me - are you cold sir?? Well the doctors still stuck to heart and lung, till someone finally put the symptoms together. After 4 days - finally someone looked beyond my oz records.

From there is was all POSITIVE.

Nurses were polite, effective and happy. Nurses Aides very very capable.

My feeling Doctors have limited experience, thus multiple doctors see you (which reflects on the bill).

 

But my biggest shock was the obvious priority of MONEY MONEY MONEY and more MONEY.

The administration has to learn how to deal with stressed and emotional and grief stricken people. 

 

Did the Hospital do it's job - YES. And I am thankful for it.

From reading and then re-reading your post; it sounds to me that you survived the experience by the grace of God and some luck! Reinforces my thoughts on many of the available doctors and hospitals in country. It also makes me doubly thankful for the doctor we as a family have and for the hospital in Dau, Mabalacat that my family members and I have used. I can't imagine being without safe and reliable medical care!

Nephi 

[RBM]

23 hours ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

That is surprising and I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience at Chong Hua.

Did your GF tell them to spare no expense because you want the best care and did they give you one of the executive suites up on the 12th (or was it 10th) floor?  I mean 20K 'might'pay for one night in that room, (you had to have visited Mike in there to know what I'm talking about), that suite was SWEET! And he had more doctors working on him than I have ever seen in Philippines, so I stand by what I said about us normal folk getting normal care but those with unlimited budgets (probably a better phrase) get treated by first world standards in Chong Hua.

I am with you that 20K up front is a lot of money for us normal guys, but not in Chong Hua. 

Dave when I was admitted I was not even coherent, no position to ask anything. My then GF was only concerned in my immediate health, she said they advised in the emergency room, just two hours treatment until funds received.

Following  day I was transferred to a private room upstairs. Sorry not able recall costs, do remember was not impressed with room. Further, strange how ever stuck in my mind was remote for the old TV not working and was impossible to get another. 

At no time was any mention of any other room being offered. The care was adequate, no more. The cleanliness did leave a lot to be desired. Please remember this was over 3 years ago so situation may have changed. What will not of changed is money above everything mentality.

 

[Dave Hounddriver]

7 minutes ago, RBM said:

Please remember this was over 3 years ago so situation may have changed.

Yes, the experience Mike had was also over 3 years ago and your experience just emphasizes the point that nothing is ever consistent in this country.  It makes it hard to help new people when even us old-timers do not get the same experience twice.