"resort" healthcare featured on 60 minutes

live4today, RN · Apr 25, 2005

That's sort of like the type of healthcare facility I dream of building. One where nurses rule, and patients and staff are all treated like VIPs. :)

As for the U.S.A borrowing that idea........they'll screw it up with extremely obnoxious prices, and make the nurses go back to wearing white, hats, shiny white shoes with soft soles, and the nurses preparing the food. :uhoh3:

pixie-dust37 · Apr 25, 2005

As far as the United States borrowing that idea, I don't know about that. But I was more referring to people going to these other countries for their surgery. It sure looked appealing and alot cheaper.

It is great to see the patients treated like V.I.P.s', wish we had it like that here.

live4today, RN · Apr 25, 2005

Who wouldn't like being a patient in a hospital where they get VIP treatment. I would love it.....that is if I just HAD to be a patient at all. :)

hollyster · Apr 25, 2005

It is ashamed that foreigners can get this kind of treatment when the citizens of the country cannot get basic healthcare.

steelcityrn, RN · Apr 25, 2005

And they also mentioned the problem a patient would have if they needed to sue for malpractice. Pretty much, you would have to "TRY" and sue the country of India.So, before PPl go over there in mass droves, they better consider the possibilty of post-op complications/infections.

SmilingBluEyes · Apr 25, 2005

It is ashamed that foreigners can get this kind of treatment when the citizens of the country cannot get basisc healthcare.

Hell, we don't have to go overseas for this kind of disgrace. VIP units are alive and well in THIS country where millions have no coverage at all!!!

suzanne4, RN · Apr 25, 2005

i lived in Bangkok and the hospital that you are speaking of is actually JCAHO certified.............just down the road from my home there.

Be aware that nurses in Thialand average $400 per month, not day. That is one of the reasons that the care can be done for meuch cheaper. Also the pay of the physicians is less. But remember, that if you do have a legitimate problem with the surgery or the surgeon, your chances for suing for malpractice are quite slim.

Many fly over there for plastic surgery procedures. The also offer a wellness check up for two days for about $500 vs the $5000 at Mayo Clinic.

In BKK, the medical care is quite good, but leave the city, and you are definitely on your own...............they do quite a bit of orthopedics and heart surgery..........with doctors trained in the US.

In response to the people there not getting proper medical care, there is actually an excellent program in place for those that do not have private insurance, which is a large part fo the population. You can have a baby with a lady partsl delivery for about $0.75. If the baby doesn't require specialty care, then they are covered under the same "30 baht plan." Also, if the doctor admits you, you can pretty much stay until you think that you are ready to go home..............the doctors actually dispense the medication to the patients in their offices, they are not given scripts.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 25, 2005

$1500 for eyes is actually expensive, you can get an entire face list for that... or a sex-change surgery, that is one of the specialties in Thailand, and people come from all over the world for that. :)

And they do a fantastic job with it..........there are some of the most beautiful "katoeys" walking around there..........

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Apr 25, 2005

Did anyone watch 60 minutes tonight? They highlighted hospitals in India and Thailand. These hospitals look like resorts and cater to the patients like they are celebrities. The cost of surgery is a fraction of what it is here. A man had heart surgery in thailand for $12,000, which would have cost him $100,000 here in the u.s. A woman had hip "resurfacing" surgery in India for $5,888 which would have cost $20 - 30,000 here. Another woman had an eyelift for $1500 in Thailand. Not only are the prices cheaper, but the man who had the heart surgery said he had 8 RN's on his floor, and complained about having orderlies and aids here in the u.s., so, he got better quality care in Thailand. The hospital in Thailand was absolutely beautiful, was built to look like a 5 star hotel complete with restaurants like mcdonalds, etc. The rooms were nice too, looked like resort hotel rooms, and many of the patients go to resorts after their surgery to recooperate, and the lady in India only spent $140 a day at the resort for both her and her daughter.
So, do you think this can compete with our health care system down the road? They certainly don't seem to have a nursing shortage in these countries. How do you think this will affect us? and our jobs in the future?

I saw this program and was quite impressed with the facilities. The mom that just had a baby didn't feel pressured to leave the hospital. She said in Britian that moms may leave as early as 5 hours after a routine lady partsl delivery.

Yes the program was certainly interesting! I've wondered what the future of healthcare would be. It seems to be going in this direction. Although I don't think we have to worry about a lack of patients here in North America!

CHATSDALE · Apr 25, 2005

was working and didn't see the program...i wonder if they could make me into a tall willowy blond...

live4today, RN · Apr 25, 2005

was working and didn't see the program...i wonder if they could make me into a tall willowy blond...

Perhaps they could make me tall period. :rotfl: I like my reddish-brunette hair, so I'll keep it. They could add some thickness and length to it though. As I age, it's thinning more and more. :uhoh21: