Health

Monday, 23 March 2009

Patients 'Dive' Into Bangkok Hospital's Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Center

Bangkok Hospital has recently established a hyperbaric oxygen therapy center, designed to help patients with a wide range of conditions heal faster and obtain better health outcomes.

Bangkok Hospital recently established a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Center at the hospital with their existing hyperbaric chamber. The center provides specialized knowledge, highly trained staff and streamlined treatment for patients.

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is most often associated with the treatment of decompression sickness. However, it is also used for several common conditions, including:
- Burns treatment
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Gas gangrene
- Assisting healing in problem wounds
- Exceptional blood loss where transfusion is not possible
- Necrotizing soft tissue infections
- Healing for skin grafts
- Radiation injury

HBO may also be prescribed to treat common conditions such as stroke, migraines and Lyme Disease.

In hyperbaric therapy, oxygen is forced into the bloodstream at around three times the normal pressure of the atmosphere. Oxygen is concentrated in the blood at 20 times the normal level. This reduces swelling, speeds wound healing and helps new blood vessels form. Anaerobic bacteria will also die.

The new HBO center will make the treatment of dive-related decompression sickness patients especially easy. Around 500,000 people visit Thailand each year for diving purposes, and decompression sickness is estimated to occur in 1.7-1.9% of all dives. This is a potential 9,500 cases of decompression sickness to be treated per year in Thailand.

HBO currently costs around US$1000 when performed at hospitals in the United States. While costs will vary according to patient needs at Bangkok Hospital, most hospital packages represent a saving of anywhere from 50% to 90% off US medical treatment prices.

Chris Sharasuvana, the hospital's E-marketing manager, believes that "The HBO center will help streamline things and make beginning-to-end treatment much simpler for both physicians and patients. It is such a useful form of therapy, for so many conditions, and it is wonderful that more people will be able to utilize it".

About Bangkok Hospital:

Bangkok Hospital is one of the most technologically sophisticated hospitals in the world today. Located in Bangkok, Thailand, the hospital is an expansive state-of-the-art medical campus providing comprehensive medical care through multidisciplinary teams of highly trained specialists. With its four hospitals and broad range of specialized clinics, the hospital is equipped with all of the diagnostic and treatment facilities not generally available at local hospitals. The center has received Joint Commission International accreditation and is known throughout the world for delivering world-class, award-winning healthcare.

For more information contact Chris E-Marketing Manager, Bangkok Hospital.
Email: info ( @ ) bangkokhospital dot com

Bangkok Hospital's New Asthma and Allergy Center Nothing to Sneeze At

Up to 100 million people in the US and UK alone are affected by asthma and allergies, and rates are increasing. In response, Bangkok Hospital has set up a specialized Asthma and Allergy Center, streamlining testing, treatment and education.

Up to 100 million people from the US and UK alone could benefit from Bangkok Hospital's new Asthma and Allergy Center, offering complete end-to-end management and potentially life-saving treatment.

The center aims to streamline the diagnosis, testing, treatment, management and education of several common allergic conditions. These include:
- asthma
- hay fever
- food allergies
- penicillin allergies
- anaphylaxis
- atopic eczema

Combined, these conditions affect over 100 million people in the US and UK alone. Symptoms suggestive of asthma are increasing at a rate of about 5% per year in the UK, with similar findings in other developed countries like Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia, the US and Taipei. This increasing incidence is attributed to several factors, including diet, exposure to allergens, viral infections, and genetics.

Bangkok Hospital's new center will provide several care functions in a streamlined way, including:
- Testing
- Diagnosis
- Comprehensive treatment programs
- Patient information and education

There are currently 8 allergy and immunology specialists at Bangkok Hospital. Dr Apichart Valyasevi has 18 years medical experience, and nine in immunology. He is looking forward to the new clinic gaining popularity: "Allergies and asthma are often life-threatening conditions, but many people suffer with them in silence".

"People who would otherwise have simply 'tried to get by' with their condition will find easy, complete, specialized and very cost-effective treatment at the new center", Dr Valyasevi continued.

About Bangkok Hospital:

Bangkok Hospital is one of the most technologically sophisticated hospitals in the world today. Located in Bangkok, Thailand, the hospital is an expansive state-of-the-art medical campus providing comprehensive medical care through multidisciplinary teams of highly trained specialists. With its four hospitals and broad range of specialized clinics, the hospital is equipped with all of the diagnostic and treatment facilities not generally available at local hospitals. The center has received Joint Commission International accreditation and is known throughout the world for delivering world-class, award-winning healthcare.

For more information contact Chris E-Marketing Manager, Bangkok Hospital.
Email: info ( @ ) bangkokhospital dot com

Bangkok Hospital Trims the Padding off Liposuction Costs with New Package Giving 75% Off

Liposuction is currently the most common cosmetic surgery procedure in the US, but can be extremely expensive. Bangkok Hospital has introduced a new package that slashes up to 75% off the cost of the surgery in the US, and 68% off the UK cost.

Up to 100 million people from the US and UK alone could benefit from Bangkok Hospital's new Asthma and Allergy Center, offering complete end-to-end management and potentially life-saving treatment.

The center aims to streamline the diagnosis, testing, treatment, management and education of several common allergic conditions. These include:
- asthma
- hay fever
- food allergies
- penicillin allergies
- anaphylaxis
- atopic eczema

Combined, these conditions affect over 100 million people in the US and UK alone. Symptoms suggestive of asthma are increasing at a rate of about 5% per year in the UK, with similar findings in other developed countries like Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia, the US and Taipei. This increasing incidence is attributed to several factors, including diet, exposure to allergens, viral infections, and genetics.

Bangkok Hospital's new center will provide several care functions in a streamlined way, including:
 Testing
 Diagnosis
 Comprehensive treatment programs
 Patient information and education

There are currently 8 allergy and immunology specialists at Bangkok Hospital. Dr Apichart Valyasevi has 18 years medical experience, and nine in immunology. He is looking forward to the new clinic gaining popularity: "Allergies and asthma are often life-threatening conditions, but many people suffer with them in silence".

"People who would otherwise have simply 'tried to get by' with their condition will find easy, complete, specialized and very cost-effective treatment at the new center", Dr Valyasevi continued.

About Bangkok Hospital:

Bangkok Hospital is one of the most technologically sophisticated hospitals in the world today. Located in Bangkok, Thailand, the hospital is an expansive state-of-the-art medical campus providing comprehensive medical care through multidisciplinary teams of highly trained specialists. With its four hospitals and broad range of specialized clinics, the hospital is equipped with all of the diagnostic and treatment facilities not generally available at local hospitals. The center has received Joint Commission International accreditation and is known throughout the world for delivering world-class, award-winning healthcare.

For more information contact Chris E-Marketing Manager, Bangkok Hospital.
Email: info ( @ ) bangkokhospital dot com

Bangkok Hospital Launches Junior Health Membership Program

Healthcare for children is recognized as vital for creating a healthy adult population. Bangkok Hospital is making healthcare for children even more affordable than the usual low-cost Thai prices, with a new Junior Chivawattana Health Discount card

Bangkok Hospital has created a new category of Health Club membership for children, the Junior Chivawattana card. The card represents a minimum saving of 14,000TB (approx US$400 at current exchange rates), and includes savings for both preventative and curative procedures.

The Chivawattana Junior Membership card entitles the holder to:
• 40% discount on in-patient room rates
• 12% discount on in- or out-patient medical expenses
• 2 free junior health checkups per year
• 10% discount on vaccines
• 5 free dental examinations per year
• 500TB off orthodontic visits (up to 4 per year)
• Plus other discounts

To compare the complimentary items in the Chivawattana Junior Membership with regular US prices:
• 5 dental examinations per year would cost US$300
• Orthodontic examinations cost around US$45
• Room rates cost an average of $212 per day in the US, and the 40%
discount for Chivawattana members is unlimited.

Studies have shown that both preventative and curative medicine is extremely important for the future health of children. Around 11.3% of children in the US are not insured, and would have to pay private costs for health care. More than 51 million school hours are lost each year in the US due to dental problems, and children without access to reasonably priced health care are less likely to have things like ear infections treated and check-ups performed, which could catch serious disease early.

About Bangkok Hospital:

Bangkok Hospital is one of the most technologically sophisticated hospitals in the world today. Located in Bangkok, Thailand, the hospital is an expansive state-of-the-art medical campus providing comprehensive medical care through multidisciplinary teams of highly trained specialists. With its four hospitals and broad range of specialized clinics, the hospital is equipped with all of the diagnostic and treatment facilities not generally available at local hospitals. The center has received Joint Commission International accreditation and is known throughout the world for delivering world-class, award-winning healthcare.

For more information contact Chris E-Marketing Manager, Bangkok Hospital.
Email: info ( @ ) bangkokhospital dot com

Thursday, 19 March 2009

Bangkok Hospital Births New Affordable Fertility Program

Couples undertaking IVF have already been shown to experience considerable marital strain. Bangkok Hospital is helping to ease the pressure with a new cut-price IVF package, which could save US patients up to 85% of the cost of treatment.

Bangkok Hospital has implemented a new cut price fertility program, which has the potential to save thousands for the 1.5% of babies worldwide that are born after IVF conception.

The new fertility package costs 80,000 Thai Baht for oocyte pick up and in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The cost can also be split into two payments, with 60,000TB payable on the day of oocyte pick up, and 20,000 on the day of fertilization. The special price is valid only until June 30, 2009.

The package includes the costs of:
• Physicians, obstetricians and anesthetists
• Nursing
• Operating and recovery room charges
• Medical supplies
• Anesthetic drugs
• Embryo culture in laboratory
• The first year of freezing, which is typically an additional charge in
Western hospitals.

The package can be undertaken through Bangkok Hospital's specialty Fertility Center, which streamlines testing, diagnosis, treatment and management of infertility, up until pregnancy occurs. If a couple is considered candidates for a less expensive or complicated type of treatment, the Fertility Center can also provide intrauterine insemination, GIFT and Zygote Intrafallopian transfers.

The fertility package is generally available at short notice - waiting times for IVF treatment can range up to several years in the US and UK.

Dr Somboon Kunathikom has been specializing in obstetrics and gynecology for the last thirty years, and has witnessed the impact that infertility can have on a couple. "Clinical depression rates for infertile women are around the same as for those undergoing cancer treatments, and we see so many couples unhappy because of the stress of infertility".

"The new low-cost IVF program should allow many more couples to experience the joy of children, which they've waited so long for", he continued.

About Bangkok Hospital:

Bangkok Hospital is one of the most technologically sophisticated hospitals in the world today. Located in Bangkok, Thailand, the hospital is an expansive state-of-the-art medical campus providing comprehensive medical care through multidisciplinary teams of highly trained specialists. With its four hospitals and broad range of specialized clinics, the hospital is equipped with all of the diagnostic and treatment facilities not generally available at local hospitals. The center has received Joint Commission International accreditation and is known throughout the world for delivering world-class, award-winning healthcare.

For more information contact
Chris E-Marketing Manager, Bangkok Hospital.
Email: info ( @ ) bangkokhospital dot com

Wednesday, 25 February 2009

World's Most Advanced MRI Machine Finds Home at Bangkok Hospital

Bangkok Hospital recently acquired the world's most advanced piece of imaging equipment for diagnosing and imaging heart conditions, a 256-slice CT scanner.

Bangkok Hospital recently acquired one of the world's most advanced pieces of equipment for the diagnosis and imaging of heart conditions, a 256-slice CT scanner. This machine is an upgrade to the 64-slice scanner, previously the most advanced technology available.

Bangkok Hospital is working on creating a cut-price package for the 256-slice CT multi-detector. While the details are not currently finalized, current packages at the hospital usually represent savings of between 50% and 95% over comparable procedures in the US. Please contact Bangkok Heart Hospital for the details at info ( @ ) bangkokhospital dot com dot

The 256-slice scanner, such as Bangkok Hospital now has, was in prototype stage as recently as 2006. The system is most widely used for cardiac imaging, but can also be used for other large organ imaging, such as liver, brain and lung imaging.

The advantages of the new 256-slice system over lower slice-count machines include:
1. Extremely high image quality and picture clarity
2. Medication for reducing the heart rate prior to test is not required
3. Radiation exposure to the client is clinically proven to be lower
4. Use of contrast media is minimized
5. Patients who previously could not undergo the test because of tachycardia, severe renal failure, cardiac arrhythmia, contrast media and/or seafood allergy are not precluded from 256-slice tests

Dr Kitipan Visudharom the director of the Bangkok Heart Hospital – one of the four hospitals that make up the Bangkok Hospital campus, is looking forward to helping a high volume of patients with the new package and machine. "Heart disease is one of the most common conditions that bring people to Bangkok Hospital. We should be able to save thousands of people significant amounts of money, and greatly improve their health outcomes also with this new technology and package".

About Bangkok Hospital:

Bangkok Hospital is one of the most technologically sophisticated hospitals in the world today. Located in Bangkok, Thailand, the hospital is an expansive state-of-the-art medical campus providing comprehensive medical care through multidisciplinary teams of highly trained specialists. With its four hospitals and broad range of specialized clinics, the hospital is equipped with all of the diagnostic and treatment facilities not generally available at local hospitals. The center has received Joint Commission International accreditation and is known throughout the world for delivering world-class, award-winning healthcare.

For more information contact Chris E-Marketing Manager, Bangkok Hospital.
Email: info ( @ ) bangkokhospital dot com

http://www.bangkokhospital.com

New Option for Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients at Bangkok Hospital

Bangkok Hospital has recently implemented a streamlined program aimed at helping conserve patients' own tissue for early stage breast cancer patients. It is expected to allow up to 30% of cancer patients to keep their own breasts.

Wattanosoth Cancer Hospital - one of the four hospitals that make up the Bangkok Hospital campus, a top Thailand cancer center, is helping improve women's self-image, prospect of breastfeeding, sexual functioning and lifestyle preservation after breast cancer with a new breast conserving therapy program.

The Breast Conserving Therapy Program provides a structured treatment path for early stage breast cancer patients that is geared towards breast conserving therapy and reducing the need for Thai cosmetic surgery. The procedure basics are:
1. Condition history is determined, examination and initial consult performed
2. Digital mammogram or ultrasound is requested, if necessary
3. Excision, biopsy or FNA pathology performed if necessary
4. If the tests reveal early stage breast cancer, the medical team makes its recommendations on treatment options. If the patient decides to have breast conserving surgery, she receives comprehensive information on the nature of the disease, the surgery, and after-care and self care such as proper exercise, prior to admission.
5. Heart function continues to be monitored
6. Support and education continue
7. Specialist formulates treatment plan once would begins to heal, and treatment schedule for patient is determined.

It is estimated that around 30% of patients can undergo breast conserving therapy (BCT) at no increased risk over mastectomy. Breast conserving therapy has the following advantages over mastectomy for patients:
8. Functional lactation is possible in the treated breast, for patients planning to have children
9. Patients of all ages report better body image
10. Sexual functioning is less affected
11. Emotional and social functioning are less affected
12. General disruption to life is lower with BCT

The fact that breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed at Bangkok Hospital's specialist cancer center, Wattanosoth Hospital, was the prompter for the creation of the new program.

Dr. Chajchawan Nakhakes is a medical oncology specialist at Bangkok Hospital, and is confident the program will improve outcomes for patients. "Patients undergoing BCT have so many advantages over mastectomy patients, and in many cases the medical difference is non-existent. The program makes it easier and more natural for patients to choose BCT if appropriate, and reassures them about their choice."

About Bangkok Hospital:

Bangkok Hospital - www.bangkokhospital.com - is one of the most technologically sophisticated hospitals in the world today. Located in Bangkok, Thailand, the hospital is an expansive state-of-the-art medical campus providing comprehensive medical care through multidisciplinary teams of highly trained specialists. With its four hospitals and broad range of specialized clinics, the hospital is equipped with all of the diagnostic and treatment facilities not generally available at local hospitals. The center has received Joint Commission International accreditation and is known throughout the world for delivering world-class, award-winning healthcare.

For more information contact Chris E-Marketing Manager, Bangkok Hospital.
Email: info ( @ ) bangkokhospital dot com

http://www.bangkokhospital.com