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korean Medical dr's r pretty much useless

 
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KoreanLifer



Joined: 30 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 4:01 pm    Post subject: korean Medical dr's r pretty much useless Reply with quote

i have been nursing a bad knee with some discomfort recently and 4 different orthopedic surgeons have given me a different diagnosis each.2 of them requested a MRI outright with the cheapest 1 being 390,000w.other guy wanted 560,000w for an MRI.1 dr. i visited even got out his medical encylopedia to explain the problem to me.appeared to me this guy had no clue what he was talking about.dr.s can perform simple stress tests on your knees to assess ACL & MCL conditions and not 1 of the dr's i saw ever attempted a stress test.i really dont think my problem is worthy of an exspensive MRI.i only would like a referral to a good Physical Therapist.i get the impression that these dr.s are only tring to make a few $$$ off me!

p.s. i also like the Nurse in the dr's office trying to stick the needle in my ass with anti-biotics injection.i heard that dr.s do it to get paid from the Govt.
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Dan



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Sunny Glendale, CA

PostPosted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 4:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ah, the needle in the ass with the smacking free of charge. Rolling Eyes

Have you considered acupuncture?
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canuckistan
Mod Team
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Joined: 17 Jun 2003
Location: Training future GS competitors.....

PostPosted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"Teaching" hospitals (and doctors) that are attached to a university are usually better and more with-it than just walking into Joe Schmo's office.
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Marathe



Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Location: Spider Hole

PostPosted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 7:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dan wrote:
Ah, the needle in the ass with the smacking free of charge. Rolling Eyes


thats the best part of being ill in korea

knowing that that agassi nurse wasn't expecting to see some fine wayguk rear when she got up this morning.

now she's gotta slap it.

recognize!
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desultude



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: Dangling my toes in the Persian Gulf

PostPosted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 10:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I went to the local clinic in Daegu a couple of times- a couple of times too many. Now I take the one hour bus ride, or 10,000 W taxi ride to the teaching hospital. There is an international clinic, and the two women in charge take you under their wing and take care of everything. I feel incredibly taken care of. But I do find even the best docs here to be less than I would prefer. For example, they don't want to explain anything to you. If you want to get your questions answered, go with a list, and persevere. I do hope that I have nothing worse happen to me here than my broken foot.

And speaking of my broken foot- I was in and out of the teaching hospital, having been seen by an orthopedic surgeon who was called in in the middle of the night, xrayed and casted, in less than two hours. I once sat in an emergency room in one of the best hospitals in Miami, Cedars Sinai, for five hours with my 83 year old father, who was seen STAT when he finally had a stroke waiting. The medical care is better in the U.S., when you get it and if you can afford it. My broken foot cost me less than $150 U.S., after two month's care.
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JackSarang



Joined: 28 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 11:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

desultude wrote:
I do find even the best docs here to be less than I would prefer. For example, they don't want to explain anything to you. If you want to get your questions answered, go with a list, and persevere. I do hope that I have nothing worse happen to me here than my broken foot.


This is typical in Asian culture in general. The Doctor's are supposed to be infallible. Why should you, a person who is not a Doctor, have any questions? You should trust them. Their judgement is absolute and simply follow their chosen course of remedy. Asking questions insinuates you don't believe they are capable of doing their job.

Luckily for me, I've never been seriously ill here. But the three times I came down with the same symptoms I went to the same Ear Nose Throat specialist and he diagnosed three different things each time, yet prescribed the same crappy medication... knowing what they were I tossed out everything except the antibiotics.. which thankfully were in pill form.
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thegadfly



Joined: 01 Feb 2003

PostPosted: Fri Aug 29, 2003 8:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maybe I have just been unlucky -- the care I received from Korean doctors has been on par with the care I have received in the US...the only difference has been that the doctor in Korea only kept me waiting for 5 minutes, while my US waitingroom time is usually about 90 minutes...plus Korea doctors are cheaper....

Finding a good doctor ANYWHERE, one without the typical ego issues and decent people skills, is difficult at best. Toss in a language barrier and it is darn near impossible, though most doctors I have seen in Kora have spoken at least a little English.

One thing I noticed about Korean doctors is that they have been more willing to listen to my own diagnosis -- I have had tonsilitis often enough to KNOW that I have tonsilitis again...ditto strep throat...ditto ear infection...doctors in the US keep telling me that I can't diagnose my own problems, they want to run a battery of tests...Korean doctors have done a single test to confirm my diagnosis was accurate -- which it turns out to be -- then prescribe me the antibiotics I wanted anyway....

On the other hand, an injury is a whole different kind of treatment...and I have never gone to a Korean doctor for an injury...but have you considered a chiropractor? A good chiropractor may well be able to take care of your problem...they aren't just for backs and necks...but finding a good one is imperative, so you are back to square one....
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Dan



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Sunny Glendale, CA

PostPosted: Fri Aug 29, 2003 10:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Complaining about korean doctors?

I bumped my head, not too badly, had a shallow gash which might or might not have required stitching.

So I go to the hospital where the doctor puts 5 staples in my head and pours some hydrogen peroxide on it.

Takes about 15 minutes tops.

The price? Over $500. $200 to the hospital and $300 to the doctor.

Yes, I know Canada has universal health care, but on that day, I wished I was still in korea.
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