Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jdog2050]

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2915966

Pretty cool idea honestly...creating a GP office that's also a cafe; Even western countries could use better client-doctor relationships.

Only thing is, I don't know about having cats around. People could be allergic.

[Bibbitybop]

This couple spoke at TedX Seoul last semester and were two of the most interesting Korean presenters that day.

[David Lee Roth]

Very cool, but I don't agree with having cats around, as a lot of people are allergic to them.

[crossmr]

[David Lee Roth]

Actually, the reality in BOTH Korea and Canada is you will often have to wait an hour or longer but only get to the see the doctor for a few minutes. Korean doctors typically see 4-5 times the patients North American doctors do because fees here are about 1/5 what they are back home. Working out the math, doctors here make about the same as back home but they have to see 5 times the patients. At my clinic, my boss sees 60-80 patients in a 3-hour clinic session.

On the other hand, as a whitey here I've enjoyed the privilege of jumping the queue at clinics (e.g., Seoul National University Hospital).

[crossmr]

[Bibbitybop]

[Ukon]

[cdninkorea]

[David Lee Roth]

Crossmr, sounds to me like you and I have had different experiences both here and back home. Wow! Whoda thunk two people could have different experiences?! My experiences in Korea, as far as waiting times go, have been generally good: in the larger, busier clinics like SNU International Clinic, I've only waited 20-30, but I jumped the queue because I was a foreigner; when I've gone to the much smaller International Clinic at Soonchunhyang Hospital, I've typically waited 10-15 minutes because there are only 2 or 3 people ahead of me. In our very busy clinic, KOREANS wait 30 minutes. I grew up in Western Canada in medium-sized urban centers where the waiting times were 30-45 minutes tops. I believe that a Korean in the Korean medical care system waits a little less than a Canadian in the Canadian system when seeing a GP. To see a specialist, I believe the Canadian system is much worse. For example, my diabetic friend had to wait 6 months to see an endocrinologist. As I said in my previous post, doctors here have to see many more patients to earn the same amount of money. Being a healthcare professional, I would choose the system back home. Being a patient, I would choose the Korean system.

Ukon, I don't work in a local clinic. It's a specialist clinic in a major Seoul hospital. The average wait for our patients is 30 mins, an improvement since we recently switched to electronic medical records. If your doc is really THAT famous, I imagine he/she must be quite busy so: 1) you would have to wait some time to see him 2) you have the privilege of jumping the queue; or 3) he is an extremely "efficient" doctor and is able to see all of the patients in front of you, lickety-split.

I'm happy to hear you are all receiving excellent, prompt treatment.

[crossmr]

[Mr. BlackCat]

[David Lee Roth]

Crossmr, you may indeed be right that my experiences are atypical. However, I see Mr. Black Cat has had generally good experiences with the Canadian healthcare system, as well. Upon quick perusal of PubMed, I was unable to find Canadian or Korean studies, but I did find one American study (2007).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1810532/

This nationwide study found nearly 40% of patients waited less than 15 minutes, and nearly 80% waited less than 30 mins. The study appears sound and the sample size adequate (n~5000). Like I said, as a patient I would choose Korea, but I think there are pros and cons to both systems. My advice to all is be a wise consumer.

BTW, your online moniker seems quite appropriate.

[crossmr]

[Mr. BlackCat]