Korean Job Discussion Forums

[polarbearbrad]

This thread is inspired by the thread "Sometimes I want to shoot someone" in this very forum.

I read the heart-wrentching tale of a woman who went looking for an open hospital and couldn't find one. We have a tough time with the medical services in this country and I have decided to do something about it.

This is not perfect but it is a first step I believe.

Please post the names of good and bad hosptials that you know about. In addition to posting the names, please post WHY they are good or bad and the general area you find them in. Let's hope that the information we share can spare someone needless pain.
Sincerely,
Bradley

Hospital: Bupyoung General
Area: Bupyoung Market
Grade: Bad
Why: Been there twice, once for a concussion and knee injury and the second time another knee injury. I went to the trauma/emergency room both times. First time by ambulance for the concussion and while I received quick care, the ward was not clean, I was left in my own vomit covered clothes, an IV was hooked up but no monitor and my IV ran dry and no one checked it. They found the concussion, but missed the knee injury. I had to tell them it was the knee injury that caused my fall which caused my concussion (after I woke up). It cost me 300 000 won for the bed, services, ambulance, and x-rays of my head.

Second time I went in for a torn ACL and the cleanliness conditions had not improved. They were going to take X-rays, but I told them not to bother, I knew what it was. A simple physical exam could tell there were no broken bones. They cast me, and gave me a shot.

In short don't go there unless you are dying.

Hospital: In-ha Univeristy Hosptial At Incheon International Airport
Area: Basement of Incheon International Airport
Grade: Decent
Why: Been there several times. They are open 24 hours a day and there IS a doctor on duty. They apparently close for lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 but will accept emergency patients. The doctors are hit and miss in terms of ability. Some are very good the others are not so good. Ask for an experienced doctor if you can. They are sometimes young and inexperienced. One intern doctor didn't even listen to my chest and when I went back it turns out I had bronchitis/mild pneumonia!
They will do for most things but if you need a proper hospital then go somewhere else. If you just have something fairly simple they are good.

Hospital: Clinics On Yeongjeongdo
Area: Yeongjeongdo (airport island)
Grade: Decent
Why: These are clinics with limited capabilities. They often have X-ray machines but one or two doctors at best. They can stabilize a patient but can't do anything really complex. They are pretty caring about things but don't go to them for anything really important. They are clean but limited in their range of care.

Hospital: Soonchunhyang 순천향병원 University hospital
Area: Songnae
Grade: Excellent
Why: Went in for my ACL surgery and everything went fine. The ward nurses spoke enough English to get accross their points and understand my needs. The surgeon's English was excellent and even the students who were coming around were pretty fluent. The hospital was clean, organized, and definitely up to western standards. There was a doctor available if I needed one and that was a MAJOR plus.
The staff were very caring and I would say it was (for my experience) on par with a North American hospital.

Please follow this format and let's help each other.
Sincerely,
Bradley

[sconner]

Hospital: Severance Hospital
Area: Dogok
Grade: Very bad
Why: The International Clinic set me up with a doctor in the hospital. He performed an unnecessary procedure that did not help me with the problem I had. During the procedure they "messed up" and left me with an infection that I am still battling. Because of what he did I will probably not be able to have children. The doctor refused to acknowledge his mistake and I had to call the US embassy and fight with them for almost two months to get a copy of my records.

[alexh]

Good Hospitals:
Yonsei Severance by Yonsei U Campus in Sinchon. Great facilities probably the #1 or #2 hospital in Korea. Good Foreigner clinic there.

Samsung Hospital in Kangnam is good too, probably #1 or #2.

Bad Hospital:

Ehwa Women's University Hospital at Dongdaemun Stadium, Bad, Bad, Bad!!!

[princess]

Good Hospital: St.Mary's in Uijeoungbu

Nice, big and clean. Thee are nuns on staff to help you. I spent almost 2 months last summer with bronchitis. After going to see a doctor five times, I went here the 6th time and FINALLY got better. A really nice nun lead me to all the places to get my tests done. Everyone there was so kind to me. I highly recommend this place!!!

[kermo]

Mediocre, i.e., Disappointing but not Overtly Hazardous
Gangnam Severance Hospital

I was admitted to the emergency ward with a minor laceration but uncontrollable bleeding (had been to a pharmacy and a local clinic, both gave up when I wouldn't stop dripping all over their floors.) The staff had almost no English at all. There was an old wound on the same finger, and one nurse emptied an entire bottle of saline solution over the wound as I continued to bleed while she peered at the scar, without realizing that the current wound was entirely unrelated. They charged me $300 for a shot of antibiotics and a tight wrap around the cut.

Iffy, i.e., Competent but not too Clean
Yongin Severance Hospital

Visited several times for emergency treatment and follow-up tests, and was dismayed by the blood-stains in the testing area. I didn't make a remark but the doctor felt compelled to suggest 'You might think this area is not clean... but it is.' Doctor was able to communicate well in English, nurses were handy with their instruments of pain, though.

[gochubandit]

can anyone tell me where these hospitals are EXACTLY??

i live near the kangnam area so the Gangnam Severance hospital and the Samsung Hospital would be ideal. i'd be interested in the int'l clinic at the Dogok Severance hospital too. i want to go in for a check up and i need someone who can speak good English.

[Guri Guy]

Gochubandit you avatar thief!

[r.]

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=62523&highlight=hospital

I don't have my health insurance yet and had to see a dermatologist for a minor problem. I emailed on Sunday night requesting an appointment. They called me and emailed me by 10am today asking if I could come in for a 12:50 appt. I showed up at 12:40 at Samsung medical hospital (which is huge and super modern) to the Int'l health services desk, filled out a brief form and they had a translator walk me to the dermatology dept. The Dr. saw me at exactly 12:50. He spoke perfect English and I was out the door with two prescriptions 15 minutes later. I haven't been paid yet so I don't have Nat'l health insurance but the appt. fee was 37 dollars. The two medications together (which are the same ones I would be prescribed in the states) were 30 dollars. They are over 400 dollars without insurance in the US. Anyways, I couldn't recommend this place more. It was as modern as the best hospitals I've been to in the states, like Stanford University.

Samsung Medical Center: http://english.samsunghospital.com
3410-00200

[re:cursive]

Asan medical centre is good.

The staff at the International clinic there were very friendly and helpful on the occasions I was there. I got escorted around and taken to the front of any queues. They also cut through some red tape saving me money and time.

The doctors and specialists all spoke decent English and seemed willing to answer any questions I had properly. If for any reason a particular person was unable to communicate with me fully (nurses etc.), they quickly went and found a person who could (usually a doctor).

I was impressed by both the facilities and the level of medical care I received there.

Getting there is easy:
Catch line 2 to Seongnae station. Standing in the station with your back to the river you want to exit the station to your left, head towards the river and then follow the road around to the right (there's a big construction site on your right side). Keep going and follow the signs up some stairs, along a canal for a bit, then over a small footbridge to the hospital. It's only a 5 to 10 minute walk. You could catch a cab but walking is just as quick.

http://www.amc.seoul.kr/eng/

[gochubandit]

[chronicpride]

[heydelores]

The Seoul Help Center for Foreigners has a 24-hour medical referral service. Medically qualified English-speakers can give you information about medical facilities in Korea.

First, call 010-4769-8212.
If no answer, call 010-8750-8212.