After I wrote the piece about Bumrungrad, I learned there are a few more top-notch medical facilities in Bangkok. One of them, and perhaps most popular, is BNH Hospital.

Also known as Bangkok Nursing Home Hospital, BNH is conveniently located in the heart of the Silom district. It’s on Convent Road, about five minutes walking distance from the Sala Daeng BTS station.

Use exits 2 or 4 at the Sala Daeng BTS station and walk south - same direction the train was going, if you came from Siam. Turn left on Soi Convent, and BNH is a few blocks down, on the left. This is the same direction you would go for Adonis Massage, except Adonis is further down the street and on the right.

They other day I developed an eye problem, and decided I’d give BNH a try. I went to their web site, looked up their number, and called them at 2pm. The very polite English speaking receptionist told me I could see the one specialist on duty between 2:30 and 4. He was taking patients first come, first served. I was concerned I might not be able to make it on time, as I needed to shower, ride the BTS for 30 minutes, and walk to the hospital. I also knew first time patients had to register with the hospital, before receiving care. She took my name and number, and assured me I had plenty of time.

By the time I got to Silom it was a little after 3pm. I was just exiting the BTS station when my phone rang. It was the receptionist calling to let me know the doctor was running late and would be taking patients between 3:30 and 4:30. Try getting that level of service in America.

A few minutes later I arrived at BNH. Unlike Bumrungrad, BNH looks like a hospital, a very nice one. All of the staff, including many nurses, are dressed in suits. They are incredibly polite and eager to be of service. I stopped at the information desk and explained I was a first time patient. The nice lady escorted me to the reception desk, where another nice lady assisted me with a one page registration form. After completing the form, I was asked to take a seat for a moment. Soon after another nice lady brought me my new BNH hospital card and walked me to the doctors office on the second floor.

The medical staff immediately began some preliminary tests. A few minutes after the tests were completed I was taken to see the doctor. He did a bunch more tests, and concluded I had an eye infection. The doctor told me he would prescribe a couple of medications, and ask me to have a seat in the waiting room. Within 60 seconds a staff person handed me some paperwork, and asked me to go to cashier’s window number 4, on the first floor. There a nice young man told me the medical exam and prescriptions came to a total of 1,715 Baht (approx. $48.32).

After paying my bill, I was politely directed to window 6 to pick up my prescriptions. There, a very nice lady explained the medications, placed them in an attractive bag, put all of my paperwork in an envelope, placed it in the bag, and I was on my way.

From entry to exit I was at BNH for one hour and fifteen minutes. While I was there, my combined waiting times totaled around 10 minutes.

As of this writing I have received medical care two times while living in Bangkok, and both experiences were exceptional. These are world-class medical facilities, that treat patients like they are visiting a five star hotel. I cannot understand why medical care in America has to be so cold and outrageously expensive.