Asian Hospital and Medical Center: One Man's Experience

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

This Asian Hospital experience happened on June 18, 2009 between 11AM and 1PM. I went there to have a doctor take a look at what seem to be a ganglion cyst appearing on my left wrist.

RECEPTION
At the hospital entrance, I went through a guard who was dutifully inspecting all incoming persons, just like what they do at shopping malls and other public places. But I must say the manner by which the guard did this was quite pleasant in contrast to those in malls where you seem to be immediately under suspicion. I asked him a question as to where I could go for my consultation and he kindly directed me to what seem to be a reception station not unlike those you see in hotels. As a matter of fact the entire ground floor area looked very much like a hotel lobby. In just a few moments upon reaching the station a guy in white long-sleeved shirt with a tie was already asking me, "Can I help you, Sir?" I repeated my question and he not only directed me to where I should go but he gladly accompanied me to the place whereupon he turned me over to a lady behind the desk. This I think was possible because there was no queue at all! The lady then proceeded to ask me some questions and eventually directed me to another section of the hospital (where they check/verify my Philhealth membership). The Philhealth desk (I found out later is manned by Asian Hospital staff, not Philhealth staff) asked me for some documents, including my Philhealth card. Not having anticipated this, I could not produce the documents. But the staff kindly asked me if I can get them from my office. And I told them that I can do it but that I may have to travel all the way to Quezon City (from Alabang) to get them. I was told that if I can just call my office and ask that the document be sent via fax, it would be alright. Dito talagang natuwa ako. Helpful na, praktikal pa (nag-iisip baga). Kung sa iba siguro, sinabihan na ako na wala silang magagawa kasi yun ang procedure or policy and then wala na, tapos na, inis ka na, di ka na babalik pa. I called my office and asked that the docs be sent by fax. Then I was told to proceed to the next stage (without having me, and them of course, waiting for the papers to reach them).

Then I was referred to the doctor who was to treat/operate on my wrist. The doctor's office was orderly. Wala din pila. The doctor was thorough and explained to me, in terms that I could understand, what I got and what procedure will be done to me. I left the doctor's office with only a few questions. He then asked his secretary to make arrangements for the operation two days later. Ganun lang! The entire activity took just a little over an hour. Kaya ko lang nilagay na up to 1PM kasi dun na rin ako nag-lunch. Yes, they have a clean and orderly cafeteria at the basement, where you can find other small food outlets, including Delifrance. Meron din doon drugstore, flower shop, a Wendy's outlet, etc. As a matter of fact, dun sa may admission section (where the lady in-charge did a short interview with me), meron din beauty salon - para dun sa mga naghihintay na medyo natatagalan.

And I forgot to mention na meron din silang valet services, just in case ikaw lang mag-isa pumunta (as in my case), so you don't have waste time hunting for a parking space on your own. Magalang, mabilis at mura pa (P50.00 lang).

It was such a pleasant experience. One that I was looking forward to the day for the operation.

THE OPERATION
After leaving the car keys to the valet parking attendant, I went to the doctor's office where the doctor took one more look at my wrist and was eventually directed to the operating room. There the staff took my blood pressure and was told to wait in a 'holding area" where you are asked to lie in a bed. In a few minutes, a staff member handed me a hospital gown and was asked to change from my street clothes. After I have done so, they wheeled me all to the way to the OR where my doctor was already waiting along with one assistant. I was moved from the holding room bed to the operating table which was clean and di not look very much like a table but a comfortable bed. Overhead, I could see that the German-made (Lubeck) lighting equipment were not really brand new but were clean. The assistant clean the area where I was to be operated. The doctor told me that he was going to inject a local anesthesia and warned me to anticipate a little pain. After a few minutes he asked me if i could feel anything while he was "poking" the area to be operated. Hindi kuripot sa betadine. nakikipagchikahan pa ang doctor, conscious ako, local anaesthesia lang, and the suspected ganglion cyst sa right wrist was not a cyst after all but something else called hemangioma, rare daw, dami daw mga ugat na kung anu-ano. The routine 30 minute outpatient case became an hour-long procedure, kita ko yung ginagawa, may kino cauterize pa, relax ako sa una pero tense later dahil ang tagal na saka iba na ang nakita. Except for a few times that I felt a minor stinging pain, the operation went well.

Nawili ako sa cafeteria nila kaya doon uli ako nag lunch.

It is true, what some people say about Asian Hospital being a very good place to have your medical check-up or have your confinement (at least in my experience). Of course, it comes with a price. But in my case, I practically paid nothing (except the valet parking) because it was covered by a medical insurance. I admit that without it, I may not have even thought about this hospital.

There was a piano at the lobby and someone was playing a Ferrante and Teicher selection setting just the right mood for an "after-OR" experience.

Balita ko din, meron din wifi services but I didn't have the opportunity to try it. Maybe next time.

(For a comprehensive info on the Asian Hospital and Medical Center, please click on this link: http://www.asianhospital.com/)


DISCLAIMER: As indicated in the title of this piece, this is just one time and case-specific experience and may not be representative of the entire hospital service. This is not meant to recommend, endorse, or otherwise dissuade, anyone to avail of the Asian Hospital and Medical Center services.

Accompanying photo taken from:
http://paulorn.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/asian_hospital_alabang.jpg