In general, you will be able to find all ranges of care while in China , and obviously the closer you are to Beijing , Shanghai , Guangzhou , or Hong Kong the better for things which are more severe. But deeper than that, it is important to note that even at the “expat clinics” there is a huge variety of price and quality as many of the expat clinics are actually housed within a local hospital, hospitals that themselves have a wide range of quality, cleanliness, service, and price.
So, lesson #1 find out which hospitals have the best care, which doctors provide the best service, understand the cost differences, and keep a record of these names/ numbers.For me, regardless of whether I am in Shanghai and Beijing, I am loyal to the United Family Group, although I am familiar (and comfortable recommending) Pudong East and Parkway as well. In each group I have found good doctors of Chinese and western ethnicity who have been trained overseas in their field, and with whom I am comfortable with. Moreover, in my experiences with each of these groups, I have never felt like I was being taken advantage of through the standard extra tests, needless drips, or prescription of antibiotics..and that the advice, case, pills they were giving me were what I needed.
The one to avoid (in my experience) is Worldwide, located in the Fudan Huashan building because their doctors are out to make a buck as fast as possible… something I learned a couple of years back I developed a cyst on my inner lip. Nothing that I was overly concerned about, but I went to see a doctor just to make sure. It was the one of the first times I was in need of a doctor, so I made an appointment at Worldwide. the first doctor (the general practitioner) took a quick peak, said it did not look like anything serious, but wanted to refer me to another doctor “Just in case”. Doctor number two comes into the room, takes a 3 second look, and says I should schedule surgery for the next day. To which I asked two questions: “What is your name?” and “will I die from this?”
So, #1, find a hospital and doctor you trust, and avoid those that you do not. This is about your health at the end of the day, and the last thing you need is to be subjected to testing, given pills, or have surgery recommended so that you can line someone’s pocket.
Second lesson, make sure that if you have insurance, that you know if the hospital can take direct billing, which you have to pay up front for, and carry your insurance card at all times. At the major expat units, you will often be able to make arrangements for treatments without prepaying all the time, but if you can get yourself to a hospital that takes direct pay from your insurance company, then you can avoid any issues altogether. Carry a list of these groups with you so that you can direct a taxi, ambulance, etc to that location as needed
Third lesson, make sure you can actually be helped in an emergency. This may initially elicit a “WHAT does he mean?”, but the simple fact is that there may be people willing to help (police, bystanders, etc), but who do not know how to most effectively help you, or get you the wrong type of help. It is a lesson that my friend’s email highlighted as she was found on lying on the sidewalk by police, taken to a local hospital, and had to call someone herself once she herself was able. Now exactly the best conditions for ensuring you are being given the highest level of care available, and not a position you want to be in.
A couple of tips.
Finally, register with the consulate. Seems like a minor thing to do, but one of the first steps that will be taken if you cannot be identified will be to contact consulate/ embassy officials, and anything you can do to make that process easier, the better it is for you.
In the end, take some time to work out a few details and make sure you have the information needed. There are good doctors here, and through a few phone calls they can be identified.
So, lesson #1 find out which hospitals have the best care, which doctors provide the best service, understand the cost differences, and keep a record of these names/ numbers.For me, regardless of whether I am in Shanghai and Beijing, I am loyal to the United Family Group, although I am familiar (and comfortable recommending) Pudong East and Parkway as well. In each group I have found good doctors of Chinese and western ethnicity who have been trained overseas in their field, and with whom I am comfortable with. Moreover, in my experiences with each of these groups, I have never felt like I was being taken advantage of through the standard extra tests, needless drips, or prescription of antibiotics..and that the advice, case, pills they were giving me were what I needed.
The one to avoid (in my experience) is Worldwide, located in the Fudan Huashan building because their doctors are out to make a buck as fast as possible… something I learned a couple of years back I developed a cyst on my inner lip. Nothing that I was overly concerned about, but I went to see a doctor just to make sure. It was the one of the first times I was in need of a doctor, so I made an appointment at Worldwide. the first doctor (the general practitioner) took a quick peak, said it did not look like anything serious, but wanted to refer me to another doctor “Just in case”. Doctor number two comes into the room, takes a 3 second look, and says I should schedule surgery for the next day. To which I asked two questions: “What is your name?” and “will I die from this?”
So, #1, find a hospital and doctor you trust, and avoid those that you do not. This is about your health at the end of the day, and the last thing you need is to be subjected to testing, given pills, or have surgery recommended so that you can line someone’s pocket.
Second lesson, make sure that if you have insurance, that you know if the hospital can take direct billing, which you have to pay up front for, and carry your insurance card at all times. At the major expat units, you will often be able to make arrangements for treatments without prepaying all the time, but if you can get yourself to a hospital that takes direct pay from your insurance company, then you can avoid any issues altogether. Carry a list of these groups with you so that you can direct a taxi, ambulance, etc to that location as needed
Third lesson, make sure you can actually be helped in an emergency. This may initially elicit a “WHAT does he mean?”, but the simple fact is that there may be people willing to help (police, bystanders, etc), but who do not know how to most effectively help you, or get you the wrong type of help. It is a lesson that my friend’s email highlighted as she was found on lying on the sidewalk by police, taken to a local hospital, and had to call someone herself once she herself was able. Now exactly the best conditions for ensuring you are being given the highest level of care available, and not a position you want to be in.
A couple of tips.
- Program a few numbers in your phone so that the average Chinese person could make a phone call for you, using your phone. parents (父母）； husband （husband/ wife (爱人）, boss (老板), best friend (最好的朋友). Whatever you choose, make it easy for them to look at the phone and know to dial someone who (1) knows you and (2) will come right away in an emergency)
- Carry a card with you that says My name is ( ), and in case of emergency please contact (insert name) at (insert phone number)”. again in English and Chinese. Put this card somewhere where someone would easily find it, and if you have any medical conditions, put those on there as well .. again, in English and Chinese)
Finally, register with the consulate. Seems like a minor thing to do, but one of the first steps that will be taken if you cannot be identified will be to contact consulate/ embassy officials, and anything you can do to make that process easier, the better it is for you.
In the end, take some time to work out a few details and make sure you have the information needed. There are good doctors here, and through a few phone calls they can be identified.
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