On the agenda this morning of July 3 was a presentation about moral competence and Buddhism in nursing practice… What we were delivered was far from that. Yet again, we sat through another private institution showing off their facilities and stunning staff.
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| 9/1 Convent Road, Silom, Bangkok 10500 |
BNH was established in 1898 and was one of the first private hospitals in Thailand under a Royal Charter from King Rama V. In 1990, the hospital recognised its need to expand services and facilities to accommodate for the increasing domestic and international market, and in 1996 opened a new hospital complex.
This is how the hospital describes itself - "First class service in a caring and friendly environment. Besides being equipped with standard medical support equipment, BNH Hospital's new wardrooms are tastefully decorated and furnished to a high standard. We believe that it is important for patients to have maximum privacy and the ability to relax in comfortable, stylish and peaceful surroundings. To accommodate the demands of the modern world, high-speed broadband internet connections are available in the living area of each wardroom.
There are three styles of patient accommodation available: the Regent Deluxe, the Ambassador Superior Deluxe, and the President Suite Deluxe.
All rooms have ether a garden or city view, all have satellite-cable television and radio, air-conditioning that is individually controlled, and all are furnished with the high class facilities expected of an international hospital. All nurses at BNH Hospital are trained to give the highest professional nursing care possible."
This sounds a million worlds away from any hospital I have entered in Australia.
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| Flawless uniforms |
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| Fancy finishes |
Statistics
- Accredited
- Nursing Council (voluntary)
- JCI (mandatory)
- EURAMI (voluntary)
- 2 floors dedicated to inpatient wards
- 104 bed capacity
- ICU = 13, NICU = 20, Nursery = 20
- 30% of all patients are foreigners
- By the end of 2013, the hospitals aims for all medical records to be electronic (EMR)
- Professional practice includes developing a culture of trust, and communication adheres to the SBAR model (as does Australia - Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendations)
Staff
- Total staff = 403
- Main religion of staff = Buddhism
- RN = 136
Nursing divisions
- RN1: 0-3 years
- RN2: 3-5 years
- RN3: 5-7 years
- RN4: more than 7 years
Nursing development
There is a huge focus on staff motivation at all levels and a set program ensures achievement of objectives. It is mandatory for all nurses to do 40 hours per year of continual learning training (in comparison to only 20 hours in Australia). The Nurse Residency Program involves transitional roles and development of professional competence, clinical knowledge, leadership and patient safety. The hospital also provides scholarships for 3 RNs each year to spend 10 weeks in Australia in association with Griffith University in Brisbane.
Clinic list
General clinics:
- Internal medicine
- General surgery
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Obstetric and Gynaecology
- Paediatric
- Opthalmology
- Ear, Nose and Throat
- Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy
- Emergency and Trauma Centre
- Radiology
- Delivery rooms
- Operating theatres
- Dermatology and Beauty Centre
Specialist clinics include:
- Heart centre
- Dental centre
- Aesthetic centre
- Check-up centre
- BNH Spine centre
- BNH Lady Urine Care
- Women's Health centre
- Gastrointestinal clinic
- Endocrinology and Nephrology
- Critical care unit
- Cardiac care unit
- Nutrition clinic
- Pain clinic
- Speech therapy clinic
- Growth and Development clinic
- Geriatric care clinic
- Diabetes and Hormone clinic
- Haemorrhoid clinic
- Memory clinic
- Haemodialysis
- IVF centre
- popular among international patients due to its price, and especially utilised by the Chinese who are able to select the gender of the embryo
Facilities
- Restaurants with Thai and international cuisines
- Gift shops
- Internet services
- High speed broadband available in all living rooms
- Multi-level underground car park with valet parking
- Health care personnel available 24 hours a day
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| Photo courtesy of Lottie Anderson |
After a tour around the hospital, I was again left with a strange feeling about what I had just experienced. The hospital did not feel like a hospital, the wards certainly did not feel like clinical environments, the lobby was filled with international patients, there were no sterile smells, and the nurses were far too glamorous to be performing health care. The 5-bedded Emergency Room was too quiet and around the nurses' station were friendly, smiling faces. This whole environment just seems so foreign (mind the pun) and I can't help but wonder what is happening at a community level in terms of funding, resources, and the quality of care provided.
*I apologise for not having better photos - the lobby and hospital areas were occupied with many international patients and I did not feel comfortable getting my camera out*
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