I’m having a neurological problem that, despite multiple tests, the neurologist I’ve been seeing is unable to help with. I tried another, but the language barrier is a problem. I’m hoping to find a doctor who went to med school in the US or another English-speaking country. Beyond language, I want to find someone who doesn’t just want me in and out the door. I want someone who will take the time to listen and try to solve the problem.
Impossible. Not here in Taiwan.
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Try NTU Hosputal, Dept of Neurology. Several faculty-doctors have reseach-clinic training in the US or UK.
For example,
姓名：
楊智超醫師.JPG
楊智超
現任職務：
台大醫院神經部主治醫師
台大醫學院臨床助理教授
主要學歷：
台大醫學院醫學系畢業
主要經歷：
台大醫院神經部住院醫師
美國南加大神經肌肉中心(USC Neuromuscular Center) 研究員
個人專長：
神經肌肉病變(neuromuscular disorders)
過去成果：
台大醫院醫學教學特殊優異獎(2000)
第一屆罕見疾病藥物供應製造及研究發展供獻獎
台大醫院神經部網頁負責人
工作重點與未來展望 ：
神經肌肉病變(neuromuscular disorders)
多發性硬化症、罕見疾病
Maybe, but I had a bad experience when I went to the NTU to see a urologist. I lost faith in what was supposedly the best hospital in Taiwan.
I, too, had unsatisfying experiences at NTU Hospital. I was pleased with the treatment I received at Wanfang Hospital’s neurology department. The doctor spoke excellent English and despite being overloaded (on the two occasions I saw him I registered for the morning clinic but didn’t get in to see him until early afternoon) he did not rush. He listened, asked questions and responded to mine. This was 6 or 7 years ago. I don’t recall the doctor’s name and it doesn’t appear on my receipt. You might take a look at Wanfang’s website and review the credentials of the neurologists.
Many of them were educated in overseas, but not many of them speak very good English. I really don’t know how that’s even possible, but it is.
Try looking up private practices or clinics with neurologists. I’m not entirely sure they will speak English, but at least they won’t be seeing too many patients and won’t want you out the door asap.
Ask around your local co-workers if you’re having a hard time finding a good doctor. Someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, will know someone.
If you can, pay extra for something like the Priority Care Center at Adventist. Yes, they have especialists, they provide service in your own language -English, Spanish, Japanese-, and they devote at least an hour to each patient. NTU also has that “foreign medical tourist” service, as does Shin Kong and Chang Gung.
NTU is not good simply because there are too many people, and it does not need to try. People keep going because of the reputation. However, any NHI service is quite lacking just because staff is overwhelmed. Most hospitals in Taiwan are simply swapped with people, so you have to do your homework. A caring, local hospital wil give you better service. And hospitals are a plenty.
Wanfang has a good rep. The one I go to, Cardinal Tien, does not but it does not get very crowded. Tzu Chi is crowded and rep is so so. Mackay has evolved from if you go there better start choosing your urn to at least you get a chance, according to the locals -but the food is great.
Maybe you just can go with a friend who speaks the language.
In my near-fatal experience with neurology at NCKU hospital, it makes a huge difference if you can contrive to be an in-patient,
If your symptoms could potentially be an emergency, as an in-patient you’ll get a lot more diagnostic time and effort, and you’ll perhaps get a consultant discussing/demonstrating your case with students on rounds, which is a good opportunity to find out WTF is (and, more importantly isn’t) going on.
An advantage of being in Taiwan is that they tend to have medical English so are likely to use the correct technical terms, rather than some bullshit euphemism that you’re likely to get in, say, the UK.
As an outpatient you get the minimum, and the people with the shortest patient lists tend to be the least competent…I got through three neurologists who told me 4 different things. For the fourth one, I’d worked out a protocol from the literature, told him what I wanted done, he didn’t argue, and we got a diagnosis and treatment which seems to have worked.
The web makes it possible (though not easy) to research your symptoms and take an active role in your diagnosis and treatment. Could save your life.
How much extra we talking about Icon? few hundred or thousand
10k will get you one on one with an especialist for one hour at the Priority Care Center in the Adventist Hospital.
Sooooo cheeeaaaaaaaaaaap!
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One word: Bumrungrad.
Best advice ever given to me from a long-termer. If your health goes to shit, don`t trust Taiwan health care. Head to the Bum! 
Accreditations, Awards and Recognition
- In 1989, Bumrungrad went public and its shares were listed on the [Stock Exchange of Thailand]
- In 2002, Prime Minister’s Export Award
- In 2002, First [in Asia to be accredited by the American-based [Joint Commission International]
- In 2004 and 2008, Asia Money magazine’s “Best Small Cap Company” award
- In 2005, 2008, 2011, it was the first hospital in southeast Asia to be re-accredited by JCI, JCI ‘Disease-Specific’ Certification, heart and stroke programs since 2006; Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetes Mellitus since 2010[[1]]
- From 2004 to 2006, it was featured[13] on CBS’s 60 Minutes and NBC’s Today Show as a leader in medical tourism and International hospital[14][15]
- In 2008, Wall Street Journal Asia readers ranked Bumrungrad first in the quality category and fourth overall among most admired Thai companies.[[16]]
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+1 The Bum rocks.
Also it has probably the best food court of any hospital in the world (if you like Thai food). My hotel of choice in BKK is next door to the Bum. Well worth going in with even a minor ailment so that in the event of something major you’re already on their books.
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Yeah, an especialist (sic) with a degree from Pingtung Veterinary College. But, hey, he speaks English, and they give you free lukewarm dirt tea!! Money well spent!
That’s less then the cost of using the oxygen in the ambulance on the way to the hospital in the US. 