| DON'T JUST LOOK AT PRICE WHEN CHOOSING HOSPITAL | | Your needs are special to you alone | | Lecturer writes book to help you make informed choice | | |
HOW do you choose a hospital for your mother's heart condition?
Where should you go to give birth to your baby? 
| Madam Virginia Goh completed the first draft of her book around the time she gave birth to baby Vincent, who is now 10 months old. -- ALVIN TOH |
Which hospitals are the most expensive? Which offer the best value for money? One lecturer was asked such questions so often, she decided to do some research and write down the answers. Said Madam Virginia Goh, who is in her 30s: 'When I was doing some voluntary work at grassroots level, many people, especially the older ones, would come and ask me where they should go for medical help and whom they should see.' She would then ask her husband, a doctor. He would provide some information, but she felt the situation was not ideal. Madam Goh, an accountancy and finance lecturer, also found herself asking the same questions when she was pregnant with her first child.
It was a bit of a rush, but she researched and wrote the book during her pregnancy. She finished her first draft around the time she gave birth to her son, Vincent, which was 10 months ago. 'You can say I gave birth to both my baby and the book at about the same time,' she said. The book was launched last month and is sold for $13.65 at all major bookstores. Her husband, Dr Victor Teoh, and her lawyer brother, Mr Raymond Goh, are credited as co-authors. They helped her with research and the updating of information during the editing stage. The first half of the book looks at costs. After all, Madam Goh is also a consultant in healthcare financing and services.
WHICH IS BETTER? For example, a very general question: Are all hospitals the same? Private hospital fees are usually more expensive than those of restructured hospitals, but not all the time.
From the Ministry of Health's bill-size website, a normal delivery at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (A class) would cost an average of $3,061. But a similar delivery at East Shore Hospital costs less: an average of $2,939 (this figure was taken from the period 1 May 2005 to 30 Apr 2006).
Does this mean that the private hospital is better value for money? It's not that straightforward. Madam Goh said: 'The volume of patients a particular hospital handles is also an important point for patients to note. That's because the hospital that treats more patients generally has more experience.' KKH delivered 5,733 babies from 1 May 2005 to 30 Apr 2006 compared with the 1,058 babies delivered in East Shore Hospital. Then you have to compare the number of specialist doctors in the hospital. C'KKH has 40 compared with six at East Shore. In addition, East Shore does not have IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) facilities but KKH has,' said Madam Goh. Cost is unlikely to be the only factor in the choice. And even location can be important. 'The research we did shows that KKH is a more comprehensive hospital. But choosing a hospital is always multi-factoral,' she said. 'You also have to look at your needs, which are special to you alone. 'East Shore Hospital is still popular with residents who live in the eastern part of Singapore because of location.'
To keep the information relevant, the authors plan to keep updating their book. Said Dr Teoh: 'The key thing is that people get the hang of how to make informed choices and they can then check up the websites themselves.' The authors are also looking into publishing a Chinese version soon. So where did Madam Goh choose to have her baby? 'At National University Hospital even though it was not the cheapest one. 'My husband has worked there before. We are comfortable with the hospital staff and layout and we live close by,' said Madam Goh. Don't rush to see a specialist immediately YOU can find many common sense nuggets in the book. For example, if you fall sick or have a medical condition, don't rush off to see a specialist immediately. Madam Goh gives the example of a teenager who had severe acne. He consulted a doctor at a polyclinic who prescribed antibiotics. He was told he needed to take the medication for a year for it to be effective. After two weeks, he did not see any improvement. He then consulted a skin specialist who gave him the same medication. After a few months, his acne improved. If he had listened to the polyclinic doctor's advice, he would have saved himself the time and money needed for going to the specialist. Those with more serious conditions such as heart disease or genetic disorders should inform the polyclinic doctor and get a referral to see a specialist. 'This will enable them to enjoy the government subsidies,' said Madam Goh. The book also points out that for less complicated medical procedures like an appendicitis operation, Alexandra Hospital is the cheapest among the six restructured hospitals in Singapore. According to MOH's website, the average cost for an appendectomy is $522 at Alexandra Hospital, $578 at National University Hospital and $635 at Singapore General Hospital. Those who have conditions which need long periods of hospitalisation should choose the subsidised B2 or C class wards in the restructured hospitals. 'If they want to upgrade later, it's easier. Generally, it's more difficult to downgrade. 'Also, if you choose A class or B1, you may end up paying a lot of money for your medical treatment,' she said. | 
