Schedule an appointment to avoid long queues for medical examinations.

With just a 1-2 minute phone call, patients can avoid long queues of 2-3 hours waiting for their turn to see the doctor.

Guaranteed examination within 15 minutes.

"Patients with appointments will be examined within 15 minutes of arriving at the hospital, and groups of patients requesting examinations or consultations with foreign experts will have them done right at Bach Mai Hospital," Associate Professor - Dr. Vu Van Giap, Deputy Director of Bach Mai Hospital, pledged.

The diagnostic test results are guaranteed to be accurate, regardless of the time of day the examination is performed.

Dr. Giap stated that patients tend to arrive early, often crowding the hospital in the early morning. Each day, the hospital receives approximately 6,000 to 8,000 patients, and if they all concentrate in one time slot, it will cause overcrowding and long waiting times. Meanwhile, most medical conditions are treated in specialized departments that can be seen at other times of the day, not just in the morning.

According to Dr. Giap, since 2023, Bach Mai Hospital has implemented a system for scheduling appointments, but currently not many people have developed this habit, while most cases of examinations are planned at least 2-3 days in advance.

"In Europe, or even in some major hospitals in the region, most patients come for appointments, with appointment scheduling accounting for 90-95%. Only emergencies and acute illnesses are not scheduled. As a result, patients don't have to wait long, doctors can proactively manage patient reception, and especially have more time to ask about their condition and advise them, improving the quality of examination and treatment. Patients are also satisfied because their concerns and questions are answered satisfactorily by the doctors," Dr. Giap informed.

According to a survey by Thanh Nien newspaper, at Bach Mai Hospital, many patients wait for examinations from 4-5 am. The reason is that they want to be examined early so they can go home early. Bach Mai Hospital's assessment shows that currently only about 5% of people who come for examinations at the hospital have made appointments in advance, but most are satisfied with the service.

Bach Mai Hospital guarantees that if you arrive 15 minutes early for your appointment, you will be examined.

Speaking to a Thanh Nien reporter, Mr. Tran Thanh (30 years old, residing in Dong Da District, Hanoi ) said that he used to be very hesitant to go to public hospitals for examinations due to overcrowding. However, recently, because his bone and joint condition did not improve after a month of treatment at another hospital following the prescribed medication, he chose to seek treatment at Bach Mai Hospital.

"I went to the Bach Mai Hospital website and learned that they offer appointment booking, so I made an appointment three days in advance. When I arrived at Bach Mai Hospital at 3 PM, I was examined within 5-10 minutes after being greeted by medical staff and having my blood pressure measured," Mr. Thanh reported.

In less than two hours, Mr. Thanh had all the necessary information for examination, consultation, tests, and a doctor's prescription. Recounting this story, Mr. Thanh believes that for younger people, accessing appointment scheduling services is easier. However, for older people, their children, grandchildren, and family members can easily assist in scheduling appointments, which is convenient for both the patient and their accompanying family members.

"The appointment call takes about 1 minute and costs 2,000 VND. For that very modest fee, I've saved a lot of time and been more proactive with my work at the company. In my opinion, the hospital should widely implement appointment scheduling methods to make it even more convenient for those who need to see a doctor," Mr. Thanh suggested.

Bringing her family members from Thanh Hoa to Bach Mai Hospital for a check-up, Ms. Mai, a resident of Ha Dong District (Hanoi), commented: "With the appointment scheduling system, I can really manage my time effectively and avoid waiting for hours like before Covid-19."

Regarding this matter, Dr. Giap said that the Outpatient Department still maintains early morning consultation desks because many people arrive as early as 4-5 am. "However, we believe that if patients and their families make appointments in advance, they won't have to go through such difficulties," Dr. Giap said, adding that the hospital's Board of Directors has implemented various methods to allow people to proactively schedule appointments in advance via the hotline 1900888866, the Bach Mai Care app, or the hospital's website (bachmai.gov.vn).

"For patients who register and successfully schedule an appointment, they only need to arrive at the hospital 15 minutes early to see a doctor for examination and diagnosis," the hospital's deputy director pledged.

Accurate imaging and test results

Addressing the concerns of many patients who believe they need to go in the morning to fast before having samples taken for testing, doctors at Bach Mai Hospital explain that for certain conditions such as musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, and even diabetes, patients can have their appointments in the afternoon or evening without affecting the results. When scheduling an appointment, staff will provide specific instructions regarding the time for blood sample collection, depending on the condition.

According to Deputy Director of Bach Mai Hospital Vu Van Giap: "For common illnesses, if basic tests and scans are ordered, results are available within 2 hours, and patients can receive advice, prescriptions, and leave. For illnesses requiring more specialized tests and special orders, a diagnosis, prescription, and discharge can be obtained within 4-5 hours."

With the desire to effectively implement time-saving measures for the public in medical examinations and treatment, Dr. Giap analyzed that if all 8,000 patients simultaneously came for examinations in the morning, it would be very difficult to meet the time requirements. Therefore, a change in people's mindset and habits regarding medical examinations and treatment is essential.

Further emphasizing the commitment to accuracy in test results and functional examination results (X-rays, endoscopy, etc.) for patient groups who visit in the afternoon or evening, Dr. Giap stressed: "When the number of patients is distributed appropriately and proactively, doctors will have more time to interact, ask questions, discuss thoroughly, answer concerns, provide advice, and give the most accurate prescriptions to patients. And the final result is the correct diagnosis and better time management for patients when they come to Bach Mai Hospital."

Patients can schedule appointments via the hotline: 1900888866; press 1 to schedule an appointment; or press 2 for consultation and answers to questions during the examination and treatment process. Receive your appointment schedule and arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time to complete the procedures at the reception counter.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hen-lich-de-thoat-canh-xep-hang-doi-kham-benh-185250213201245705.htm