Dear Hospital Staff,

Please accept this letter as an expression of our sincere gratitude for the manner in which you responded and treated my ailing wife on the 7th and 8th of March 2010.  It was exceptional and we will never forget it.

We had been in Chiang Mai for about a week when Sally fainted.  She then experienced difficulty remaining conscious and so we (the staff at SK1 Guesthouse and I) decided to call the ambulance.  It was the best decision.  First staff on the scene included a competent, pleasant and kindly nurse.  She made good decisions and did so in a human and caring manner putting Sally and her wishes paramount.  I was very impressed - and not just a little relieved to have such wonderful assistance. 

We were immediately greeted at the entrance to the hospital by the doctor, Jaruwat Yossombat, MD, who instantly took charge.  He did so in a comforting, relaxed manner that, once again, showed deep concern and care for both my wife and me.  We were more than reassured by his competence.  We both liked him and trusted him.  Sally was seen to, analyzed, diagnosed, blood taken and interviewed within about 30 minutes and, a few minutes later, was taken to her room on the tenth floor.  To us, this level of prompt service is amazing and unheard of back in Canada. 

To be honest, the prompt action alone, made both if us both feel better right away.  I am usually upset when one of my family is in hospital and Sally remarked that I was much more relaxed this time.  "It is because they are good at what they do.  They are competent and, even better, they are nice people.  I trust them more than I do the medical staff back home."  

The beautiful smiles that greeted us and the gestures of comfort for both Sally and me were probably the first real treatments we experienced and they were very effective.  I would go back to Thailand just for the healing quality of your smiles and the lovely natures of your staff.  Trust me - genuine concern and sincere smiles go a long way to putting a patient at ease, especially foreign patients who don't speak your language. 

Within hours, Sally was feeling better.  By the next day, she was able to travel.  We kept to our schedule and, within a few days, we were safely back in Canada.  I am enclosing two pictures of where we live.  We are on a remote island living in a house she and I built ourselves.  I am including this only to show you our differences.  But what is way more important is that you showed us our similarities.  Your compassion, care, kindness and sincerity will stay with us forever.  Thank you.

I have one more favour to ask: please ensure that all staff involved know the good impression they made.  Even the staff in billing were great.  You run a very good hospital and Sally and I know that first hand as she spent her working life in Canadian hospitals working for the presidents.  And I ran a medical clinic in Vancouver.  We can honestly say that the Chiang Mai Ram Hospital is the best we have ever seen.