I recently had to get my wife admitted to the Max Hospital in Gurgaon. Below is a review based on my experience of this facility. Overall, I am satisfied with the services, but there can be improvements. First a little bit about the facility itself. Max is a relatively large hospital with a large number of specialities and services. They have over 100 beds, 2 Operation Theatres and a 12 bed ICU (information courtesy Max Website); they also have a Emergency Response team.
By the looks of it, the hospital seems very modern and professionally managed. The staff at all desks are friendly and eager to help. It contains a 24 hour cafeteria and a 24 hour pharmacy (two things that I believe are a must for any decent hospital). It is located near Park Plaza hotel in Sushant Lok 1. Now I will talk about our experience.
The Emergency Ward
We started out in the emergency ward. The experience was positive enough. We had to wait for a long time (as my wife’s situation wasn’t life threatening at all, so the doctor had prioritized her accordingly). A battery of tests was ordered (and was required) as soon as the doctor had a chance to examine her. This is where the system disappointed me a little. I would expect these tests to be carried out in a process and I would expect the patient to be notified of the progress of steps in this process.
We had to wait for a long time before someone came to take blood samples and other measurements. We weren’t informed of how long this might take. We just had to wait wondering if they had forgotten about us. I actually had to walk over to a nurse to figure out if something is actually happening (something I didn’t want to do as I didn’t want to interrupt activities in an emergency ward). Furthermore, the on-duty doctor had forgotten to queue my wife for an Ultrasound (which the doctor who had checked my wife had asked for). It was only when the doctor came back to check again did she get queued for an Ultrasound.
The Admission Desk
So after a lot of waiting, the conclusion was to get my wife admitted. Here’s where things started getting a little better for us. I was asked to go to the admissions department to get things rolling. This was a very smooth and quick process where the person at the admission desk got us going very quickly and efficiently.
There was a small confusion where when I presented my Insurance Card, they first said that they do have a link and I will be able to do a TPA on this. Then they came back and said that there is no link up and I will have to go for a direct reimbursement on my own. I was ok with that, and placed a deposit (a requirement if you don’t have a TPA with clearance).
I chose a Single Room (instead of shared, and though they have deluxe rooms available, I was informed that they haven’t starting using them yet). Anyway, the cost of a single room is Rs. 5000 per night, and if a doctor visits you in a single room then you are charged Rs. 800 per visit (which is more than you would be charged if it was a shared room, a logic that I don’t understand at all).
I was issued 2 passes, one a visitor pass and another an attendant pass. The guards posted at the elevators and stairs check for these passes when you move between the general hospital area and the area where the rooms are located.
After I had cleared the formalities, my wife was moved from the emergency ward to the room.
The Room and Room Services
First impression was that the room was disappointing. It was a small room, and for Rs. 500 more, you get a much bigger room in Artemis (and for much less you get a huge room in Privat Hospital, though that one is not as modern). There is barely room to move around in the room.
For a modern hospital, the bed was also a little disappointing (but maybe I expected too much). I would have expected (for the price I paid) to see a bed which would have electronically controlled bed adjustment. Instead if I needed to raise the back of my wife’s bed, it had to be cranked manually. Secondly, there was a small uncomfortable couch for me (the attendant) on which I was supposed to sleep or wait (even if they wanted to, they couldn’t put a big one for lack of space).
The problems however stopped here. The room service more than made up for these shortcomings. We had continuous attention by very polite people who would come and check on us. We had visits from the dietician and room services who checked whether the food and service was up to our satisfaction (this check was done daily). We received a daily visit from the housekeeping supervisor who wanted to check if the room is being cleaned regularly.
The food arrived on time, and was always brought by a well dressed person who would be wearing a hair net to prevent any hair falling into the food. They have a separate kitchen for the patients which serves all types of cuisines based on the preference of the patient. The food was generally tasty. They also have room service for attendants which brings food from two different cafeterias they have on premises.
The Nursing Staff
Very courteous nursing staff, well spoken, and always smiling; when you are sick, you really do want to be surrounded by such professionals. This is of course expected of any good caliber hospital.
Once again, the only thing missing was feedback. We asked a nurse to call my wife’s doctor to come and visit, and although we got the visit eventually, the nurse never came back to let us know if she has notified the doctor or not, and what time will the doctor be visiting us.
The Discharge
This is where things got a little harrowing. We were notified that my wife will be discharged in the morning (around 9 am). And we finally left the hospital around 5:30 pm. It took that long to get the discharged processed. And here’s why.
First up, since I was going to make a cash payment, I would have expected it to be very quick. Apparently, it takes up to 2 hours to even get to that stage (clearances, documentation, etc.). I was surprised to see that a lot of this process was being done manually. I would have expected a hospital of this size to have software automation which covers these aspects.
In any case, once this was done I was notified that my case is not a cash payment one but a TPA one (remember that I had been told that Max is not linked with my insurance company, as it turned out, this was not the case). Now while I was happy that I can would be able to do a Cashless transaction (and kudos to Max for tracking this down), this meant that the discharge process just got longer (as you need a clearance from the insurance company for the claim before you can discharge).
Conclusion
The overall impression is still good and I would recommend anyone to visit this hospital if they ever need one.
Tags: Healthcare, Hospitals
Here’s another experience – I had to go back to MAX to pick up some reports for my wife. The guy who is responsible for these reports took forever to pull out the reports. I don’t think he knew how to use his software very well. I was literally waiting for over 20 minutes before he was able to get the reports printed (through repeated trial and error attempts in his software).
MAX is not a good hospital as per my experience. The front desk staff is really impolite and do not know the basic things related to their staff. Path lab staff is also quite rude. The doctor I was consulting was quite unprofessional to take phone calls during consultation and by seeing the reports of other patients-just to look busy.
@J – well, at least our experience wasn’t THAT bad. Also, our doctor did answer the phone while attending to us, but that is the type of job she has. I can’t imagine what I would do if my wife was pregnant, and not feeling well, and the doctor won’t answer the phone because she is talking to another patient. So, as long as a doctor picks up the phone to consult another patient, while she is consulting us, I don’t have a problem.
The staff may have been incompetent at times, but to us they were never rude.
If u r expecting a place that welcomes you when you buy their services-
PLEASE DON’T GO TO MAX GURGAON : Competent doctors but terrible hospitality.
My sister had a baby at Max. Either the staff doesn’t get paid well or they are just unhappy people because they are out to make you miserable. They don’t allow guests over 2 or kids and go out of their way to insult you. They say they do this to keep away infections. I have never known a hospital which will not allow reletives and friends to visit a new born baby. I delivered at Cradle, some people who visited me wanted to have a baby just so they could go through the cradle experience. We had to settle for Max because the doctor we trusted visits only Max. And they wont allow you to carry sweets inside. I thought the hospital is in India and they need to care for some sentiments!
They try to have stringent rules and implement them with impoliteness and indifference. It is like a military base not a place you want to take your loved ones to heal or nurture.
Apart from that the attendant keeps telling you how much others tipped her if you try using them for the basic services they are supposed to provide.
When my sister booked with them, she was told that they have a link up with the insurance they are using, but guess what when we turn up to admit, they say they don’t! Apparently all other branches except Gurgaon are linked. So we rushed to make the huge down payment which is anyway no value for your money.
There is no feedback mechanism and no body cares for your satisfaction or experience, probably because they are a part of a factory which is a chain of hospitals. They have good architecture, neat interiors, qualified doctors, good on the shelf material, sells anyway.
Overall clinically ok, purely commercial, impersonal, no concept of service and not worth the brand name.
@Meenu
If you compare it to Cradle (from the point of view of having a baby), then there is no comparison. Cradle is a class apart. The rest you are probably right about (though my experience regarding insurance was the other way around).
Of course, if all that matters to you are qualified doctors (which they do have, as you said, and I agree), then Max is still the place to go.
One tip is that you don’t give up pushing your doctor to have the baby in Cradle even if she is from Max or any other hospital. Most doctors relent after a while (this happened to a friend of mine).
@Meenu..
Please , Just dont cry over the little cradle thing and their stringent rule … I have had the worst possible experience and the shock of my life at Max,Pitampura..
My sister had her baby on 3rd May and 2 days later she passed away .. those fucking bastards couldn’t do anything .. anything .. They just keep giving her Pain killers and sedatives when she was complaining pain,shortness of breath , shivering and vomiting right through the night … Those assholes didn’t have a single qualified doctor at night to diagnose the problem and give appropriate treatment … They even ignored her BP dropping to 110/70 which is below normal at 10 pm at night till the situation was out of hand at 7.45 at morning till her BP turned Nill and she was taken to ICU at 8.30 in morning would you believe it!!
If i had law in my hand i would Hang those killers , they dont deserve to run these services .. She had Developed a complication of Pulminory Embolism for which they did nothing to prevent at first and after it started they were just not willing to Diagnose …It seemed like they were saying “Just make the patient sleep .. Shes disturbing us too much!!”
Plzz dont go to that hospital ever … They have made our lives miserable!!
Hi,
Does someone have recommendation on good OB/GYN with specialty in infertility /PCOD treatment within Gurgaon?
Hi Prabha, unfortunately, at least, we (the owners) of this website don’t have any information on that.
If you send your email address to gurgaonwatch@gmail.com, we will ensure that if anyone answers this comment, we will notify you of it.
Cheers.
Hi,
Could anyone suggest a better Gyaen in Gurgaon, my wife needs to undergo a lapro for a cyst on right ovary.
Also pls suggest Paras / Max ??
thanks
@Alfin – Dr. Nirmala Krishnan is a very competent gynae. And I have found Max to be less crowded than Paras. However, Paras has all the facilities as well.
Hi,
I need to see a good psycologist please, here in Gurgaon. I would appreciate some help and suggestions.
Thank you.
Shilpa.
Does anyone have experience of plastic surgery at Max? Please let me have your experience.
Thanks.
HI
Can anyone suggest me a good gynaecologist
in cradle hospital.i am planning for my delivery there.
thanks
usha.
Dr. Nirmala Krishnan (a senior and competent Gyne) is available for deliveries at Cradle. By default she works out of Privat (and her home too), but she does go to Cradle also for deliveries.
thank u ..can u plz give me her no??
Hi,
My sister has been suggested a surgery of Kidney and though doctor at Apollo has said that it will cost about 40K+ (about 3 days) at Paras hospital, I am not sure how this stacks up.
Does this cost include cost of rooms, surgery costs, meal expenses and medicines?
Out of Paras, Max and Neelkanth (they have advanced Uro labs), which one is recommended.
Is Max gurgaon a good option?
Any suggestions are appreciated.
thanks
Hello Jimmy,
Although, I have been satisfied with Max overall, it will probably be more expensive than Paras.
I have heard overall good reports of Paras, so that should be okay as well.
But I cannot recommend a specific one for the Kidney surgery, since I don’t know anyone who has had to get that done. Please do leave a feedback about your choice by emailing at gurgaonwatch@gmail.com and I will publish it on this site.
I hope your sister gets well quickly.
Cheers.
Hi want to know how is facilities available at Paras hospital for baby delivery?? Do they have advance lab/ facilities to take care of any compications?? who is the best gyane available their?? Do they have competent doctors to take care in night for deliveries??
Hi Soma, unfortunately, I do not have this information available about Paras hospital. One thing that is important is that whoever is your gynae currently (the one you trust) should be available to deliver at Paras. If not, find out from her where she does deliveries, and go there…