Pediatrician

Not even four weeks here and we already went to the pediatrician.  Luckily I had been introduced to a friend with children and she recommended someone to me.  His name is Dr. Azam and he is at a local hospital.  The health care here is very good because most of the doctors have trained in Australia or the US.  So Emily and I are off to discover how all of this works.  We park in the garage of the hospital and luckily the front desk could direct us to Dr. Azam.  There were 4 towers each with 4 floors so not a small place to wander and find him.  Once we get off on his floor you register at a "front desk" area.  I only filled out ONE form with our name and address.  No book of papers like first time patients in the US.  Once registered they sent us to the hallway outside office number 272.  There were plenty of padded benches lining the wall with other doors to other offices.  They said about 9am or 9:30am they would call us.  So Emily and I wait and a few other families show up.  No appointments so it is first come first served.  Then about 9:45am a young guy in his late thirties walks by and goes into his office, Dr. Azam I presume.  The nurse calls the first patient and when they are done we were next.  So we go into his office and it is like a living room.  He has tons of kid toys, a couch, coffee table, desk, computer and small exam table.  It is a one-room private office.  No exam rooms, waiting areas, or reception area, just Dr. Azam and the patients.  It was kind of nice.  We sat on his couch he talked to us and then examined Emily's hoochie (she had a bad diaper rash/yeast infection) on his table.  When we were done we went back to the front desk area and waited for the nurse to bring up our paperwork and prescriptions.  We paid 117RM or about $27 for the visit and two prescriptions.  The best part is the pharmacy is right there and you just take the prescription to that desk and they fill it on the spot.  Overall very nice.  I was glad we had a small issue so we could test the waters.  Now if we have something else I know the drill.

The funniest part is the next day I go to a play group with the kids and I walk in and one of the moms says "were you at Padai Hospital yesterday?"  Then I recognized her and her daughter.  They were the first patients of Dr. Azam.  Small world, even in KL.