Thursday, January 27, 2011

English speaking OB/GYN in Taipei

Edit 05/2019:

Zhongxiao Xingfu - my previous recommendation - has permanently closed, but I've been referred to Dr. Hsieh at this address:

3F #311 Zhongxiao East Road Section 4

台北市忠孝東路四段311號3樓
(02) 2772-8300

Dr. Hsieh is efficient and no-nonsense, speaks good English and I felt like I could trust her. I've only visited her once but that's enough for me to recommend her here. 

The clinic is small but clean, and is near MRT Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. I was able to see her quickly, barely having to wait even though it was around 5pm (which is often a busy time). She was able to pull up my old file from Zhongxiao Xingfu and helped me exactly as I needed without my having to explain too much, including giving me choices and a recommendations.

I appreciated especially that when I said I didn't have kids, she did not ask me "why not?" (I'd been asked that before, before Dr. Wang) or assume I was planning to have them. She just took that information with no comment, which is perfect. 

25 comments:

Kath said...

Brilliant! Thank you. I'll have to make sure this is in the next edition of Taipei Living. Will also make a note for future reference :)

Catherine Shu said...

This is helpful! I had an English speaking OB/GYN but her clinic didn't take jianbao. Then I had another doctor but I don't think he's comfortable consulting in English and if I'm anywhere within a 20 meter radius of a speculum my Mandarin stops functioning.

Jenna Lynn Cody said...

Glad to know it's helpful! This clinic takes jianbao and the English level is quite high (the receptionists don't seem to speak it but the doctors do...and they're all female which is important to me.

Catherine Shu said...

I put a link to your ref on my new "helpful resources" page (http://shuflies.blogspot.com/p/mandarin-study-links.html)... I hope you don't mind!

Catherine Shu said...

Sorry for another comment... I just changed the link of my resources page to http://shuflies.blogspot.com/p/helpful-links.html

Rachel said...

Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa (ninjiom-hk.cwahi.net) may be another choice. i know alot of people use it, its also non alcoholic, though it's effectiveness is not as good as alcohol based cough medicine, but it's still good to use on not so serious sore throat.

Anonymous said...

i went to her because of this blog post and she was wonderful. I highly recommend her. her nurses are also very nice, as are the receptionists.

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure which doctor you all went to, but I just had the most horrible OBGYN experience there with Dr. 邱文心 (pronounced Cho Wen Xin).

When I went into her office she asked me what my problem was, and when I told her I was there for a regular checkup she screamed impatiently, "Which one?!". I requested a pap smear and a breast exam, only to have her laugh in my face about the breast exam. "You go to general surgery for that!". After this I just wanted to get the exam over with.

This doctor was not only rude during our brief conversation but was rough and only examined me for at most 30 seconds. She also just left the room leaving me with my legs up not knowing the exam was over. It was a waste of time and frankly I feel humiliated and really upset by the entire experience.

Can anyone recommend another OBGYN, or the name of the doctor you went to at this practice? Surely it couldn't have been this beast of a woman I just endured.

Lynn said...

Hi,
Thanks for the recommendation! I was wondering if you might know the address to this clinic? I've tried searching for it on Google Maps but I can't find it. Or perhaps you know which exit to take at Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT or Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT?

I would be so thankful if anyone could help me with this! :)

Jenna Lynn Cody said...

Follow the link - the address is there - http://www.tealit.com/article_categories.php?section=health&article=womens

It's next to the Starbucks, should be 4th floor in the building next door. Same floor as the "Shall We Dance?" dance studio.

Anonymous said...

DO NOT EVER GO HERE! I had the absolute worse experience with this staff. They ddon't even change the sheets when they give you an exam and only put down a small paper towel, as if that is sanitary enough to use between patients . Absolutely disgusting, plus I heard them say rude comments about me in Chinese, just because they don't know any English doesn't mean I don't nkow Chinese. The doctor made me feel horribly uncomfortable and it was the worst experience I've ever had at OBGYN. I recommend going to a big hospital, at least then you know you will get better service and not feel so strange and uncomfortable, especially when they watch you get dressed/undressed and stand less than a foot away as you do it. No privacy. Very animal like and shameful how they treat women. Please, go somewhere else.

Jenna Lynn Cody said...

I posted the above comment because I see no reason to dismiss your experience, Anonymous. And I'm sorry to hear you were treated that way.

But that was not my experience at all. First, you said "just because they don't know any English doesn't mean I don't know any Chinese" - but the whole point of this post is that they DO speak English. I'm not sure what staff you dealt with but all could speak basic English when I was there (although I do speak Chinese).

I did notice that they change the entire sheet, not just putting down a little towel, nobody said anything about me in Chinese, and I was left alone to change. In fact, one time I went because I was having *issues* (flow that would not stop) and despite it being totally messy and gross, the doctor made me feel OK - "don't worry, I see this all the time", she said. "It's a part of my job. No reason to be embarrassed" as I bled all over the place.

I've felt at the hospitals that I didn't get good service - most doctors can speak English, but you have to wait for a long time, it's more expensive, the changing room is not necessarily right next to the room where you lie down and get your exam, and there is more pressure to see a lot of patients so you get rushed out too quickly. For other illnesses I am fine with the hospitals, but not for OB/GYN where I want longer consultations.

Anonymous said...

May I ask the name of your doctor? And do I also need to make an appointment as well. I'm planning on just showing up on Monday morning. It seems around that time Dr. Ma will take over. I'm a little nervous since it's my first time visting an obgyn, but I'll give this one a try since you gave a pretty good review.

Renata said...

Can you please clarify the name is Zhongxio Xingfu OB/GYN--would you mind writing it in Chinese just so I can be sure? Is there any chance the woman who had the bad experience went to the wrong place? I need to have an annual check up and I already have a hard enough time going alone to these things but I want to make sure I go to the right place---one that has been vouched for with a doctor that has been vouched for! Please can you repost exactly the name of the clinic and doctor you met with who was so kind and patient? Thank you so, so much!

Jenna Lynn Cody said...

Will try to remember to do that tomorrow!

Alisa said...

Thank you Lao Ren Cha! I had a terrible experience with a GYNO on Heping East. It was supposedly a 'famous' doctor (described to me by the local who recommended). He did speak English, and was indeed always packed with clients. The terrible part was that when he conferred the results of my annual pap, he did so with other clients in the same room. Everyone could hear! It was fine, but imagine if it wasn't! Culture shock for someone who loves her HIPPA laws.
-www.AuthenticEast.com

loli said...

do you know if they make there a colonoscopy there? I am looking for a doctor in taipei who would do this

jamie said...

great post, does anybody when to that GYN recently? There are three doctors, which one should I take? any recommondations? It's the first time for me to do a check here in taipei and I am so afraid. would be thankful for any help.

Bruce said...

Thank you very much for your post and the information. I was visiting Taiwan and needed to see someone and your blog was a great help.

EVERYONE PLEASE NOTE: THE OFFICE HAS MOVED. It is several blocks away from the address listed on the weblink. It's in the same building as RF HOTEL on the 12th floor.

I saw Dr. Szuhung Shen. She spoke excellent English and was terrific.

Unknown said...

MAY I know if clinic is still open. They take international clients as walk in? No appointments is ok? Tq

Jenna Lynn Cody said...

Yes, it should still be open, on the 12th floor of the building with the RF Hotel (across the lane from the Apollo Building, kind of behind the watch store)

Unknown said...

I love this clinic especially Dr. Wang. I went to her throughout my pregnancy from 03/17-12/17. I went yesterday to get a regular check up but the clinic has closed! Does anyone know where they moved to or are they permanently gone?

Jenna Lynn Cody said...

I have no idea but will look into it.

Unknown said...

Hello, any updates on a good gynecologist in Taipei? I might need to visit one with an urgent problem, can I just show up and ask for a same-day appointment? Does that work in Taipei? Or should I go to a hospital? Thanks for any advise!

Jenna Lynn Cody said...

I haven't been by (it's about time for me to see her too, but I haven't had the time). You can try giving the office a call at (02) 2776-2222 and see if they have moved perhaps, or maybe it was just closed for the day?