Ian H., 61, Australia

Visiting Malaysia in December of 2006, Ian experienced what he thought was indigestion brought on by his enthusiastic sampling of local curries and chilies. Aware of Sime Darby Medical Center Subang Jaya, he stopped by the hospital. Instead of an innocuous episode of indigestion, a heart problem was the underlying cause. He was immediately attended to by an Australian-trained cardiologist.

Recalling the experience, Ian says, “I was seen straight away and had an angiogram. The cardiologist found damage to my arteries. I underwent a triple coronary artery bypass graft, and the upshot was a six-night hospital stay. My surgeon and anesthetist were with me first thing in the morning, and when I came to that evening, they were still there. And as I drifted in and out of consciousness, I realized that they were still there when it was nearly midnight.”

The experience was forever etched in his memory. “I think this is just a continuation of the treatment that I’ve had in this hospital—not only from the surgeon and the doctors, but from all the staff, from the nurses, to the lady who brings the tea, to the lady who cleans the bathroom. There’s not a bad word I could say about the hospital.”

When Ian’s passport ended up in the laundry, he was grateful for the assistance of the customer care staff, who made several trips to immigration to have his medical visa extended. “The help has been wonderful, and when you are a nervous person like I am, and you get such attention with many of your cares taken on by other people, that’s definitely more important than anything. You can be sure when I go home, the standard of care and attention I had in this hospital will be a topic of conversation over many a glass of red wine.”