Chapter 1: Today's Health Care System

Chapter 1: Today's Health Care System

Health Care Past and Present

Prehistoric Times (8000 BC—3000 BC)

  • Characteristics:

    • Less spread of disease attributed to:

    • Small communities

    • Nomadic lifestyles

  • Medicine Roots:

    • Heavily influenced by religious and spiritual beliefs.

Ancient Times (3000 BC—500 AD)

  • Civilizations and Contributions:

    • Egyptians: Some understanding of anatomy.

    • Greeks:

      • Hippocrates: Known as the Father of Medicine.

      • Introduced concepts of prognosis and the Hippocratic Oath aimed at ethical practices in medicine.

    • Romans: Borrowed medical theories and practices from Greek medicine.

Medieval Times (500 AD—1300 AD)

  • Societal Impact:

    • The fall of the Roman Empire led to a decline in medical progress.

    • Religious beliefs slowed advances in medicine, impacting its recognition as a profession.

  • Literary Contributions:

    • The Canon of Medicine written by the Persian physician Avicenna.

The Renaissance (1300 AD—1600 AD)

  • Challenges and Renewed Interests:

    • The Bubonic plague spurred a renewed interest in medicine and science.

    • Translation efforts for Greek and Roman medical texts led to a resurgence in medical knowledge.

  • ** Anatomical Studies**:

    • Detailed studies of anatomy advanced through dissection, notably by Andreas Vesalius.

  • Educational Advances:

    • Establishment of the first medical universities.

Modern Times (1600 AD—Present)

  • Surgical and Anatomical Improvements:

    • Significant improvements in surgical procedures and understanding of anatomy due to scientific advancements.

  • Inventions:

    • Invention of the microscope, which allowed for better visualization of biological structures.

    • Development of the mercury thermometer and the sphygmomanometer for measuring blood pressure.

Scientific and Technological Advances

Medication and Vaccinations

  • Key Contributors:

    • Edward Jenner: Developed the smallpox vaccine in 1796, marking one of the first uses of vaccination.

    • Louis Pasteur: Established the germ theory of disease, which fundamentally changed the perception of infectious diseases.

    • Robert Koch: Conducted pivotal studies in microbiology, identifying microorganisms and their relationship with diseases.

Hygiene and Sanitation

  • Pioneering Figures:

    • Florence Nightingale: Recognized as the founder of modern nursing.

    • Her contributions included promoting higher standards of hygiene and sanitation in health care settings.

Contributions from Military and Space Programs

  • Military Advances:

    • Surgical techniques advanced during wars, especially with the development of Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (MASH) and the use of helicopter ambulances during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

  • Space Program Innovations:

    • Recent developments include non-surgical alternatives to balloon angioplasty, CT scans, MRIs, electron microscopes for detailed imaging, nuclear medicine, and life support techniques.

    • Research in human genetics led to better understanding through the analysis of human chromosomes.

Health Care Today

  • Current Health Care System Overview:

    • The U.S. health care system is considered one of the most advanced globally.

    • New roles have emerged for health professionals in response to evolving health care needs.

  • Characteristics:

    • Innovations in medical technology

    • An aging population

    • Increased life expectancy

Health Care Facilities

Hospitals

  • Types of Care:

    • Acute care facilities categorized based on:

    • Inpatient vs. outpatient services

    • Provide treatment for:

    • Severely ill or injured patients

    • Surgical needs

    • Women delivering babies

  • Trends:

    • There is a trend towards a decrease in average length of stay in hospitals.

  • Hospital Types:

    • Public vs. private

    • For-profit vs. nonprofit institutions.

Subacute Care Facilities

  • Role and Services:

    • Designed to bridge the gap between hospitalization and rehabilitation.

    • Services include:

    • Extensive monitoring and IV therapy

    • Around-the-clock supervision

  • Cost Efficiency:

    • Typically 20% to 50% less expensive than traditional hospital care.

Extended Care Facilities

  • Primary Function:

    • Provide health care and assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

  • Types Include:

    • Nursing homes

    • Independent-living facilities

    • Assisted-living facilities

    • Residential institutions for individuals with mental or physical disabilities.

Home Health Care Agencies

  • Service Delivery:

    • Provide health care services in the patient's home.

  • Management:

    • Care managed by:

    • Community health departments

    • Hospital case managers

    • Home health agencies

  • Popularity Trends:

    • Increasingly popular due to:

    • Earlier discharges from hospitals

    • Elderly populations living longer with chronic conditions

    • Advancements in technology.

Rehabilitation Centers

  • Primary Objectives:

    • Offer physical or emotional rehabilitation services.

    • Provide treatment for chemical dependency.

  • Goal:

    • To return health patients to their community or home.

Mental Health Facilities

  • Services Offered:

    • Provide crisis and long-term counseling.

    • Individual and group counseling sessions.

    • Medication management.

    • Assistance with independent living.

  • Crisis Intervention Centers:

    • Care services for individuals facing:

    • Suicidal thoughts

    • Drug abuse

    • Physical abuse issues.

Volunteer Agencies

  • Characteristics:

    • Nonprofit organizations funded through:

    • Private donations

    • Grants

    • Fundraisers

  • Examples:

    • American Heart Association

    • Meals on Wheels.

Health Care Professionals

Patient Care Professionals

  • List of Roles:

    • Physicians

    • Physician assistants

    • Registered nurses

    • Licensed practical nurses

    • Certified nurse assistants

    • Surgical technologists

    • Medical assistants

    • EMTs/paramedics.

Laboratory and Pharmacy Professionals

  • Types of Professionals:

    • Laboratory technicians

    • Lab specialists, such as:

    • Cardiovascular technicians

    • Phlebotomists

    • Pharmacy technicians.

Diagnostic and Imaging Professionals

  • Roles Include:

    • Diagnostic medical sonographers

    • Clinical laboratory technologists.

Therapy and Rehabilitation Professionals

  • Types of Practitioners:

    • Occupational therapists

    • Physical therapists

    • Rehabilitation therapists

    • Speech therapists

    • Massage therapists.

Health Information and Administration Professionals

  • Roles Include:

    • Medical records technicians

    • Health information technicians

    • Coding specialists

    • Medical transcriptionists.

Health Care Trends

Aging of the Population

  • Demographics:

    • The population of older adults is projected to double from 36 million in 2003 to 72 million by 2030.

  • Implication:

    • Increased demand for health care providers to support this aging population.

Wellness and Prevention

  • Focus Areas:

    • Importance of adopting a balanced diet,

    • Regular exercise,

    • Quitting smoking,

    • Early detection of health issues such as heart disease and cancer,

    • Regular routine examinations to promote health.

Complementary Therapies

  • Types of Therapies Include:

    • Nutrition, exercise, and relaxation techniques.

    • Practices such as:

    • Yoga and meditation

    • Chiropractic care

    • Massage therapy

    • Homeopathy

    • Acupuncture

    • Aromatherapy.

Health Care Specialization

  • Distinctions:

    • Differences between general practitioners and specialists.

  • Growing specialization:

    • Increased specialization due to the expanding body of medical knowledge.

  • Concerns:

    • Fragmentation of care may lead to loss of continuity of care.