1. Chapter 1 History & Trends of Health Care

2. Why is it important to understand the history of health care?
Students (p 3) – Read History of Health care (first paragraph)

3. Health Care of the Past Patients of the past were passive, dependent
Health care provider was the guiding force, unquestioned
Health care providers were well respected
- Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese who
practiced surgery, were herbalist or
“witch doctors” enjoyed stature within the
community
Many learned the art of healing from family

4. Ancient Times
In primitive times, common belief was that disease & illness were caused by evil spirits and demons.
Treatment was aimed at eliminating the evil spirits
Many ancient treatments were actually harmful
As civilizations developed, changes occurred as people began to study the human body and make observations about how the body functions

5. Ancient Times Religion played an important role in health care
- believed illness/disease were punishment from the gods
-exploring the human body was limited b/c most religions did not allow dissection of the body
(animals were frequently used to learn)

6. Ancient Times
Ancient Egyptians were the first people to record health records
Knowledge limited to the few educated because many could not read or write
Most records were recorded on stone & created by priests, who also acted as physicians

7. Ancient Times
Ancient Chinese had a strong belief in the need to cure the spirit and nourish the body
- this treatment remains important today
- Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, and massage
are still commonly used

8. Ancient Times Hippocrates was known as the “Father of Medicine”
Ancient Greek physician
One of most important physicians
Helped establish that disease is caused by natural causes, not supernatural spirits & demons
Author of code of conduct for physicians, known as the
“Hippocratic Oath”
- still used (adapted)

9. Rod of Asclepius
Greek symbol associated with medicine & healing
- founded in ancient Greece
- in Greek mythology, Asclepius was believed to be the son
of Apollo & the god of healing
- Symbol consists of a staff entwined by a single serpent
Caduceus Symbol
Often mistaken as the medical symbol, but it is actually the
symbol for commerce

10. Ancient Times
Romans realized some diseases were connected to filth, contaminated water, & poor sanitation
- began development of sanitary systems by building sewers to carry away waste & deliver clean water
- drained swamps & marshes to reduce incidence of malaria
- created laws to keep streets clean & eliminate garbage

11. Ancient Times The first hospitals were established in ancient Rome
Although changes occurred, treatment was still limited
Average person had poor hygiene, drank contaminated water, & had unsanitary living conditions
Diseases such as typhoid, cholera, malaria, dysentery, leprosy, and smallpox infected many individuals
- usually fatal because cause of the diseases had not been discovered
- average life span was 20 to 35 years

12. Dark Ages 400–800 AD
Study of medicine fell after the fall of the Roman Empire
Individuals again lived in unsanitary conditions
Epidemics of smallpox, dysentery, typhus, & plague were rampant
Epidemics - An outbreak of a contagious disease
that spreads rapidly and extensively by infection
and affects many individuals in an area or a
population at the same time.
Plagues: any widespread and usually highly
contagious disease with a high fatality rate
(many caused by rodents-human bitten by flea of rat)
Monks and priests stressed prayer to treat illness and disease

13. Middles Ages AD
Renewed interest in the medical practices of the Romans & Greeks
Monks obtained & translated the writings of the Greek & Roman physicians, and recorded the knowledge in handwritten books
Medical universities were created
Arabs began requiring physicians to pass exams & obtain licenses
In the 1300’s, a major epidemic of bubonic plague killed almost 75 percent of the population of Europe & Asia
Many infants died shortly after birth & many children didn’t live into adulthood

14. Renaissance 1350–1650 AD “rebirth of the science of medicine”
Major source of new info about the human body was a result of accepting & allowing human dissection
- physicians could now view body organs & see the connection between different systems in the body
- artists, such as Michelangelo & Leonardo da Vinci, were able to draw the body accurately
Development of the printing press resulted in the publication of medical books

15. 16th, 17th, and 18th Centuries
William Harvey described circulation of blood
Gabriel Fallopius described tympanic membrane & fallopian tubes
Bartolomeo Eustachio identified the tube between the ear and throat
Anton van Leeuwenhoek invented the microscope
- allowed physicians to see smaller organisms
Apothecaries made, prescribed, & sold medications
- many meds made from plants & herbs
Jenner developed a vaccine to prevent smallpox
Average life span increased to 40 to 50 years

16. 19th Century Also known as the Industrial Revolution
Major progress in medicine occurred because of the development of machines & ready access to books
Rene’ Laennec invented the stethoscope
Formal training for nurses began
Florence Nightingale established sanitary nursing care units for injured soldiers
Major developments in infection control
Women became active participants in medical care
- Elizabeth Blackwell: first female physician in US
- Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross
Average life span increased to years
Treatment for disease more specific b/c causes identified

17. 20th Century Showed the most rapid growth in health care
New machines, such as X-rays
Meds, including insulin for diabetes, antibiotics to fight infections, & vaccines to prevent diseases were identified
Francis Crick & James Watson described the structure of DNA & how it carries genetic information
Health care plans started to help pay for medical costs
First open-heart surgery
Computers used in every aspect of health care
Average life span increased to age 60–80
(some live to 100)

18. 21st Century
The potential for major advances in health care are unlimited
Advances in genetic research
Research with embryonic stem cells & development of cloned cells could lead to treatments that will cure many diseases
Major threats to healthcare exist
- Bioterrorism, New viruses, Pandemics
Health care has become a global concern & countries are working together to promote good health in all individuals organizations such as the World Health Organization
(WHO) are constantly monitoring health problems
throughout the world & taking steps to prevent pandemics

19. Health Care of the Present
Many of the past diseases are now preventable by:
Vaccinations
Improved methods of cleanliness & sanitation
New technological advances
Focus of Health Care has now shifted from prevention of contagious diseases to diseases of lifestyle:
Cancer, Drug Abuse, Heart Disease, Obesity
Although some communicable diseases remain a primary focus:
AIDS, TB, Flu

20. The “Patient” of Today
Takes on more responsibility for his or her own care
Obtains second opinions
Shops for the lowest health care costs
Seeks alternative and complementary providers