1. History and Trends of Health Care
Chapter 01
History and Trends of Health Care

2. 1:1 History of Health Care
Some treatment methods used today are from ancient times
Herbs utilized in the past for both food and medicine are found in medications today

3. Ancient Times
Illness and disease were believed to be caused by evil spirits and demons or as punishment from the gods
Health records were first recorded by the ancient Egyptians

4. Ancient Times (continued)
Chinese believed in the need to cure the spirit and nourish the body
Hippocrates and other physicians in ancient Greece established the importance of diet and cleanliness in preventing illness and disease

5. Ancient Times (continued)
Romans implemented use of sewers for waste and aqueducts (waterways) for clean water
In ancient times causes of disease had not been discovered and many illnesses were fatal
Average life span of 20 to 35 years

6. The Dark Ages and Middle Ages
Interest in the medical practices of Greeks and Romans
In the 1300s an epidemic of bubonic plague killed nearly 75% of the population of Europe and Asia
Average life span of 20 to 35 years

7. The Renaissance Rebirth of the science of medicine
Human dissection to view body organs
Printing press allowed publication of medical books
Causes of disease were still a mystery
Average life span of 30 to 40 years

8. The 16th, 17th, and 18th Centuries
Knowledge of human body greatly increased
Invention of microscope
Apothecaries (early pharmacists) made, prescribed, and sold medications
Smallpox vaccine discovered
Average life span of 40 to 50 years

9. The 19th Century Industrial Revolution
Development of machines
Major progress in medical science
Invention of stethoscope, nurse training programs
Infection control
Average life span of 40 to 65 years

10. The 20th Century Rapid growth in health care
X-rays, medicines, and vaccines to prevent disease developed
The structure of DNA and research in gene therapy (ongoing today)
Health care plans

11. The 20th Century (continued)
First open-heart surgery in 1950s
Computer technology in every aspect of health care
Unlimited possibilities for medical science in the future
Average life span of 60 to 80 years

12. The 21st Century Human Genome Project
Embryonic stem cell and cloned cell research
Threat of bioterrorism with the use of biologic agents as weapons
Viruses that can cause pandemics

13. 1:2 Trends in Health Care: Cost Containment
Control rising cost of health care and achieve maximum benefit for every dollar spent
Reasons for increasing costs
Technological advances
Aging population
Health-related lawsuits

14. Cost Containment (continued)
Methods
Diagnostic related groups (DRGs)
Combination of services
Outpatient services
Mass or bulk purchasing
Early intervention and preventive services
Energy conservation

15. Home Health Care Industry grew rapidly when DRGs were initiated
Services provided in a patient’s home
Trend is a return to home care of earlier years
Form of cost containment

16. Geriatric Care Care for the elderly
Percentage of elderly population growing rapidly
Baby boomers entering geriatric age
Need for more and different types of facilities

17. OBRA Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1987
Federal regulation for long-term care and home health care
States must establish training and competency evaluation programs for nursing/geriatric assistants

18. OBRA (continued)
States must maintain a registry of qualified individuals
Requires compliance with patients’ and residents’ rights
States must establish guidelines so that these rights are observed/enforced

19. Telemedicine
Use of video, audio, and computers to provide medical/health care services
Decreases need for medical center visits
Decreases need for home health visits
Telemedicine will be important to health care delivery in the future

20. Wellness State of optimum health
Balance between physical, social, and mental health
Focus on disease prevention and quality of life
Saves costs
Exercise, nutrition, weight control, and healthy living habits

21. Wellness (continued) Physical wellness Emotional wellness
Social wellness
Mental and intellectual wellness
Spiritual wellness

22. Wellness (continued) Holistic health care
Treats the whole body, mind, and spirit
Each person is unique and has different needs
Uses many methods to diagnose and treatment
Emphasis on protection and restoration
Promotes body’s natural healing powers
Health care worker respects patient choice

23. Complementary and Alternative Methods of Health Care
Complementary therapies: used in conjunction with conventional therapies
Alternative therapies: used in place of biomedical therapies
Integrative health care: uses mainstream and CAM therapies in treatment

24. Complementary and Alternative Methods of Health Care (continued)
Holistic approach
Belief that effect on one part effects whole person
Based on belief that the person has a life force or energy that can be used in the healing process
May vary by cultural values or beliefs

25. Types of CAM Practitioners
Ayurvedic
Chinese medicine
Chiropractors
Homeopaths
Hypnotists
Naturopaths

26. Types of Therapies Refer to Table 1-8 in Text
Most are noninvasive and holistic
Often less expensive than traditional treatments
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine established in 1992

27. Pandemic
Disease outbreak over a wide geographic area affecting high proportion of population
WHO concern about influenza pandemics
H5N1: avian flu
H1N1: swine flu
Viruses can mutate and exchange genetic information

28. Pandemic (continued) Government plans Education Vaccine production
Antiviral drugs
Developing protective public health measures
International cooperation

29. Conclusion Health care has changed and will continue to change
Workers must be constantly aware of changes that occur
Workers must make every attempt to learn about trends