Understanding The History Of Healthcare

Looking at the reasons why it is important to understand the history and evolution of the healthcare system. History has a tendency to repeat itself. In the healthcare industry, it is important to know the events that have brought us to this point. Healthcare continues to evolve at an alarming rate in reference to the services available. Consider the use of terms that were commonplace only a decade ago that now seem barbaric, exploratory surgery, cholocysectomy, Pelvimetry. Looking at the present state of Medical imaging exams such as Colonoscopy and Diagnostic Heart Cath's are slowly losing

ground to non-invasive procedures.

Looking at how these new exams shape the present evolution of the healthcare system, History teaches us how greatly other obscure discoveries brought tremendous changes. The discovery of penicillin in 1941 revolutionized medical care and totally changed the patterns of disease that threatened humanity." In 1896, Roentgen discovered X-ray; Medical imaging has now become the largest revenue producing entity within a Health Care facility. These facts are important because we see the potential impact that any change can potentially have. "The nation's predominant disease patterns will be changing again in the future, creating an entirely different set of conditions that

may require an entirely different array of services and interventions.

(Torrens, 2002). Considering these potentials the industry has to continue to explore all its potential.

Health Care has risen from so many different facets, that it is difficult to identify where the next evolution may be. With earlier detection, several disease processes' are coming under control. Nuclear Medicine is in development of pre-cancer tracer's, CAT scan has increased spatial and temporal resolution to a point where we are seeing anatomy never