Question

During the postindustrial era what are the factors that transformed medicine?

Answer 1

More of the transformation in medical services took place in post industrial era. Scientific and social changes like war techniques are used to develop industries and railroads helped in connecting most of the places with each other.

There are seven important factors that transformed medical services in post industrial era. They are as follows

1. Urbanisation
2. Science and technology
3. Institutionalization
4. Dependency
5. Cohesiveness and organisation
6. Licensing
7. Educational reforms

Urbanisation:

People started moving from rural areas to urban areas to work. So they were away from their families which made them weak in both body and mind. Most of the women also started going to work , so no longer they can work in home which made children and others in family to take care of themselves and sick people cannot be given care properly which led to increase in visits to physicans most often.

More physicans were available even consultation was done via telephones. Rapid increase of population migrated to urban areas for getting employment and other amenities.Rate of patients to physicans got increasing.

Science and technology:

Innovations in medical services were introduced. Advancement in treating microbes, diagnostic procedures, anaesthesia, surgery and new drugs because of science gave people good opinion on medical services . Joseph Lister, Louis paster and Alexander Fleming introduced most important vaccines and technologies proved therapeutic ability of physicians.

Physicans became deciding authorities.,like if someone is sick physician was the one to decide how long the person stays in hospital or nursing home and regarding his sick leave and claiming money in case of industrial hazards physicans were the one to decide.

Institutionalization:

As the science and technology met improvements medical care became advanced . Medical staffs and nurses also helped in advanced treatment modalities and hospital became top in medical care delivery with all facilities pooled together in one place . Urbanisation also led to institutionalization.

As hospital started expanding physicians began working with medical staffs more. Hospitals were in a situation to satisfy physicans as they want to increase the number of patients institutionalized. Hospitals increased in number as there were increasing needs of people.

Dependency:

People got dependent to physicans as they are deciding authority in approving sick leave. Physicans are authorized to approve sick leave in working places, schools and give appropriate care to the people for resuming the duties again. Some drugs were given only with prescription of doctors.

Health insurance can be claimed if the doctor approved it .so normally people got dependent to physicians .

Cohesiveness and organisation:

Physicans started depending on other physicans as they need referral services. New standards in doctor's education advanced their practice and professional standard. Physician's had ability to be free . They didn't work as employee in a hospital or insurance company , they worked privately.

American medical association was formed and some physicians were licensed to work with to improve professionalism, respect and financial wellness of its members. The laws and rules regulated by AMA involving activities of physicans were called 'organised medicine.'

Licensing:

Upgrading medical school standards and licensing physicians started increasing. If the medical school was not found to b meeting the standards the license will be cancelled. All are recommended to take final state exam for medical licensure. Many branches in medicine emerged like naturopathy, homeopathy etc. Licensed physician can be safeguarded by law and unlicensed practices are prosecuted.

Educational reforms:

Advanced education for physicians were made necessary. Exams were conducted and the course duration was fixed . Practical knowledge and subjects like anatomy , pathology, physiology and still more added to the diploma . Many changes in the curriculum were made to improve the standards in medical care .

Thus these are the factors behind post industrial era improvements in medical services.