Introduction to Being a Health Care Worker. History of Health Care

Chapter 1Introduction to Being a Health Care Worker

Section 1.1History of Health Care

Background

Health care has developed and changed throughout history. Knowing the history of health care helps you understand current procedures, practices, and philosophies. The experiences and discoveries of the past led to the advances of today.

Today’s achievements could not have occurred without the trials and errors of the past. When you understand the primitive beginnings of medicine, you appreciate the advances made during the past 5,000 years.

Copyright (c) 2009 Pearson Education 3

Objectives

• Match key terms with their correct meanings.• Identify scientists and explain what they contributed to

medicine.• Choose one era in the history of health care and explain

how healthcare technology changed. • Discuss advances in medicine in the twentieth century.• Research and report on possible advances in medicine

for the twenty-first century.• Explain the origin of medical ethics and the impact of

medical advances on ethics.• Compare health care in the past with health care in the

twentieth and twenty-first centuries.


Objectives

Explain current trends in health care. Match key terms with their correct meanings. Discuss the importance of proper health care training. Describe the proper appearance for a health care

worker. Discuss standards of behavior. Discuss the importance of confidentiality when working

with patient records.


Early Beginnings

No electricity, few tools, poor shelter Protect themselves against predators Believed illness and disease were caused by

supernatural spirits Used trephining, herbs, and plants as medicine


Medicine in Early Times

• Egyptians first people to keep accuracy records• Ancient Chinese first to use acupuncture

therapies• Ancient Greeks first to study causes of disease

– Illness has natural rather than spiritual causes– Considered medicine an art– Learned some disease caused by lack of sanitation

Romans developed sanitation system First to organize medical care


Medicine in Early Times (continued)

Hippocrates based his knowledge of anatomy and physiology on observation of the external body Known as the father of medicine Disease not caused by supernatural forces Wrote the standard of ethics ─ Oath of Hippocrates


The Dark Ages and the Middle Ages

Medical science stopped for 1,000 years when Roman Empire conquered by the Huns Medicine practiced only in convents and monasteries Primary treatment was prayer Care was custodial

Epidemics Bubonic plague, smallpox, syphilis


The Renaissance

Rebirth of learning Universities and medical buildings built New ideas about disease Dissection of the body Development of the printing press


Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries

Leonardo da Vinci studied and recorded the anatomy of the body

William Harvey used physiology to describe circulation of blood and pumping of the heart

Gabriele Fallopius discovered the fallopian tubes Bartolommeo Eustachio discovered tube leading from

the ear to the throat Antonie van Leeuwenhoek invented the microscope Apothecaries/early pharmacies started Practice of quackery


The Eighteenth Century

Students attended lectures, treated patients at their bedsides, and dissected bodies

Elizabeth Blackwell first female physician in United States

René Laënnec invented the stethoscope Joseph Priestly discovered the element oxygen Benjamin Franklin discovered bifocals and that colds

could be passed from person to person Edward Jenner discovered smallpox vaccination which

led to immunizations


The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries

Ignaz Semmelweis identified cause of childbed fever Louis Pasteur discovered tiny microorganisms are

everywhere Father of Microbiology Pasteurization kills bacteria in milk

Joseph Lister first doctor to use antiseptic during surgery Ernst von Bergmann developed asepsis Robert Koch developed the culture plate method to identify

pathogens and also isolated the bacterium that causes tuberculosis

Wilhelm Roentgen discovered x-rays Paul Ehrlich discovered the effect of medicine on disease-

causing microorganisms


The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Anesthesia, nitrous oxide, ether, and chloroform

discovered Gerhard Domagk discovered sulfonamide

compounds ─ medications effective in killing bacteria

Dmitri Ivanovski discovered that some diseases are caused by microorganisms that cannot be seen with a microscope (viruses) Rabies Measles Chickenpox


The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Sigmund Freud discovered the conscious and unconscious parts of

the mind Basis of psychology and psychiatry

Sir Alexander Fleming found that penicillin killed life-threatening bacteria

Jonas Salk discovered that a dead polio virus would cause immunity to poliomyelitis

Albert Sabin used a live polio virus vaccine, which is more effective. Francis Crick and James Watson discovered the molecular

structure of DNA, based on its known double helix. Christian Barnard performed the first successful heart transplant in

1968 Ben Carson separated Siamese twins and performed

hemispherectomies (surgeries on the brain to prevent seizures)


The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Telemedicine practiced

Consultative, diagnostic, and treatment services E-mail, fax, telephone

New inventions and procedures have changed medicine People are living longer and healthier Greater need to understand geriatric medicine


Transparency 1-1Famous Scientists

Hippocrates Bartolommeo EustachioLeonardo da Vinci Anton van LeeuwenhoekWilliam Harvey René LaënnecGabriele Fallopius Joseph Priestley

Benjamin Franklin Joseph ListerEdward Jenner Ernst von BergmannIgnaz Semmelweis Robert KochLouis Pasteur Wilhelm Roentgen

Paul Erlich Alexander FlemingGerhard Domagk Jonas SalkDmitri Ivanovski Albert SabinSigmund Freud

17Copyright (c) 2009 Pearson Education

The Advancement of Nursing

Florence Nightingale created the Nightingale School of Nursing Designed a hospital ward that improved the environment and

care of the patients Clara Barton volunteered as a nurse during the Civil War

Established a bureau of records to help search for missing men Established the American Red Cross in 1881 and to serve as its

first president. Lillian Wald established the Henry Street Settlement in

New York to bring nursing care into the homes of the poor Led to the Visiting Nurse Service of New York


Patient Care Today

LVN/LPN Nurse assistant Unlicensed assistive caregivers


Key Terms

anesthesia antiseptic asepsis convents custodial dissection epidemics ethics exorcise

geriatric intravenously microbiology Microorganisms monasteries noninvasive observation pasteurization phlebotomy


Key Terms

physiology predators primitive psychiatry psychology quackery recipient replicate

respiration stethoscope superstitious symptom telemedicine trephining vaccines


Section 1.2 Becoming a Health Care Worker

Background

A health care worker is a well-trained professional whose top concern is patient welfare. Health care workers must have a thorough knowledge of current health procedures. They must maintain a professional appearance and practice professional behavior. They must also safeguard the confidentiality of patient information. You must keep in mind all of these standards of behavior as you become a health care worker.


Objectives

Match key terms with their correct meanings. Discuss the importance of proper health care

training. Describe the proper appearance for a health

care worker. Discuss standards of behavior. Discuss the importance of confidentiality when

working with patient records.


Health Care Education

Choose a quality healthcare program that meets your needs Technical, community or four year colleges with

accredited programs Obtain a certification or an associate’s, bachelor’s,

master’s or doctoral degree Continue your education after employment, as

health care procedures and knowledge change constantly


Appearance and Hygiene

Professional appearance reflects your commitment to patient care Follow facility’s dress code Minimum jewelry Wear name badge Clean and appropriate shoes Clean hair Follow rules of good personal hygiene


Standards of Behavior

Behave professionally Calm and courteous manner Listen carefully Monitor patients appropriately Perform tasks efficiently Do not gossip about staff or patients Do not use coarse or offensive language Do not “horseplay” Watch for hazardous situations Follow all facility safety procedures


Personal Characteristics

Empathy Honesty Dependability Willingness to learn Patience Acceptance of criticism Enthusiasm

Self motivation Tact Competence Responsibility Discretion Team player


Exhibit positive personal traits

Body Language

Make sure you portray positive body language Make and maintain eye contact Smile Keep an open stance Give patient your full attention Keep your hands away form your mouth when

speaking Sit or stand at eye level when talking to a patient


Maintaining Confidentiality

Confidentiality of patient records is critical Patients sign confidentiality form before

receiving treatment Legally binding document

Health care workers may be reprimanded if they do not ensure patient confidentiality


Key Terms

accredited appearance commitment confidentiality converse courteous

hygiene maintain professional recommendations reprimanded stance


Documents

Introduction to Being a Health Care Worker. History of Health Care