BHA-FXP4002, Emilia Bagiryan, assessment 2, attempt 1
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Medicine
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Dec 6, 2023
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Changes in Medical Education
Emilia Bagiryan
Capella University
BHA-FPX4002: History of the United States Health Care System
Dr. Shad Smith
July 26, 2023
Changes in Medical Education
This paper explores the U.S. medical education system, how it has changed from the
1800s to the present, the academic and apprenticeship models, and the value of knowing the
background history of health care. Understanding the primary extent of change in medical
education as it currently exists requires knowledge of the history of health care (Shi & Singh,
n.d.). Developments in science and technology have significantly shaped the U.S. educational
system. Over the centuries, medical education has evolved dramatically, including curriculum,
teaching methods, accreditation, and the incorporation of new technologies. The critical
historical influences that have continued to define U.S. healthcare delivery are deeply rooted in
American values and traditions, social developments, improvements in technology, financial
limitations, opportunities within politics, and environmental pressures; the same components' ups
and downs will determine future healthcare developments.
The Changing Scope of Medical Education
The healthcare field in the U.S. during the preindustrial era (which spanned from the
middle of the 18th century to the latter half of the 19th century) was missing scientific element.
Medical techniques were simple, and the lack of scientific foundation in medical school led to
medical practice becoming more of a craft than an occupation (Shi & Singh, n.d.). Medical
education was often based on traditional remedies and religious beliefs, with limited emphasis on
scientific inquiry. The almshouse, a poorhouse, was an early version of today's hospitals; they
had poor air circulation and terrible sanitary conditions ("History of Public Hospitals," n.d.).
Nurses did not have experience and were not educated. According to Schwartz et al., many
American medical schools in the 1800s were modest, for-profit, unrelated to universities, and
had non-standardized courses and academic goals (2018). Only four medical schools existed in
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the United States by 1800: College of Philadelphia (1756; later became the University of
Pennsylvania), King's College (1768; Columbia University), Harvard University (1783), and
Dartmouth College (1797).
The postindustrial phase (late 19th century) was characterized by the expansion and
advancement of the medical profession, which profited from fresh discoveries in science, and
improvements in the study of medicine. Doctors gained power and prestige and opened private
practices. The American Medical Association developed authority by regulating medical
education (Shi & Singh, n.d.). It actively encouraged states to enact medical licensing legislation
that made it unlawful to specialize in medicine without a license from a state. One of the
mandated changes that impacted medical education was the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree,
which became the qualification benchmark. Medical education underwent a radical change due
to the Flexner Report 1910 (Schwartz et al., 2018). It demanded higher requirements, greater
scientific rigor, and better facilities, and as a result, many academic medical centers with poor
treatment were shut down.
The corporate stage involves developments that began around 1970 and have persisted
into the twenty-first century. Large business corporations have expanded and consolidated over
this time, and there have been enormous improvements in international trade, transportation, and
communications. Freedom and accessibility were becoming increasingly important in medical
studies and teaching. Many doctors were forced to merge into larger group practices and
establish tactical alliances with hospitals. Due to improvements in technology in image data
transfer over a distance, telemedicine gained popularity in the 1990s (Shi & Singh, n.d.). Remote
medical care is now possible because of this modern technology. The delivery of healthcare in
the United States has changed as a result of these advancements.
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