In this comparative analysis report, the evolution and changes of hospitals during the time periods of the 1800s, 1960s, and today will be reviewed to dive deeper into the progression of the healthcare sector throughout the years. This comparative analysis will evaluate the evolution and progression through changes such as costs, settings, and treatment procedures that occurred in hospitals over the period from the 1800s onward.
Hospital Care Evolution
In the 1800s, hospitals were not mainly care facilities but almshouses for the needy and poor, where people with contagious illnesses and serious mental conditions were treated. Medical services that were provided to patients were not safe, nor were the surgeries. Later, in the 1850s, the hospital system was fully developed and owned by physicians in the healthcare system. Further developments were made in the 1960s when the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH) was established. It provided published standards and accreditation for hospitals. Thus, in the 1960s, hospitals were corporations that extended massive employment opportunities for hundreds of people, and care delivery was much better for certain medical conditions. Hospitals also provided inpatient and outpatient services to patients (Sheingold & Hahn, 2014). However, today, hospitals are equipped with more advanced technologies for disease management and treatment of any medical condition. They provide comprehensive medical decision-making based on evidence-based healthcare for patient populations.
Hospital Environment
In the 1800s, hospital environments primarily served needy individuals who had contagious and deplorable health conditions. Patients had no luxury of individual rooms for their treatments. Rather, every hospital environment offered a great hall where all patients received collective treatment. At that time, hospitals were considered places of death where people were afraid to go because of the unregulated care systems where “care” was non-existent (Moseley III, 2008). By the 1960s, hospitals were seen as massive enterprises where a lot of employment opportunities were offered, and people received care in individualized disease-containment areas. Beds were available along with other facilities such as X-rays, meals, and laboratory services in structured patient-care accommodations to allow better workflow and reduce the spread of diseases or deaths (Schwartz et al., 2018). In today’s world of emerging technology, hospitals are enterprises that not only offer numerous opportunities for people who build their careers in the medical field but are also places where patients are provided with outpatient and inpatient services through surgeries, treatments, and therapies for better patient-care outcomes.
Staff Education
In the 1800s, medical education was limited. The public was not ready to accept changes and better treatment options, so education was very minimal in that era. However, progression in the healthcare sector continued with the emergence of nursing education by the 1960s. People who were passionate about extending their helping hands to the unhealthy population of society were provided with medical education. Medical professionals and nurses understood disease containment and appropriate treatment procedures when nursing education was implemented in the care industry (Schwartz et al., 2018). In today’s care system, medical professionals, whether they are doctors, nurses, or volunteers, are all provided with the necessary education in their respective fields. After the 2000s, it became mandatory for every medical professional to complete extensive education and training courses in order to serve in any hospital facility (Marjoua & Bozic, 2012).
Level of Care
The level of care patients were provided during the 1800s was minimal because of the lack of facilities. People used to trust local healers more than professional doctors. There was little understanding of proper treatment and disease containment, which eventually led to the spread of diseases in many areas. However, in the 1960s, medical care evolved greatly due to the establishment of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH). Presently, care systems are fully equipped with facilities needed to limit the spread of diseases and with medications or vaccines to treat diseases.
Paying for Your Care
In the 1800s, hospitals were mainly free of charge because wealthy people funded the facilities. During that time, extensive care was only provided to wealthy patients or families at their homes, as doctors were very expensive. Care systems progressed in the 1960s, which led to the establishment of Medicare and Medicaid to make health services affordable for patients. Today, people who do not have health insurance coverage cannot afford expensive treatments, as healthcare costs have increased since the incorporation of technology into the care system in the 2000s (Marjoua & Bozic, 2012).
Comparative Analysis
Hospital systems in the 1800s were not as advanced as the care systems of the 1960s and today. People usually had faith in local healers, and care services were provided to patients at almshouses in deplorable conditions. Wealthy people had the luxury of calling a doctor at home, as they could bear the expenses of doctors and medications; otherwise, commoners were deprived of that necessity. Hospitals were seen as places where people would go to die, so people self-medicated without any proper medical interventions. The healthcare system witnessed an evolution in the 1960s with the establishment of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH), as well as the inclusion of educational courses and medical training. Patients sought medical care at hospitals that were relatively small compared with the care systems of today, and the cost of treatment was also low. Today, hospital care, as compared with that of the 1800s and 1960s, is so advanced and well-structured that it accommodates a large number of patients by providing inpatient as well as outpatient services. Today’s hospitals are built to provide patients with better healthcare services while offering many of the amenities of home.
Conclusion
Hospital care has evolved greatly from the 1800s to today, as places once seen as places of death are now seen as places where people receive adequate care. With time, education, adequate training, technological advancements, and alignment with insurance companies, the healthcare sector has improved. Although the cost of healthcare has increased with the passage of time, every single dollar is worth spending because of the safe treatments and advancements in care systems.
References
Marjoua, Y., & Bozic, K. J. (2012). Brief history of quality movement in US healthcare. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine, 5(4), 265–273.
Moseley III, G. B. (2008). The US health care non-system, 1908-2008. AMA Journal of Ethics, 10(5), 324–331.
Schwartz, C. C., Ajjarapu, A. S., Stamy, C. D., & Schwinn, D. A. (2018). Comprehensive history of 3-year and accelerated US medical school programs: A century in review. Medical Education Online, 23(1), 1530557.
Sheingold, B. H., & Hahn, J. A. (2014). The history of healthcare quality: The first 100 years 1860–1960. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 1, 18–22.
Appendix
| Subject/Topic | 1800s | 1960s | 2000s |
| Hospital Environment (Describe the overall hospital environment.)
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| Medical Staff Education Level (Describe the care providers and their education levels.)
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| Level of Care (Describe the quality of care for each century and whether it improved.)
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| Paying for Care (Describe how care was paid for.) |
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