Health Occupations Chapter 1: History & Trends of Health Care
B. Completion or Short Answer: Use a separate sheet of paper or the back of this sheet to complete your answers.
1. What did ancient people think was the cause of disease and illness?
Evil spirits and demons.
2. List 4 things Hippocrates stressed to help the body heal itself.
Good diet, fresh air, cleanliness, exercise.
3. In the Dark Ages, what was the main method used to treat illness and disease?
Prayer and divine intervention.
4. List at least 4 diseases that shortened the life span of individuals in the Middle Ages.
Bubonic plague, smallpox, diphtheria, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, malaria.
5. Why was dissection a major advance in health care during the Renaissance?
Allowed doctors to view body organs and see the connections between different systems; provided a better
understanding of anatomy and physiology.
6. What was the significance of the invention of the microscope in 1666?
Allowed physicians to see organisms too small to be seen by the human eye; provided to first observation of
pathogenic organisms.
7. What did apothecaries use to make many of the medications in the 17 th century?
Plants and herbs.
8. Why was the invention of the stethoscope in 1819 important?
Allowed physicians to listen to internal body sounds.
9. Identify 4 women who made important contributions to the advance of health care in the 19 th century AND
EXPLAIN WHY their contributions were important.
Florence Nightingale began formal training for nurses, Elizabeth Blackwell was the first female physician in the
United States, Dorthea Dix was superintendent of Female Nurses of the Army, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was the
first female physician in Britain, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.
10. Why was the discovery of DNA in 1953 so important?
Began the search for gene therapy to cure inherited diseases.
11. What helped medicine progress faster in the 20 th century than in all previous years?
Computer Technology
12. Think of the future of health care. What major advancement would you like to see in the 21 st century and WHY?
Answers will vary but should be explained.
13. Describe what is meant by the following trends in health care. Include a brief EXPLANATION of WHY it is important
to be aware of these trends.
a. Cost containment:
Trying to control the rising cost of health care, keeping health care at levels individuals can afford.
b. Diagnostic related groups (DRG’s):
Certain diagnoses classified in one payment group, done to control rising costs, leads to early release from
hospitals and need for other facilities.
c. Energy conservation:
Monitoring the use of energy to control costs and conserve resources.
d. Home health care:
Providing care in the home increasing because of early hospital release resulting from DRG’s, desire of
patients for care in home.
e. Geriatric care:
Care of the elderly, increasing because of increase in life span and large number of people who are
approaching this age group.
f. Telemedicine:
Use of video, audio and computer systems to provide medical and or health care services.
g. Wellness:
State of being in optimum health, more awareness of good health and more stress on preventing or delaying
disease.
h. Complementary and alternative methods of health care (CAM):
Individuals seek other types of treatment for a variety of conditions, health care worker must respect the
person’s right to receive this care.
14.The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1987 established standards for geriatric assistants in long-term care facilities.
List 4 requirements that all geriatric assistants must meet as a result of OBRA.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Complete a state approved training program
Pass a written and/or competency examination.
Continuing education
Periodic evaluation of performance
Retraining and/or retesting if the assistant does not work in a health care facility for more than two years.
15. What is holistic health care?
Care that promotes physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual well-being.
16. Differentiate between complementary and alternative therapies.
Complementary therapies are used in conjunction with conventional medical therapies.
Alternative therapies are used in place of conventional medical therapies.
17. Why is it important to individualize an integrative treatment plan?
Each person is unique and may require different medical treatments and a variety of CAM therapies.
18. Do you think a national health care plan should be established to provide coverage for all individuals? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Answers will vary but should include reasons why a national health care plan should or should not be established.
The high cost of health care and large number of uninsured individuals have created a demand for a national health care plan.
Many different types have been proposed in order to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, equitable, and quality
health care.
19. Identify two problems associated with creating a national health care plan.
The main goal in health care reform is to ensure that all Americans can get health coverage. Related problems include the
cost of creating such a system, the fact that those with insurance may pay more to cover uninsured individuals, the lack of
freedom in choosing health care providers and the regulations that will have to be created to establish a national health care
system.
20. List three components of most pandemic influenza plans.
1. Education
2. vaccine production/ distribution
3. Anti-viral drugs
4. Developing protective health measures
5. International cooperation
21. Identify three viruses that could cause a pandemic.
1. Monkey pox
2. Small pox
3. H5N1 (bird flu)
4. Ebola
5. Hantavirus
6. Marburg
22. What is the name of the international agency sponsored by the United Nations that is constantly monitoring health problems
throughout the world and taking steps to prevent pandemics?
World Health Organization (WHO)