Organized Medical Profession: Remaining Free in Postindustrial Era - Essay Sample

Q1. How did the organized medical profession manage to remain free of control by business firms, insurance companies, and hospitals until the latter part of the 20th century?

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In the Era of Postindustrial, the American physicians succeeded in practicing medicine privately while turning their back to public health care. Besides, they delivered these advanced services to the insured clients more scientifically and technically; therefore, an organized medical profession. The profession was merited more power, prestige, and financial profitability, notably after the Civil War. Again, the medical profession anticipated several scientific and social modifications after the war (Stevens, 1971, p. 181). For instance, shifting of a rural agricultural economy to an industrial capitalism system; use of mass production to bring peace to the industries during the war; the building of railroads to link east and west coasts in the United States (US); and small towns developing into big cities.

Additionally, the profession clearly stated roles of the employing staff, and thus, easy compensation of employees for the work done in managing injuries and related illnesses, in addition to other economic considerations. However, the state tried and failed in passing legislation on national health care, which aimed at reducing health care costs; the congress went ahead and created programs like Medicare and Medicaid, both financed by the public. These programs were meant for vulnerable individuals in a society.

During and after World War 1, around 1920, a great history was made by the consolidation of the professional power of the American physicians. During this period, the physicians' income was sharply raised, and now they emerged the prominent members of the profession. It is important to note that prestige and power could not just materialize within a day; therefore, it took years and incorporation of many factors for the gradual transformation of medicine from a weak, isolated, and insecure business into a more professional power and authority (Rosen, 1983). The important playing factors that contributed to the successful transformation are as follows: Urbanization, improved science and technology, institutionalization, dependency, licensing of the profession, and educational reforms.

Q2. Which factors are associated with the development of health services professionals in the United States?

Health services professionals in the US developed due to several factors, some of which can be discussed: First, one major factor is the growth of new medical technology as a result of the increasing number of specialists in this field. Therefore, medical care could now be offered more professionally as only specialists in a certain are of diseases finds it more comfortable to give the necessary care services. For instance, specialist doctors relied much on these medical technologies in diagnosing and treating diseases. Besides, most medical students were persuaded into subspecialties since their learning is now more organized with medical technologies.

Again, the increase in salary of specialists relative to primary care physicians (PCPs) also resulted in the supply of more specialists in the profession. Recently, systems for reimbursement, which are designed to increase PCPs' payments are implemented; however, the vast income difference between generalists and specialists still exist (Samuel, & Shi, 1993).

World Health Organization (WHO), in 2006, identified about 57 nations facing a severe health workforce crisis, with each country having less than 23 health workers in every ten thousand people encountered. Most of them are predominantly poor sub-Saharan countries in Africa. Besides, the onset of chronic health problems called for an immediate increase in the health care workforce to help address the situation, which required diverse skills and resources (WHO, 2005, p. 261).

Last but not least, the migration of other health professionals from other developing nations to the US also contributed to the growth of the professionals in America. And their rights were ensured to be equal to the rights of the domestically trained professions. The migration was augmented by medical tourism, which attracted patients from all over the world to the US for advanced medical care; therefore, the primary reason from foreign patients for coming to the US was primarily treatment (Chambers, 2015).

References

Chambers, A., 2015. Trends in the US health travel services trade. USITC Executive Briefing on Trade. Available at: https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/executive_briefings/chambers_health-relate_travel_final.pdf. Accessed February 2017.

Major provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act. 2017. Congressional Digest 96, no. 2: 2, 32.

Rosen, G., 1983. The structure of American medical practice 1875-1941. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press.

Samuels, M. E., and L. Shi. 1993. Physician recruitment and retention: A guide for rural medical group practice. Englewood, CO: Medical Group Management Press

Stevens, R., 1971. American medicine and the public interest. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

World Health Organization (WHO). 2006. The world health report 2006: Working together for health. Available at: http://www.who.int/whr/2006/en/index.html. Accessed December 2013.