The use of technological achievements in the health care industry in the early 20th century was associated with essential changes. Warner and Tighe (2001) stipulate that advances in medical technology can affect society in many ways that include providing the population with better service, offering new job opportunities, and penetrating other spheres. Thus, the primary purpose of this paper is to present and comment on the impacts introduced above.
Firstly, Warner and Tighe (2001) emphasize that X-rays contributed to diagnostic precision. This technology allowed medical professionals to create real images with tangible shadows to establish an adequate diagnosis. According to the authors, “Philadelphia physician Charles L. Leonard proselytizes for the greater use of X-ray technology” (Warner & Tighe, 2001, p. 350). Secondly, it is mentioned that the development of medicine offered significant challenges for physicians. Thus, Francis Peabody explained that such medical professionals should have undertaken technological training in laboratory methods because of a robust “dependence of the clinic on the laboratory” (Warner & Tighe, 2001, p. 362). Finally, the advertisement of a Pulmotor demonstrates that the technological achievements in medicine were closely connected with commerce. This example shows that aggressive marketing tools were used to obtain economic benefits from the health care industry.
In conclusion, the medical industry is irreplaceably connected with society. Consequently, any changes in the former appropriately affect the latter. As a rule, this influence is positive for individuals because they obtain medical service of decent quality and new job opportunities. At the same time, the adverse impact can arise when technological advances become a marketing tool. In this case, medical institutions should spend their economic resources to obtain an opportunity to benefit from medical technology.
Reference
Warner, J. H., & Tighe, J. A. (2001). Major problems in the history of American medicine and public health: documents and essays. Houghton Mifflin.