Healthcare Trends in the US

Introduction

The evolution of health care services in the United States over the past 100 years has been due to significant technological and procedural advancements, the advance of specialized medicine, societal shifts in needs, policy changes, and the roles of various healthcare professionals as they have become more defined. The United States' healthcare system has thus changed drastically from its early stages in the early 20th century, to the rise of consumer culture in medicine, to the more technologically advanced and policy-driven health arena of the 21st century. This century-long change tells a story of one nations health beliefs, priorities, challenges, and solutions. This paper looks at the major trends that have shaped healthcare services in the U.S. over the past 100 years, and it also examines the important role that policy has played in shaping this change.

Early 20th Century (1900-1940)

Tomes (2001) notes that in the early 20th century, commodification of health got underway. The US was in the midst of industrialization and urbanization, and a new consumer class had emerged. Medical companies came into existence, which led to the widespread trend of patent medicines. These were often over-the-counter remedies, touted as cure-alls for a variety of ailments, even though many had questionable efficacy (Conrad & Leiter, 2008).

At the same time, there was the emergence of pharmacies as commercial hubs. Prior to this, pharmacies were more like general stores and sold a mix of medicinal and non-medicinal products. However, with the rise of consumer culture, these shops transformed into specialized establishments focusing solely on medicines and health-related products. This change was also influenced by the increasing complexity of drug formulations, which required specialized knowledge and equipment (Zebroski, 2015).

There were also efforts to standardize practice in the medical profession. Before this era, the field of medicine in the U.S. was somewhat chaotic. Quality of care might vary considerably, and medical professionals began to organize to address concerns about safety and best practices. The establishment of professional organizations like the American Medical Association (AMA) was instrumental in setting standards for medical education and practice and later...

…could theoretically improve access to care by acting independently as primary care providers, many advanced practice nurses still continued to work in a secondary role. Additionally, this era was marked by a rise in pharmaceuticals.

Healthcare continued to change into the 21st century thanks to technology advances and policy changes. For example, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) brought about by the Obama Administration tried to overhaul the healthcare system by mandating that everyone buy health insurance; health insurance coverage increased for many. Healthcare costs were not reduced in any meaningful way, however. The Trump Administration ended the ACA insurance mandate. Technological breakthroughs included telemedicine, electronic health records, and health informatics, all of which began to help improve the delivery of healthcare services. There was also a shift towards patient-centered care and personalized medicine.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the past century has seen many different shifts in the U.S. healthcare system, all of which were shaped by social needs and determinants, technological advancements, and policy changes. These changes have come about for different reasons, but not all of them improved…