A paper I wrote for my Healthcare class. It is about the evolution of health care.

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The Growth of the Health Care System
The healthcare system has evolved much over the past years and is still growing today.
Technology is continuing to become more and more advanced in the healthcare system. Over the
years many different types of healthcare systems have developed for various types of people.
There are four phases of the American Health Care System in history and there is speculation
about a fifth phase the health care system is currently going through (Dolecheck, 2014).
Phase I of the health care system occurred from 1850 to 1900 (Dolecheck, 2014). The
first large hospitals were established in New York and Boston in this phase (Dolecheck, 2014).
Water and housing wereamong some of the things the system was focused on at that time
(Dolecheck, 2014). There were no social organizations for health care so people would have to
find their own resources or seek charity (Dolecheck, 2014). Almost no money was spent on
health care and hospitals were just places where patients could stay (Williams & Torrens, 2008).
Phase II of the health care system occurred from 1900 to World War II (Dolecheck, 2014). The
scientific method was introduced into the health care system in this phase (Dolecheck, 2014).
One thing the system focused on during this time was trauma or infections affecting individual
people (Dolecheck, 2014). This was also the time the government became involved to help
people who could not care for themselves (Dolecheck, 2014). Phase III occurred from World
War II to 1980 (Dolecheck, 2014). During this phase there was a sparked interest in the social
and organizational structure of health care (Dolecheck, 2014). A few things the system focused
on during this era are chronic diseases, cancer, and strokes (Dolecheck, 2014). Hospitals grew in
numbers, size, and technology (Williams & Torrens, 2008). Health insurance also developed
during this time period (Dolecheck, 2014). Phase IV occurred from 1980 to the present
(Dolecheck, 2014). Economic factors started to influence changes in the health care system

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during this phase (Dolecheck, 2014). The system focused on things such as chronic diseases,
emotional and mental diseases, occupational injuries, and genetics (Dolecheck, 2014 ). There
were advancements in nursing and other services and the cost of health care rose (Williams &
Torrens, 2008). The government also increased its influence on the health care system during this
time period (Dolecheck, 2014). Phase V will happen sometime now and into the future
(Dolecheck, 2014). The Clinton Health Care Reform Plan looks at health care as a right, not a
benefit (Dolecheck, 2014). The system in this phase will focus on health care equality and the
movement toward socialized medicine and the use of alternative care (Dolecheck, 2014).
Technology plays a large role in the health care system. There was nearly no technology
during the first phase of the health care system (Dolecheck, 2014). Technology made its
appearance into the health care system during the second phase (Dolecheck, 2014). Throughout
the third and fourth phases technology has grown and will continue to grow and advance through
the fifth phase (Dolecheck, 2014).
The health care system is divided into subsystems according to the Public Policy
Perspective (Dolecheck, 2014). The health care system for the middle class is thought of as the
best system possible (Dolecheck, 2014). Families can set up a set of services just for their needs
with this system (Dolecheck, 2014). One of the major characteristics of this system is private
health care providers organize the services (Dolecheck, 2014). The health care system for the
poor is thought of as the worst system possible (Dolecheck, 2014). The major characteristics of
this system are local governmental agencies are responsible for most of the services and patients
do not have real permanency of services (Dolecheck, 2014). The health care system for the
active duty members of the uniformed services goes into effect immediately after the individual
admits into the service whether they want it or not (Dolecheck, 2014). This system also provides

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service for all members all over the world (Dolecheck, 2014). The health care system for
veterans of the uniformed services is part of a larger system of social services and benefits for
veterans (Dolecheck, 2014). There is little consensus on a specific definition for the term “health
disparities” but it often refers to the different types of treatments and accesses to screening
(Wiley Library, 2014). The term is more often used when describing differences associated with
social class and socioeconomic status (Wiley Library, 2014). Also the term “health inequalities”
is used in place of the term “health disparities” sometimes (Wiley Library, 2014).
I learned from the video not to underestimate the health care in rural communities. I
always thought small towns did not have much technology in hospitals because they do not have
as much money as large cities. I do like that the faculty at the hospital and the patients had more
than just a doctor patient relationship. They were friends and they all seemed like they were very
caring and friendly.
Resources
Dolecheck, Dr. J. (2014). Overview of Health Services in the United States [Powerpoint slides].
Retrieved from http://moodle.ulm.edu/course/view.php?id=48701
Dolecheck, J. (2014). Evolution of Healthcare in the United States[Powerpoint slides].
Retrieved from http://moodle.ulm.edu/course/view.php?id=48701
Health disparities. (n.d.). In Dictionary Wiley Library online. Retrieved from
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.05337.x/full
Williams, S. J., & Torrens, P. R. (2008). Introduction to health services: Clifton Park, NY:
Delmar Cengage Learning.