Advancement in Medicine has drastically been on the rise throughout history. The start of improvement in medicine could be seen during the Korean War. Since the war fought in Korea had an armistice signed between the two countries, many people has seen the Korean War as a failure. Countless lives were lost in vain to resolve a war that ended up reverting back to where it originally started. The failure of the Korean War has resulted in years of tense hostility between both North and South Korea and their neighboring countries. Though the Korean War was recognized as a failure, there was success that came from this war, the advancement in medicine. The fatality rate since World War II compared to the Korean War decreased drastically. “In World …show more content…
War II, the fatality rate for seriously wounded soldiers was 4.5 percent. In the Korean War, that number was cut almost in half, to 2.5 percent” (Zimmerman). This massive decrease was due to the military usage of the MASH unit and aeromedical evacuation. During the Korean War many advances in medicine and technology were made that would later be used for other wars and for civilian usage. The MASH unit, Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, was a key attribute to the United States’ success in the advancement in medicine.
“Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (MASH) were designed to keep pace with combat units during time of wars, providing immediate, lifesaving care to casualties” (Booker, 648). The MASH unit provided the soldiers comfort of knowing that care would be given to them immediately, if they were to get injured. Towards the beginning of the Korean War, the MASH unit was a relatively small, since there was a shortage of doctors. Due to the lack of medical staff the United States Congress passed the Doctor’s Draft Act. “Doctors Draft Act, requiring all medical doctors under the age of fifty-one to register for military service” (MASH). The passing of the Doctor’s Draft Act assisted in making the MASH unit increase in size as the Korean War …show more content…
proceeded. Furthermore, the MASH was able to expand due to the increase in the amount of medical staff in the unit, which helped make it a major success, allowing it to be later used in other wars and for civilian usage.
“Deployment of medical facilities proceeded rapidly in the fall of 1950. By November four MASHs, with bed capacity increased from a planned 60 to 150, had been established in Korea, along with three 400-bed semi-mobile evacuation hospitals, four 400-bed field hospitals, one station hospital, and three hospital ships” (McCallum). The expansion of the MASH would later show its success by helping decrease the fatality rate of a seriously wounded soldier. The success of the MASH continued after the war when it was represented on the hit tv show of the same name, which depicted the life of a medical unit that was part of the MASH during the Korean War. “it was one of the most popular comedies on television between 1972 and 1983. The show was set in Korea at a MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) unit. Although a comedy, the show integrated dramatic plotlines as well” (M*A*S*H). This success of the MASH would allow it to be used in every war that the United States would be involved
in. The MASH unit was not the only key attribute in the United States’ success in the advancement in medicine. The aeromedical evacuation was also a key attributing to the success, but was ultimately overshadowed by the usage of MASH. The Aeromedical evacuation allowed helicopters to be used as a way of transporting wounded soldiers out of the battlefield. The success of using helicopters to transport injured soldiers was seen by the United States Military. An Army Major, William G. Howard, talked about the success of aeromedical evacuation in which he stated, “fundamentally changed the Army’s medical-evacuation doctrine” (Zimmerman). Similar to the MASH, the aeromedical would later be used in every war that the United States would be involved in and for civilian usage. The advancements in medicine and technology during the Korean war would be used in every war that the United States would be involved in and for civilian usage. The MASH allowed injured soldiers to get the immediate care they need. For the Aeromedical evacuation, it allowed soldiers to be taken out of the battlefield in a short amount of time. The MASH and the Aeromedical evacuation showed promise in the United States’ success in the advancement of medicine.
In the early seventies and into the early eighties there was a storied and sometimes highly controversial television series called “M.A.S.H” which stood for “Mobile Army Surgical Hospital”. The series was a follow on to the wildly successful movie by the same name. In both cases the story revolved around a group of Doctors and Nurses and supporting cast who operated a forward field hospital in Korea during the Korean War, the 4077 MASH. The characters were lovable, laughable, affable and endearing to viewers. However, the show was not without its recurring controversy. Everything from Anti-War sentiment to adultery to alcoholism were broached during its run on national television. One controversial issue that surrounded the show on a recurring basis was that of comedy in a surgical unit where blood, guts and pain were the order of the day, and in an environment where many thought that attitudes and demeanor should have been more serious. Specifically regarding the relationships between men and women, (Doctors and Nurses) and superiors and subordinates. The one-liners, the sexual innuendo, the practical jokes and surgical suite humor were all part of the allure of the series. In any case, whichever side of the controversy you found yourself on, “MASH” was tremendously successful and maintained a huge following.
The history of how Surgical Technologists began on the battlefields in World War II, when the Army used medics to work under the direct supervision of the surgeon, nurses were not allowed aboard combat ships at time, this led to a new profession within the military called Operating Room Technicians (ORTs). An accelerated nursing program was form only on operating room technology was set up as an on the job training of nursing assistants who worked in the surgery department, th...
Medicine has developed so dramatically over the last century that it is difficult to imagine a world in which its many benefits did not exist. Even as humans manage to eradicate some diseases, a look at history reminds us that there was a time when these and other diseases were rampant, and good health was the exception rather than the norm. There are many comparable time periods that medicine was needed and was used. With each, there were drastic changes to medical procedures and medical rules. Of the many different time periods that medicine was used; the comparison of medical care during the American Civil War and medical care during World War I is the most interesting. How did Civil War battlefield medicine compare with World War I battlefield medicine? That's a question that cannot be simply answered, but can be broken down into the overall sanitation of individuals, medical techniques, and overall medical staff for armies.
The Civil War had more deaths than all previous wars combined. Most people think those soldiers in the Civil War died of wounds or amputations, but the truth is that most died from common diseases that they never had been exposed to. Twice as many soldiers died from diseases than those soldiers who died in battle.
The contributions of several doctors, researchers, and scientists helped improve the health of the growing population. In 1850 the average life expectancy was 42 years. By 1910 the average life expectancy had risen to nearly 55 years. Between 1850 and 1910 there were several advances in the medical field. The introduction of genes, white blood cells, blood groups, insulin, rubber gloves, aspirin, and vitamins and the discoveries of Pasteur, Charcot, Halsted, Zirm, Lister, and Koch were the starting point of an international fight against disease.
There is no doubt that these events have improved and advanced the science of medicine as a whole and that lives have been improved and saved through the availability of healthcare within the system that has been created. The introduction and availability of antibiotics alone has restored to good health countless individuals who in the century before would have certainly died from bacterial infection.
Here at the Chelsea Naval Hospital, the influx of patients arriving home from the war inflicted with "battle wounds and mustard gas burns," has created a shortage of physicians and it is becoming increasingly difficult to fight this influenza. Even our own physicians are falling ill from the disease and dying within hours of its onset. Today I received a letter from Dr. Roy, a friend and fellow physician at Camp Devens, who describes a similar situation:
In the early 1900’s the United States’ medical field was stagnant causing many deaths in wartime. The majority of deaths in war times were often caused by diseases that were incurable. The United States medical field had to grow to current needs in war but it grew very slowly. The United States Army Ambulance Service was established on June 23, 1917 and the Sanitary Corps established one week later on the 30th. (David Steinert). The Sanitary Corps quickly expanded to nearly 3,000 officers during World War I but, this field was still much smaller than any other
During, and after World War I, there were lots of things that changed and advanced, some of the main, big changes and advances after World War I, was in the field of phycology and medicine. There were many different advances in the field of medicine after World War I, some of the main, medical advances, were in the field of surgery, development of new drugs, and in the field mental health and phycology.
Limbs were being shattered and wounds were becoming infected and spreading throughout the body. Even though the Civil War was a gruesome time, many lifesaving procedures were born through it. Because of the high medical need during the American Civil War, necessary advances such as medical inventions, lifesaving procedures, and reconstructive surgery established the foundation for our current medical methods. Ambulances were further developed from the base model which already existed during the war. The ambulance’s main purpose was to speedily take injured soldiers from the battlefield to the medical and doctors in order to receive appropriate care.
Continental Congress authorize the establishment of a Medical service in 27 may 1775. This move was done to help cope with the lack of medical support in the battle field. This step formed the medical Corp by provided a surgeon general, four surgeons, one apothecary, 20 surgeons mates, one clerk and two store keepers and one nurse for every 10 sick. This move aid in the alleviation of the lack of medical personnel in the battle field. This step was important in that it stared the medical core providing the army with consistent medical care in the battle field.
United States involvement during the Cold War began with the Korean War. The War started on June 25, 1950 when troops from North Korea entered the 38th parallel, which was the boundary established after World War II between North Korea and South Korea. The North was supported by the Soviet Union and People’s Republic of China while the South was later supported by the U.S and its allies. Their attack was one of the first military measures of the Cold War (“Korean War”). Once North Korea invaded South Korea, U.S. involvement took place to prevent further communist regime and their involvement aided in several military developments and also left lasting political and diplomatic affects during the Cold War.
In the early 1860’s, the first field ambulance and attendant was created by the United States. The first recorded use of the ambulance and attendant was during the civil war. Both sides tried to make their medical practices equal, if not better than what was used in the Napoleonic Wars. But due to the lack of funding, government support, and personnel dedication, these attempts failed. In 1864, at the Geneva Conventions, an agreement was made that the European countries would recognize the neutrality of hospitals and ambulances so that the sick and wounded,...
Throughout history there have been records of soldiers experiencing ‘shell shock,’ ‘battle fatigue,’ ‘gross stress reaction,’ and ‘soldier’s heart.’ The soldiers who suffered from these combat induced physiological traumas were branded as cowards, and removed from positions, reprimanded and even court marshaled. Vietnam veterans began to experience similar ailments immediately following the war. This new surge of afflicted soldiers forced the public as well as medical professionals and government officials to take notice of what is now ...
After the industrial revolution in the 18th century in Europe and America, there was the rapid industrial and economic growth in the 19th century, which in turn caused various scientific discoveries and various invention therefore making more progress in identifying illnesses and developing modes of treatment and cure, this was where modern medicine started. After the industrial revolution there were more industries, which in turn created a lot of work-related diseases and poor hygiene, also as the cities began to grow larger, more communicable diseases began to increase, cases like typhoid and cholera became epidemics. As well, due to the changes occurring, more and more people became more aware and since there was democracy there became an increase in demand for health care. There were also the wars that occurred, causing injuries which needed to be treated. Modern medicine evolves to solve the problems of the society at a given time and various advances in this mode of health care has occurred over the years. It has been seen that modern medicine is a positive influence in the society today for various reasons, the goal of the modern medicine is to achieve good health of the citizens, and modern medicine is experimental which is capable of advanced diagnosis. Likewise, modern medicine has an effect on the social and economic state of the modern society. Modern medicine is understood as the science of treating, diagnosing or even preventing illnesses using improved sophisticated technology. This mode of treatment involves a variety of methods, using diet, exercise, treatment by drugs or even surgery.