What would Florence Nightingale think of the United States health insurance today? The availability of health insurance in 1860 to 1900 was virtually nonexistent. In 1798, The United States Congress established the U.S. Marine Hospital that serviced military seaman. This was the earliest form of coverage for health insurance. Soon after this time, the Travelers Insurance Company established our first form accident insurance in 1863 (Scofea, 1994). During this time, the Civil War was taking place in our country. The astounding number of deaths due to disease and illness helped pave the way for advancing medical practice in the United States. With the help of the American Red, the development of health care organizations progressed (American …show more content…
This is very similar to what is now known as disability insurance. Established in 1850, the Franklin Health Assurance Company of Massachusetts offered the first form of medical insurance to cover nonfatal injuries in the United States (Scofea, 1994). The company provided protection against lost income due to railway or steamboat accidents, rather than covering health services (Scofea, 1994). The policy would pay the injured worker two hundred dollars for a fifteen cent premium (Scofea, 1994). In the case of total disability, the policy would pay up to four hundred dollars. Although the Franklin Health Assurance Company of Massachusetts did not provide insurance for health services, this company paved the way for accident related health insurance in the United …show more content…
Unfortunately, insurance underwriters were convinced that health was impractical due to the restricted coverage to a limited number of qualifying diseases. In the very beginning doctors had to practice on their own and use their own money to fund the care they provided (Chapin, 2015). Health insurance was established so late in American history due to many factors; One being that there was not an advanced medical technology early on. People who were sick stayed at home to heal and receive medical attention. In the beginning health insurance was designed for a person who became sick and was unable to work and earn money (Chapin, 2015). During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s there were many medical advances that led to new public images of medicine and allowed for people to gain trust in institutions. In 1904 there was regulation introduced by the American Medical Association that created standards for medical licensure, which led to accreditation of medical schools. There was a decrease in medical schools in 1910 -1912 from 131 to 95 with this decrease there were a more talented supply of licensed physicians produced. (Yale,
At one time because of being a part time student and employee, I could not get insurance though my parents, my work, or my school. I was not eligible for Medicaid, and found the cost of private insurance was completely out of my budget.
notices to patients and their families, schedule and lead the meetings. Wishing to be actively involved in the process, I represented nursing along with the charge nurse of the unit and the charge aide.
“Apprehension, uncertainty, waiting, expectation, fear of surprise, do a patient more harm than any exertion. Remember he is face to face with his enemy all the time, internally wrestling with him” (Nightingale, 1992, p. 22). Fortunately, in the nineteenth century, Florence Nightingale recognized uncertainty could cause harm to her patients (Nightingale, 1992). Equally important to the nursing profession are the nursing theorists, their work, and the evolution of the theories that followed Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing (Alligood, 2014).
Registered nurses work to contribute good health and prevent illness. They also treat patients and help go through there rehabilitation and also give support and advice to patients family. Registered nurses are general-duty nurses who focus in the achievement of caring for their patients. They are under the supervision of a doctor. As I researched this career It brought more questions to my life. It became a big interest that soon I would have an opportunity to answer my own questions obviously with the help of others.
Although, private insurance was available to everyone who was able to afford it, there were some people such as the elderly and the poor who could not afford it. Thus, they are more likely to have a high mortality rate. Also, private payers charged way more. To ensure delivery to the elderly and poor Medicare and Medicaid were created.
Before Obamacare was passed, millions of Americans were uninsured, suffering and dying prematurely each year from lack of health insurance. Insurance companies could deny anyone for pre-existing illnesses, drop them when they get sick, or stop treating them when they touch annual or life-time perimeters. Over 60% of bankruptcies were associated with medical expenses, several of these people had insurance. Insurance companies have no limits on raising premiums. Preventative measures and wellness visits were not adequately covered (Mowrey, 2013).
The first health insurance plans began during the Civil War in the mid 1800’s, with the earliest plans only covering against accidents related to travel via rail or steamboat. Eventually, plans became more elaborate, covering all illnesses and injuries. In 1929, the first modern group health insurance plan was formed. In Dallas, Texas a group of teachers contracted with Baylor Hospital for room, board, and medical services in exchange for a monthly fee. And in 1932, Blue Cross and Blue Shield offered group health insurance plans for the first time (Neurosurgical Medical Group, 2007).
By 1915 workers compensation laws were passed in 30 States. The AALL was inspired by their success and proposed a government health insurance at the State level. They drafted legislation to be presented at various State legislatures. Their model included protection for low income workers with hospital and medical benefits for both workers and their dependants. Public debate began. The AALL needed political support. For two years they were doing well. In 1917 the War Risk Insurance Act was passed. This was health insurance for servicemen and their families. From 1918 to 1920 several State study commissions reported unfavorably on the issue. A California voter referendum on government health insurance was defeated. In the New York state assembly, the bill was defeated. Soon after, the campaign for government health insurance collapsed. The public philosophy shapes the public policy. Public attitudes in those days leaned toward government as the last resort. Government responsibility was to ensure maximum freedom of private enterprise. It was felt society progressed by the rule “survival of the fittest”. Government interference would upset the natural evolution of society. Those wanting reform couldn’t agree themselves as to the best way to achieve change...
It is hard to imagine life without health insurance. If you have any type of medical problem that requires attention, and you have appropriate health care insurance, you can be cared for in the finest of private hospitals. You can get great treatment and your ailments, depending on the severity, can be treated as soon as possible. Doctors, physicians and surgeons are willing to put out a big effort if they know that they are dealing with patients who are insured and have the money to go under extensive medical treatment. But imagine life without such luxuries. For example, what happens if a relative requires much needed surgery, but does not have health insurance to cover the procedure? What happens if a lack of medical insurance prevents you or your family from seeing a doctor, which could result in health problems that had not been identified but could have been treated before they became life threatening? These scenarios may seem far-fetched, but these types of situations happen to people who lack health coverage everyday. There is a true story about a patient who was insured and diagnosed with treatable cervical cancer. Unfortunately, she lost her job and with it her insurance. She was then unable to see her private doctor, and was turned away from other hospitals because ?cancer treatment is not considered an emergency in a patient who can?t pay? (?Help for D.C.?s Uninsured?). The woman later died at her home without ever being treated. This example raises the question, since when are people with less money less deserving of health care or appropriate treatment?
Because of this “approximately twenty to forty-five thousand people die in the United States each year due to a lack of health insurance.” (Obamacare) Not only that but “about fifty-three million Americans have admitted, with or without insurance, they cannot afford to see a doctor.” (LUHBY)
In 1849 Florence went abroad to study the European hospital system. In 1853 she became the superintendent for the Hospital for Invalid Gentlewomen in London. In 1854 Florence raised the economic and productive aspect of women's status by volunteering to run all the nursing duties during the Crimean War. With her efforts the mortality rates of the sick and wounded soldiers was reduced. While being a nurse was her profession and what she was known for, she used statistics to achieve...
Florence Nightingale, named after the city of Florence, was born in Florence, Italy, on May 12, 1820. She would pursue a career in nursing and later find herself studying data of the soldiers she so cringingly looking after. Born into the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale took the lead role amongst her and her colleges to improve the inhabitable hospitals all across Great Britten; reduce the death count by more than two-thirds. Her love for helping people didn’t go unnoticed and would continue to increase throughout her life. In 1860 she opened up the St. Tomas’ Hospital and the Nightingale Training School for Nurses before passing August 13, 1910 in London. Her willingness to care for her patients was never overlooked and wound establishing
In the USA, health insurance is commonly included in employer benefit packages and seen as an employment perk.
A theory I can relate to is Nightingales theory, I found her theory to be extremely interesting. A patient health is affected by the environment that they are in, whether it is at the hospital or at their house. Once a patient is discharged the nurse should be aware of the patient home environment, what they have access to, and what they don’t have.
Origin : It idea began 1964 by Hugh Chamberlen. It started with accident insurance which later covered disability insurance and gradually have taken the present form of medical and health Insurance. Under this apart from above medical cost are covered for illness including operations, bills for medicines.