The industrial revolution in the United States helped shape the health care policies and values that we enjoy (or don't enjoy) today. The American Medical Association (AMA) that was established in 1847 created a schedule of drugs that organized prescriptions and narcotics according to their medical use and potential for abuse. This is an ever-changing list because social values change over time. This initiation of the schedule of drugs laid the groundwork for the capitalization lobbying of and for prescription drugs. The lobbying that takes place in congress and in hospitals is a scary thing for the American people. We might not be getting appropriate care if there is enough money backing an opposing solution. However, I do recognize that these items require classification in order to establish and maintain regulations.
When hospitals began to emerge during the industrial revolution they were concentrated in large cities and towns. Thinking about this fact, not much has changed. The majority of the U.S. health care takes place in more densely populated areas. This poses a problem for people in rural environments who might not have the means to travel. These same people might not have health care anyway. So, why should they care about getting to a hospital if it means that they will have a hospital debt that they might not be able to pay later anyway? Think about it. Seriously.
hey mandi,
ReplyDeleteyou could not have put it any better! Prescription drug lobbying is a scary thing for the american people. And because money has so much power and control in the white house, its even scarier to think about ever establishing a health care system that covers everyone and that everyone can agree on.