Hoffman: Ch. 1-5

     Including this reading by Hoffman was a great way to keep us in tact with everything we've have previously discussed in class, bust allowed us, as readers, to view the topic in a different way. Several topics that arouse during these first five chapters made my mind wonder, noticing that I hadn't paid attention to, reading the previous two novels.
     The subject that caught my attention the most, was in reference to the story of the young girl who died during the Great Depression because of the low income her family had been struggling with. With her mom stating that her daughter had passed away due to their family doctor not wanting to treat her, due to the fact that their finances could not pay for the services needing to be provided.
     This brought a personal connection to me, because just recently, my uncle was close to being denied treatment when entering a emergency room for a throbbing headache and ear ringing feeling, that caused him to tilt his head to the side whenever he walked. Because my uncle does not have medical insurance, employees of the hospital did not want to treat him, because they were unsure how they would get paid for their services.
     They chose to treat him, anyway, and instead, bill him for whatever had to be done. After finding out that he had had a severe ear infection, it was truly a blessing that caregivers chose to bill him, instead of denying him access to treatment. Had he not gotten anything done about this, he could have eventually had more severe issues with his head and ear, and could possibly lose his ability to ear out of that ear. 

Howell: Ch. 6-8

     Today, the things we see and experience when going to the hospital or doctor, did not always take place, especially not in the same sequence or order of a visit. For example, during a regular annual checkup appointment with a doctor, we know that before actually seeing him or her, the nurses have urinate and give blood, along with weighing us and checking our blood pressure. Years before, this was not always the case, and in Howell's ending chapters of his novel, "Technology in the Hospital," this is recognized.
     Urinalysis has been a method of testing for years. The testing of blood, though, has not. In these last three chapters, Howell speaks on how complicated this testing was for nurses and physicians to get used to. The difference in red and white blood cells, along with blood types, made it very difficult for professionals in the medical field to be successful with testing patients through this.
     It wasn't until the twentieth century, that doctors began to want to know and fully understand the importance of blood and how running test on a patient's blood could benefit both parties. After discovering how numerical results benefited them, the connections between the different types of cells and blood types was made easier. Findings of diseases and illnesses were also made easier after the use of blood testing became efficient.

Howell: Ch. 3-5

     Similar to previous chapters of this book, as well other readings for this class, these two chapters primarily discussed the evolution of medical field in various ways. With urinalysis and x-rays becoming effective, things for home care and the hospital began to change. With x-rays being large items, that were efficient in detecting broken bones and other things regarding the body, it was very difficult for anyone to get one of these in their home to assist with treatment. Still today, x-rays are not commonly used in the home, even of physicians and other medical doctors who could very well afford it, let alone use it correctly.
     In addition, the role of women was also brought up during these chapters. Because of the dominant role that men played during this time, surrounding the war, men received x-rays more periodically than women. Though the author suggest that the lifestyles between the two were very relevant to men having more x-rays done than woman, it also stated the stature of the machine, in addition, is what kept women away from them. Avoiding legal action, physicians could have very well kept women out of x-rays, due to not knowing how well they would react to them.

Howell: Ch.1-2

     Howell's novel, Technology in the Hospital, starts out with a focus on the evolution of technology and how it improved the funds for healthcare provider facilities, as well as efficient care to patients. As the novel begins, Howell, uses several pictures of graphed data to show the changes in trend over a period of time. His main focus during the first two chapters was to grasp the attention of the reader by relating things back to the turn of the twentieth century. During this time, healthcare within the household became less common, as healthcare providers became more involved and efficient with the use of hospitals.
     In my opinion, the change from home care to hospitalization was a great idea, for as we know today, not all things needed to treat someone who is need of medical care is within the home. The increase in financial funds for the hospital gave them more of a drive to treat patients as fast as they could, in order to gain more funds by treating more patients. The change toward scientific data was put into play and made hospitals more appealing to everyone. The modernization of the hospital room brought on the need for everyone to get treated, in the best way they knew how to- increasing the amount of patients in the hospital and decreases and somewhat ceases the act of home healthcare.