Module 1 History of Medical Technology in a Global Context

 Disease was believed to be caused by the negative interaction between the

environment and the body.
 Hippocrates, was considered the "father of medicine" and the author of
Hippocratic Oath.
 And, Galen a Greek physician and philosopher, instigated a rudimentary and
qualitative assessment of disorder through measurement of body fluids such as:
blood, phlegm, yellow bile black bile.
 Urine was one of the body fluids that underwent examination.
 Hippocrates advocated: the tasting of urine,listening to the lungs, and
observing outward appearances in the diagnosis of disease.
 He concluded that the appearance of bubbles, blood, and pus in urine indicated
kidney disease and chronic illnesses.
 Galen describe diabetes as "diarrhea of urine" and established the relationship
between fluid intake and urine volume.
 In medieval Europe, diagnosis by "water casting" (uroscopy) was widely
practiced.
 In the early 11th century, medical practitioners relied solely on the patient's
description of symptoms and their observations.
 In the 19th century, physicians began using machines for diagnosis or
therapeutics.
 Among the devices invented were: John Hutchinson's spirometer for measuring
the vital capacity of the lungs, and Jules Herisson's sphygmomanometer for
measuring blood pressure.

19th Century
 The use of chemistry was pivotal in the diagnosis of diabetes, anemia,
diphtheria, and syphilis during this period.
 Large amount of data were required in the diagnosis and treatment of patients,
so volume of patient data prompted the need for information technology.
 Technology took over face-to-face interaction between patients and physicians.
 The thermometer was also developed, with a stethoscope, a microscope,
ophthalmoscopes, a laryngoscope and a x-ray, enabling physicians to
examine their patients.
 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) technical laboratories
began to use in the United States until the mid-1900s for the purpose of medical
diagnostic

20th Century

 The progress of medical technology was marked by the discoveries or

improvements of electrical measuring techniques, sensor development,
nuclear medicine and diagnostic ultrasound.
 Science and technology integration (such as the use of electron microscope-
used for visualization of small cells including tumor cells).
 Computer adaptation in medical research has resulted in the development of
magnetic resonance imaging and tomography (MRI).
 Discoveries or improvements of Electrical measurement techniques, sensor
development, nuclear medicine, and diagnostic ultrasound marked the
advances in medical technology.
 Integration of technology with science (such as the use of electron microscope-
used for visualization of small cells including tumor cells).
 Adaption of computers in medical researches led to the development of
tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

History of Medical Technology in the United States

 In 1895, the University of Pennsylvania's William Pepper Laboratory of Clinical
Medicine was opened to highlight the service role of clinical laboratories.
 In 1918, John Kolmer called for the development of a method that would certify
medical technologists on a national scale.
 Kolmer published The Demand for and Training of Laboratory Technicians that
included a description of the first formal training course in Medical Technology.
 In 1920, clinical laboratories consisted of 4 to 5 divisions including clinical
pathology, bacteriology, microbiology, serology, and radiology.
 Technicians and technologists that would assist physicians also became greater.
 In 1922, the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) was founded with
the objective of encouraging the cooperation between physicians and clinical
pathologists as well as maintain the status of clinical pathologists.
 ASCP also established the code of ethics for technicians and technologists
stating that these allied health professionals should work under the supervision
 of a physician and refrain from making oral or written diagnosis and advising
physicians on how patients should be treated.
 In the 1950s, medical technologists in the United States sought government
professional recognition by licensing laws.

History of Medical Technology in the Philippines

 Hospital Real in Cebu, was the first hospital the Spaniards established in 1565.
 In 1578, the Franciscans built the San Lazaro Hospital for the poor and lepers.
 In 1596, the Hospital de San Juan de Dios was founded for poor Spaniards.
 In 1641, the Hospital de San Jose was founded in Cavite.
 In 1887, The Laboratorio Municipal de Manila was established by the Spanish
authorities.
 At the end of the 19th century the Spaniards, considered as medical authorities,
began to explore the microbial causes of diseases
 The medical and medical developments under the Spanish colonial regime
collapsed because of the war between 1899 and 1902 between the Philippines
and the United States.
 The Americans set up public health institutions modeled on military healthcare
systems in replacement of the Spanish medical system.
 After Manila's fall, Lt. Col. Henry Lipincott converted the Spanish military hospital
into the First Reserved Hospital in 1898.
 Richard P. Strong, the successor, used the laboratory to perform autopsies and
examine blood, feces, and urine, among other things.
 In 1901, the US government set up a Bureau of Government Laboratories under
Act 156 of the Philippine Commission by means of the Philippine Commission.
 The office was located on Herran Street (Pedro Gil), Ermita, Manila.
 Unfortunately, during the Second World War, the building was demolished.
 The National Health institutes of the Philippines-Manila University are currently
occupying the region.
 In 1905, the Board worked in conjunction with the Board of Army Study in
Tropical Conditions, with the reorganization of the Bureau of government
laboratories, until it dissolved in 1914.
 The Science Bureau has worked in close collaboration with the Philippine
General Hospital (PGH) and the University of the Philippines.
 More than 7000 fecal specimens, 900 urine specimens and 700 blood
specimens were received in the laboratory in 1909.
 In June 1927, the College of Public Health of the University of the Philippines
issued its Certificate of Public Health in order to provide appropriate training for
medical officers in the Philippine Health Service.
 On June 18, 1942, the 3rd Medical Laboratory became the first laboratory unit to
be assigned in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).
 When US forces landed in Leyte in 1944, the laboratories, including the 3rd, 5th,
and 8th Medical Laboratories, as well as the 19th Medical General Laboratory,
were relocated to the West Pacific Area.
 On the Second World War, the 6th Infantry division of the U.S. army in Quiricada
St., Sta Cruz, Manila, established the first clinical laboratory in the Philippines..
Now it is called the Public Health Laboratory of Manila.
 When the U.S. military withdrew in June 1945, the laboratory was supported by
Dr. Pio de Roda with then-Manila City Health Officer Dr. Mariano Icasiano until
re-opening in October of the same year.
 Dr. Pio de Roda, together with Dr. Prudencia Sta. Ana, conducted a training
program for aspiring laboratory personnel after establishing a public health
laboratory in Manila.
 Once completed, Ana was asked to prepare a six month formal training program
with a trainee certificate.
 In 1954, the training program ended when a bachelor's course in medical
technology was approved by the Private Education Bureau.
 Similarly, under the leadership of Mrs. Willa Hedrick, Manila Sanitarium and
Hospital (MSH) opened the Philippine first school for Medical Technology, now
Philippine Union College.
 Soon after, MSH started its medical internship and residency training program
affiliated with Loma Linda University in California.
 Dr. Jesse Umali was the first Medical Technology Degree student in 1956.
 He graduated from Far Eastern (FEU) with a doctorate in medicine and became
a successful US OB-gynecologist.
 In 1957, the University of Santo Tomas first offered medical technology for
pharmacy students.
 Medical Technology was only recognized in 1961 as an official UST program.

Two important events triggered the start of medical lab. Practice

1. The opening of the Suez Canal facilitated the dissemination of information from the
West to the East.
2. Because of the outbreak of World War II, the American soldiers who were based in
the Philippines trained Filipinos in routine laboratory techniques w/c ultimately paved
the way to the establishment of medical technology in the country.

 In 1902, Landsteiner discovered the ABO blood group system


 In 1954, Jonas Salk developed the poliomyelitis vaccine.
 Hans Fischer worked out the structure of hemoglobin.
 General Antonio Luna, a Philippine hero who was employed as a chemical
expert in this laboratory.
 Rene Laennec is the one who invented the stethoscope
 In 1877, Robert Koch presented the first pictures of bacilli (anthrax), and later
tubercle bacilli.
 In 1906, August von Wassermann developed immunologic tests for syphilis
 In 1859, Wilhelm Roentgen invented the x-ray.
 In 1660,  Antonie van Leeuwenhoek also known as the father of microbiology
known for his work on the improvement of the microscope
 In 1973, James Westgard introduce the Westgard Rules for quality control in the
clinical laboratory.
 In 1865, Gregor Mendel discovered the law of Heredity.
 In 1985, Kary Mullis developed the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)