HISTORY OF MEDICAL

TECHNOLOGY PROFESSION
LESSON 1
EARLY MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS
• 300 BC to 180 AD
• Hippocrates – Father of Medicine
• Galen – Greek physician and philosopher
• Four humors – Blood, Phlegm, Yellow Bile, Black Bile
• Urine tasting, listening to lungs, observing outward appearance
• Uroscopy – Medieval Europe
• 900 AD – Characteristics of urine (color and density)
• Public beatings for Physicians who failed to examine urine
• High mortality rate of plagues and other diseases lead to advancement
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS
• Early 11 th century – not allowed to do physical examination of the body; relied on
patient’s description of symptoms and observations
• 18 th century - mechanical techniques and cadaver dissection (more objective and
accurate diagnosis)
• 19 th century – physicians used machines for diagnosis or therapeutics
• John Hutchinson: Spirometer (vital capacity of lungs)
• Jules Herisson: Sphygmomanometer (blood pressure)
• Mid 1800s – laboratories designed for analyzing medical specimens were organized
by chemical experts.
• Mid 1900s – technical laboratories regulated by Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) began to be used for medical diagnosis.
• Early 20th century – improvement in basic sciences and integration of scientific and
technological discoveries (electrical measurement techniques, sensor development,
nuclear medicine, and diagnostic ultrasound); also made impacts in various surgical
procedures
•20 th century to present – new medical advancements
o Electron microscope – visualization of small cells including tumor cells
o Tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – adaption of computers
o Prosthesis such as artificial heart valves and artificial blood vessels, functional
electromechanical limbs, and reconstructive skeletal joints
o Robotics, keyhole surgery procedures, genetic engineering, and telemedicine
HISTORY OF MEDTECH IN U.S.
•1922: American Society for Clinical Pathology
•Coordination with pathologist and clinical physician
•Code of ethics
•Formerly American Society for Medical Technologists
•1950
•Sought professional recognition from the government of their educational qualifications
through licensure laws
• 1895: University of Pennsylvania William Pepper Laboratory of Clinical Medicine
• 1918: John Kolmer published “The Demand for and Training for Laboratory Technicians” – first
formal training course
• 1918: Legislature of Pennsylvania enacted a law requiring all hospitals to employ full time
laboratory technicians
• 1920: Administrative units were directed by Chief Physician
• Clinical Pathology, Bacteriology, Microbiology, Serology, and Radiology
HISTORY OF MEDTECH IN THE PH
• 16 th century - Reign of Spanish empire
• 1565 – First hospital: Hospital Real in Cebu moved to Manila
• 1578 – Franciscans built San Lazaro Hospital for the poor and lepers
• 1596 – Hospital de San Juan de Dios founded for the poor Spaniards
• 1641 – Hospital de San Jose founded in Cavite
• 1806-1898 – Vaccinations had 122 vaccinators (vacunadores) in Manila and other major towns
PUBLISHED JOURNALS
•Boletin de Medicine de Manila (1886)
•Revista Farmaceutica de Filipinas ((1893)
•Cronicas de Ciencias Medicas (1895)
•1611 – Dominicans established University of Santo Tomas
• 1871 – First faculties of Pharmacy and Medicine
•1876 – Provincial medical officers were appointed
•1883 – Establishment of Board of Health and Charity
•1886 – Expansion of Board of Health and Charity
•1887 – Laboratorio Municipal de Manila was established for examination of food, water, and
clinical samples.
•General Antonio Luna – employed as chemical expert in Laboratorio Municipal de Manila;
pioneered water testing, forensics, and environmental studies
•End of 19 th century – Spaniards started exploring microbial causes of diseases
•1899 – 1902 – Philippine-American War
•1898 – First Military Reserve Hospital by Lt. Col. Henry Lipincott; chief surgeon of the Division
of the Pacific and Eight Army Corps.
• Successor, Richard P. Strong, performed autopsies and examination of blood, feces, and urine
along with other lab services
•1901 – US Gov’t, through Phil. Commission, established a Bureau of Government Laboratories
under Philippine Commission Act No. 156
BUREAU OF GOVERNMENT LABORATORIES
•Location: Calle Herran (Pedro Gil), Ermita, Manila
•Had a science library, chemical section, and serum laboratory for the production of vaccines
•First director: Paul Freer (provided fully functional equipments)
•Destroyed during WWII
•At present: National Institutes of Health of University of the Philippines – Manila
HISTORY OF MEDTECH IN PH
• 1905: Establishment of Bureau of Science for officers who sought a career in laboratory
research
• 1909: 7,000 fecal samples, 900 urine specimens, and 700 blood specimens.
• End of Phil-American War: Board of Health and Charity changed to Bureau of Health
• 1915: Reorganized into the Philippine Health Service
• 1933: Reverted to Bureau of Health
• June 1927: UP College of Public Health formally opened its certificate in Public Health Program
with aim to provide proper training to Philippine health services medical officers
•Dec. 8, 1941: Japan attacked Manila
•June 18, 1942: 3rd Medical Laboratory (Leyte) was the first medical laboratory unit to be
assigned in the South West Pacific Area
• Additional: 19 th (Leyte), 26 th(Lingayen Gulf – only Lab in Luzon for 6 months following US
invasion) and 27 th Medical Laboratory (Tacloban) and the 363 rd Medical Composite
Detachment (Leyte)
FIRST CLINICAL LABORATORY IN THE PH
•6 TH INFANTRY DIVISION OF THE US ARMY at Quiricada St. Sta Cruz Manila
• Presently, MANILA PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY
• Reopened in October 1945 by Dr. Pio de Roda with the help of then Manila City Health Officer
Dr. Mariano Icasiano
• Dr. Pio de Roda and Dr. Prudencia Sta. Ana conducted a training program for aspiring
laboratory workers.
• Dr. Sta. Ana prepared a 6-month syllabus for the training program with certificate upon
completion.
• Dr. Tirso Briones joined the team
• The training program ended in 1954 when Bureau of Private Education approved 4-year
course in BS in Medical Technology
HISTORY OF MEDTECH IN PH
• 1954: Manila Sanitarium and Hospital (MSH) opened the first school of Medical Technology
under the leadership Mrs. Willa Hedrick, wife of Dr. Elvin Hedrick.
• Started its medical internship and residency training program which was affiliated with Loma
Linda University in California.
• 1954: Philippine Union College in Baesa, Caloocan (now Adventist University of the
Philippines) absorbed MSH’s School of Medical Technology
• Dr. Jesse Umali – First Graduate (Graduated Medicine at FEU and a successful OB Gynecologist
in the US)
• 1957: UST offered Medtech course as an elective
• 1961: UST recognized Medtech as an official program