History of Medical Technology Profession

• Hippocrates:

  • Known as the "father of medicine"
  • Author of the Hippocratic Oath
  • Advocated tasting of urine, listening to the lungs, and observing outer appearance in the diagnosis of disease
  • Appearance of bubbles, blood, and pus in the urine indicated kidney disease and chronic illnesses
• Galen:

  • Greek physician and philosopher
  • Described diabetes as "diarrhea of urine"
  • Initiated qualitative assessment of disorders through the measurement of body fluids: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile
• Medieval Period:

  • Quack doctors used urine for diagnosing disease
  • "Water casting" (uroscopy) was a common practice
• 11th Century:

  • Physicians were not allowed to conduct physical examinations on patients, relying solely on the patient's description of symptoms and observations
• 14th Century:

  • Italian physician of University of Bologna employed Alexandra Giliani to perform tasks considered a medical technologist's job
• Marcello Malpighi:

  • Italian physician and biologist
  • Known as the "Father of Pathology"
  • Founded the science of microscopic anatomy contributing to advances in physiology and embryology
• Rudolf Carl Virchow:

  • German pathologist known for advancing pathology
  • Founded the Archives of Pathology in Berlin in 1847
• 18th Century:

  • Cadaver dissections were used for accurate diagnosis and understanding the body's internal structures
• 19th Century:

  • Aniline dyes like Methylene blue, Crystal Violet, and Malachite Green were used in laboratories
  • John Hutchinson invented the Spirometer to measure the volume of air
  • Jules Herisson invented the Sphygmomanometer to measure blood pressure
  • Dr. William Occam used laboratory methods to diagnose diseases
• History of Medical Technology in a Global Context:

  • The practice of diagnosing diseases based on laboratory tests spread to Turkey and other European countries
• 1816:

  • Stethoscope invented by Rene Laennec for acquiring information about the lungs and heartbeats
• 1840:

  • Microscope developed for medical purposes by Anton van Leeuwenhoek due to advances in lenses and lower costs
• 1850:

  • Ophthalmoscope invented by Hermann von Helmholtz as the first visual technology
• 1855:

  • Laryngoscope invented by Manuel Garcia using 2 mirrors to observe the throat and larynx
• 1859:

  • X-ray discovered by Wilhelm Roentgen used to diagnose pneumonia and tuberculosis
• 1900:

  • Technical laboratories regulated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began to be used for medical diagnostics in the US
• 1903:

  • Electrocardiograph invented by William Einthoven to measure electrical changes during heartbeats
• 1910:

  • Kenny method by Elizabeth Kenny served as pioneering work for modern physical therapy
• 1927:

  • Drinker respirator invented by Philip Drinker
• 1939:

  • Heart-lung machine invented by Herman von Helmholtz
• 1941:

  • Cardiac catheterization and Angiography developed by Cournand in the 1930s-1940s
• History of Medical Technology in the United States:

  • In 1884, the University of Michigan established the first chemical laboratory related to medicine
  • In 1878, William Welch opened the first pathology course in an American Medical School at Bellevue Hospital Medical College
  • In 1885, Welch became the first professor of pathology at John Hopkins University and established the first clinical laboratory there
• 1889:

  • Routine exams on clinical specimens from hospitals were performed
• 1894:

  • Simon Flexner was assigned as a resident pathologist at John Hopkins to head the new Pathology department
• 1895:

  • University of Pennsylvania's William Pepper Laboratory of Clinical Medicine was opened to highlight the service role of clinical laboratories
• 1908:

  • "Clinical Diagnosis by Laboratory Methods" by James Todd and Sanford was published
• 1900 Census:

  • Number of laboratory workers were recorded
• 1915:

  • Pennsylvania legislature passed a law requiring all hospitals to have a laboratory and full-time medical technologist to operate
• 1918:

  • John Kolmer developed a method to certify medical technologists
• 1920:

  • Administrative units of clinical laboratories in large hospitals were directed by a chief physician, covering Clinical Pathology, Bacteriology, Microbiology, Serology, and Radiology
• 1922:

  • American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) was founded, and the University of Minnesota offered formal education in medical technology
• History of Medical Technology in the Philippines:

  • In 1565, Hospital Real was the first hospital established by the Spaniards in Cebu, later moved to Manila
  • In 1578, San Lazaro Hospital was established for the poor and lepers
  • In 1596, Hospital de San Juan de Dios was founded for poor Spaniards
  • In 1641, Hospital de San Jose was founded in Cavite
• Journals of Science and Medicine:

  • Boletin de Medicina de Manila (1886)
  • Revista Farmaceutica de Filipinas (1893)
  • Cronicas de Ciencias Medicas (1895)
• 1887:

  • Laboratorio Municipal de Manila was established by the Spaniards for laboratory examinations of food, water, and clinical samples
• 1898:

  • Spanish Military Hospital was converted into the First Reserve Hospital by Lt. Col. Henry Lipincott
• 1901:

  • Bureau of Government Laboratories was established by the US government under the Philippine Commission Act No. 156, located in Manila and directed by Paul Freer
• World War 2:

  • Medical technology practice was introduced by the 26th Medical Lab of the 6th US Army and later endorsed to the National Department of Health in the Philippines
• October 1, 1945:

  • Public Health Laboratory was set up under Dr. Pio de Roda
• 1947:

  • Training of medical technicians began by Dr. de Roda and Dr. Prudenciana Sta. Ana
• 1953:

  • Mrs. Willa Hilgert-Hedrick started the first 4-year program under PUC-MAMC for medical technology training