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Karl Landsteiner discovered the different blood types. This discovery led to safe blood transfusions due to the now known fact that not everyone had the same blood.
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The discovery of penicillin was made by Alexander Fleming. He realized mold in the petri dish was releasing a substance that killed or inhibited bacterial growth. This substance was later named penicillin, the world’s first true antibiotic.
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The constitution highlighted the role of WHO and what they stand for. They leads global efforts to improve health, prevent and control diseases, respond to emergencies, and support countries in strengthening their health systems. It sets health standards, provides guidance, and promotes well-being worldwide.
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WHO began advising countries on antibiotic production and on widening access and responsible use
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Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospitals
(JCAH) formed to improve the quality of hospital care through the voluntary accreditation of hospitals. -
Lyndon B. Johnson signed medicare and medicaid into law. These programs expanded access to care, reduced financial hardship, and promoted hospital desegregation. They also laid the groundwork for modern healthcare quality standards and reforms that continue today.
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CT scans revolutionized diagnostics by allowing doctors to see detailed cross-sectional images of the body, improving accuracy in detecting diseases and injuries.
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Following a 12-year global vaccination campaign led by WHO, smallpox is eradicated. The global campaign to eliminate smallpox relied on widespread childhood immunizations, large-scale vaccination drives, and focused surveillance with containment measures.
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Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) requires hospitals participating in Medicare
to screen and stabilize all persons who use their
emergency rooms regardless of ability to pay. -
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA) restricts use of pre-existing conditions in
health insurance coverage determinations, sets
standards for medical records privacy, and
establishes tax-favored treatment of long-term care insurance. -
Significantly changed the game of contraception. It gave women a choice to take a pill to help prevent pregnancy.
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Medicare Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) passes, creating a voluntary, subsidized
prescription drug benefit under Medicare,
administered exclusively through private plans, both stand-along prescription drug plans and Medicare
Advantage plans. -
Barack Obama expanded insurance coverage, strengthened protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and allowed young adults to remain on their parents’ plans until age 26. It emphasized preventive care, promoted value-based payment models, and improved accountability in Medicare and Medicaid.
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The pandemic drove rapid adoption of telehealth, remote monitoring, and digital tools, while also speeding up vaccine development. Healthcare systems emphasized equity, resilience, and patient safety, alongside growing use of AI and precision medicine.
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Expecting to see AI become more useful in facilitaing charting and health plans for hospitalized patients. Ai can maybe help detect diseases ahead of time.
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Advanced diagnostics could detect diseases earlier, while nanotechnology and smart drug delivery minimize side effects. Virtual and augmented reality could enhance surgery, rehabilitation, and mental health care. Global digital networks might allow real-time monitoring and coordinated care worldwide. Overall, medicine may shift from treating illness to preventing disease and optimizing overall wellness.