MODULE 1

History of Medical
Technology
Profession
PRINCIPLES IN MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 1
Prepared by:
SWEETSELL T. CUSTODIO, RMT
Faculty Member, College of Medical Laboratory Science
Lorma Colleges

FOR LORMA MLS STUDENTS ONLY 1

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Discuss the history of medical technology in a global context;
2. Identify the important personalities that played significant roles in the progress of the
medical technology profession;
3. Cite inventions and innovations in the medical technology field.

History of Medical Technology in a Global Context

Diseases were treated as mystery in the early era of medical diagnosis. Disease was believed to
be caused by the negative interaction between the environment and the body.
300 BC to 180 AD Hippocrates
- Father of Medicine
- Author of Hippocratic Oath
- Advocated the tasting of urine, listening to the lungs, and
observing outward appearances in the diagnosis of disease.
- Bubbles, blood, and pus in urine indicated kidney disease and
chronic illness.

Galen
- A Greek Physician and Philosopher, instigated a rudimentary
and qualitative assessment of disorder through
measurement of body fluids (also called the four humors-
blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile) in relation to seasons.
- Described diabetes as “diarrhea of urine” and establish
relationship between fluid intake and urine volume.
Medieval Europe - Diagnosis by water casting (uroscopy) was widely practiced.
- Patients submit their urine and physicians who failed to
examine urine were subjected to public beatings
900 AD - The first book detailing the characteristic of urine (color,
density, quality) was written

FOR LORMA MLS STUDENTS ONLY 2

 “ Medical technology has improved
quality of life and increased life
expectancy.

11TH Century

18th Century
-

-
”
Medical practitioners were not allowed to conduct
physical examination of the patient’s body. They
relied on the patient’s description of the symptoms
and their observations
Mechanical techniques and cadaver dissection were
used
19th Century - Physicians begun using machine for diagnosis or
therapeutics
- Chemistry become pivotal in the diagnosis of
diabetes, anemia, diphtheria, and syphilis
Josh Hutchinson - Spirometer (for measuring the vital capacity of the
lungs)
Jules Herisson - Sphygmomanometer (for measuring blood pressure)

As the number of patients increase and the increasing amount of medical knowledge,
mechanical and chemical devices turn from general practice to specialization. Complex
machineries require technical expertise, resulting in cooperative arrangement among specialist
in different fields.
Consequently, medical services become organized in the hospitals. With this setup, large
amounts of data were required in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Volumes of data
prompted the need for information technology. The need for medical technicians and
specialists also increased.
In 1969, 80% of medical professionals were non-physicins. This growth drive the need for
technicians to be proficient in the use of technology. Pateints were likewise needed to be
educated with the tests done on them.

The Philippine Union College (PUC)in Baesa, Caloocan City (now Adventist
University of the Philippines) absorbed MSH’s School of Medical Technology.

FOR LORMA MLS STUDENTS ONLY 3

Technology took over face to face interactions between patients and physicians since
technology is use as diagnostic assessments instead of the patient’s description of symptoms.
Following are some breakthrough in medical technology that allowed physicians to examine
body parts.
Stethoscope 1816 First diagnostic medical breakthrough invented by
Rene Laennec; used to acquire information about the
lungs and heartbeats
Microscope 1840 Developed for medical purposes due to advances in
lenses and lower costs; microscope was devised by
Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek
Ophthalmoscope 1850 First visual technology invented by Hermann von
Helmholz
Laryngoscope 1855 Devised by Manuel Garcia using two mirrors to
observe the throat and larynx
X-ray 1859 Invented by Wilhelm Roentgen when he discovered by
accident that radiation could penetrate solid objects of
low density; allowed physicians to view the inside of
the body without surgery; used to diagnose
pneumonia, pleurisy, and tuberculosis since WWII
Electrocardiogram 1903 Developed by William Einthoven to measure electrical
changes during the beating of the heart
Kenny Method 1910 Served as the pioneering work for modern physical
therapy ; devised by Elizabeth Kenny in the treatment
of polio (was called infantile paralysis) using hot packs
and muscle manipulation; prompted the invention of a
new stretcher (Sylvia stretcher in 1927) intended for
transporting patients in shock.
Drinker Respirator 1927 Invented by Philip Drinker to help patients with
paralytic anterior poliomyelitis recover normal
respirator.

FOR LORMA MLS STUDENTS ONLY 4

 Heart-Lung Machine 1939 Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a technique in which
a machine temporarily takes over the function of
the heart and lungs during surgery, maintaining the
circulation of blood and the oxygen content of the
patient's body.
Cardiac Catheterization 1941 First operated by Forsmann in 1929; develop by
and Angiography Moniz, Reboul, Rousthoi between 1930 and 1940;
discovered as safe method in humans by Cournand in
1941; made seeing the heart, lung vessels, and valves
possible through inserting cannula in an arm vein and
into the heart with an injection of radiopaque dye for
X-ray visualization

Mid- 1800s Chemical experts organized laboratories designed for analyzing

medical specimens.
Mid – 1900s Technical laboratories regulated by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) began to be used for medical diagnostics in
the US.

Other inventions
Electron Microscope 1931 Max Knoll and Ernst Ruska, used for visualization of
small cells including tumor cells.
Tomography 1972 Godfrey Hounsfield developed a technique for
displaying a representation of a cross section
through a human body or other solid object using X-
rays or ultrasound.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging 1970 Raymond Damadian, a medical doctor, and
(MRI) research scientist discovered the basis for
using magnetic resonance imaging. It is an imaging
technique that uses a magnetic field and computer-
generated radio waves to create detailed images of
the organs and tissues in your body

FOR LORMA MLS STUDENTS ONLY 5

History of Medical Technology in the United States
In the United States, the establishment of the first clinical laboratories and the development of
laboratory practice marked the growth of the medical technology field.
1895 The University of Pennsylvania’s William Pepper Laboratory of Clinical
Medicine was opened to highlight the service role of clinical laboratories.
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.

Same year when the state legislature of Pennsylvania enacted a law requiring
all hospitals and institutions to have a fully equipped laboratory fit for routine
testing and to employ a full-time laboratory technician.
1920 Administrative units of clinical laboratories in large hospitals were directed
by a chief physician.

Clinical laboratories consisted of 4 to 5 divisions including clinical pathology,

bacteriology, microbiology, serology, and radiology.
1922 American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) was founded with the
objective of encouraging the cooperation between physicians and clinical
pathologist.

ASCP also established the code of ethics for technicians and technologists
stating that 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

FOR LORMA MLS STUDENTS ONLY 6

 American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (formerly the American
Society for Medical Technologists), originally subgroup of ASCP, helped in the
recognition of nonphysician clinical laboratory scientists as autonomous
professionals.
1950 Medical technologists in the United States sought professional recognition
from the government of their educational qualifications through licensure
laws.

History of Medical Technology in the Philippines

1565 The first hospital the Spaniards established; Hospital Real in Cebu was
moved to Manila to cater to military patients.
1578 Franciscans built the San Lazaro Hospital
1596 Hospital de San Juan de Dios was founded
1641 The Hospital de San Jose was founded in Cavite
1611 Dominicans founded the University of Santo Tomas (UST)
1871 UST established the first faculties of pharmacy and medicine.

With the establishment of both health and educational institutions,

journals of science and medicine were also published including the Boletin
de Medicina de Manila (1886), the Revista Farmaceutica de Filipinas
(1893), and Cronicas de Ciencias Medicas (1895) (Anderson, 2006)
1806 The central board of vaccination which started producing and distributing
vaccine lymph had 122 regular vaccinators (vacunadores) in Manila and
other major towns by 1898
1876 Provincial medical officers were appointed to provide health care services
throughout the country.
1883 Board of Health and Charity was established and expanded in 1886

FOR LORMA MLS STUDENTS ONLY 7

1887 The Laboratorio Municipal de Manila was established by the Spanish
authorities for laboratory examinations of food, water, and clinical
samples.

General Antonio Luna was employed as a chemical expert in this laboratory

and pioneered water testing, forensics, and environmental studies.
19th century Spaniards were authorities in medicine, started exploring the microbial
causes of diseases.
1899 to 1902 The Spanish colonial rule breakdown because of Philippine- American war.

In replacement of the Spanish Health System, the Americans established

public health institutions modeled after military health care systems.
1898 Spanish Military hospital was converted into the First Reserve Hospital

Lt. Col. Henry Lipincott who was a chief surgeon of the Division of the
Pacific and Eight Army Corps. The hospital has a diagnostic laboratory but
was not fully maximized when it first became operational due to its
director contracting typhoid fever.

Richard P. Strong, successor, utilized the laboratory to perform autopsies

and to examine blood, feces, and urine along with other laboratory services
1901 The US government, through the Philippine Commission, established a
Bureau of Government Laboratories under the Philippine Commission Act
NO. 156

The Bureau which was in Calle Herran (Pedro Gil), Ermita, Manila had a
science library, chemical section, and serum laboratory to produce
vaccines.

The biology laboratory was designed to address and develop methods in

the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of human and animal diseases.

In the Chemical laboratory- food, plant composition, and minerals were

investigated.

FOR LORMA MLS STUDENTS ONLY 8

 Paul Freer, the bureau’s first director, ensured that the biological
laboratory would be equipped with adequate supplies and equipment such
as incubators, sterilizers, microscopes, microtomes, stains, glassware, and
chemicals.

The main laboratory was composed of two stories and divided into two
wings with rooms in the biological wing having microscope tables by the
windows.

The rooms had enough space for general laboratory work and processes
such as filtering, distilling, and heating. Each biological room has a chemical
worktable with gas, water, and vacuums.

The opposite wall had a hood with a flue extended to the attic. The
biological wing’s floors all had incubators heated by Bunsen burners and
refrigerating boxes.

Unfortunately, the building was destroyed during World War II. Presently
the National Institutes of Health of University of the Philippines- Manila
occupies the area.
1905 The Bureau of Government Laboratories was reorganized, and the Bureau
of Science was established for medical officers who sought a career in
laboratory research.

The Bureau worked with the Army Board for the Study of the Tropical
Diseases until the latter was disbanded in 1914. The bureau also focused
on pathology.

The Bureau of Science worked closely with the Philippine General Hospital
(PGH) and the University of the Philippines. It then became an active
center for scientific research and instruction in the country. The biological
laboratory of the Bureau diligently studied samples of body fluids to
identify the racial bases of diseases.

FOR LORMA MLS STUDENTS ONLY 9

1909 Laboratory received over 7000 fecal specimens, 900 urine specimens, and
700 blood specimens. The Bureau’s medical research and laboratory
investigations were mainly focused on microbiology in connection with the
different diseases, like malaria, leprosy, tuberculosis, and dysentery

At the end of war, the civilian board of Health established by the Americans
was changed into the Bureau of Health.
1915 Bureau was reorganized into the Philippines Health Service but reverted to
the Bureau of Health by 1933.
June 1927 The University of the Philippines’ College of Public Health opened its
Certificate in Public Health Program which aim to provide proper training
to the Philippine Health Service’s medical officers
December 8, Japan attacked the whole manila. Amid this turmoil, the Medical
1941 Laboratory unit of the US Army provided medical services. It was also
tasked to perform routine water analyses, examination of food supplies,
distribution of special reagents, solutions, culture media and investigation
of epidemics and epizootics.

The unit also performed special serological, bacteriological, pathological,

and chemical examinations, port-mortem examinations, and preservation
of pathological specimens of value to the US Army Medical Department.
June 18, 1942 The 3rd Medical laboratory was the first laboratory unit to be assigned in
the South West Pacific Area (SWPA)
1944 US forces landed in Leyte, the laboratories including the 3rd, 5th, and 8th,
Medical Laboratories and the 19th Medical General Laboratory were
relocated to the West Pacific Area.

Added to the list were the 26th and 27th Medical Laboratories and the 363rd
Medical Composite Detachment. Medical units were not merged but
deployed separately as small detachments or mobile laboratories in
different islands.
19th, 3rd, and 363rd operated in Leyte, 27th in Tacloban, 26th in Lingayen Gulf
(only laboratory in Luzon following US invasion on January 9, 1945)

FOR LORMA MLS STUDENTS ONLY 10

 The first clinical laboratory in the Philippines was established during
World War II by the 6th Infantry Division of the US Army at Quiricada St.
Sta. Cruz, Manila. It is known as the Manila Public Health Laboratory.
June 1945 When the US Army left, the laboratory was endorsed to the National
Department of Health and was non-operational until it was reopened in
October of the same year by Dr. Pio de Roda with the help of then Manila
City Health Officer Dr. Mariano Icasiano.
After instituting the public health laboratory in Manila, Dr. Pio de Roda
along with Dr. Prudencia Sta. Ana, conducted a training program for
aspiring laboratory workers. Later, Dr. Sta Ana was asked to prepare a six-
month formal syllabus for the training program with certificate for the
trainees. Dr. Tirso Briones joined the two later.
1954 The training program ended in 1954 when the Bureau of Private Education
approved a four-year course in Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology.
In the same year, the Manila Sanitarium and Hospital (MSH) opened the
first School of Medical Technology in the Philippines under the leadership
of Mrs. Willa Hedrick, wife of Dr. Elvin Hedrick. Soon after, MSH started its
medical internship and residency training program which was affiliated
with Loma Linda University in California.

The Philippine Union College (PUC)in Baesa, Caloocan City (now Adventist
University of the Philippines) absorbed MSH’s School of Medical
Technology. What was left with MSH was the facility for its clinical division.

Dr. Jesse Umali, first graduate of the Medical Technology Program. He later
graduated as a Doctor of Medicine at Far Eastern University (FEU) and
became a successful OB-gynecologist in the US.
1957 UST initially offered the Medical Technology course as an elective for
pharmacy students.
1961 Medical Technology was recognized as an official program in UST.

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Inventions and Innovations in the Field of Medical
Laboratory
***Please see the pdf file for this topic. ***

Reference
Principles of Medical Laboratory Science 1 by Petrona A. Benitez, et.al.

FOR LORMA MLS STUDENTS ONLY 12