Overview of Medical Laboratory Science Course

Aug 21, 2024

Lecture Notes: General Considerations of the Course - Principles of Medical Laboratory Science

Course Organization

  • Synchronous Learning:
    • PowerPoints provided every Thursday
    • Quizzes every Wednesday

Course Objectives

  • Discuss the history of medical technology globally
  • Explore the history of medical technology in the US and the Philippines
  • Identify key personalities in medical technology
  • Discuss historical milestones in medical technology

Medical Technology Defined

  • Medical Technology (Clinical Laboratory Science):
    • Application of diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic medicine
    • Performance of laboratory determinations and analysis
    • Aiding diagnosis and treatment of diseases

Legal Definition (Philippines)

  • Republic Act 5527 (Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969):
    • Examination of tissues, secretions, excretions, and body fluids using various laboratory procedures
    • Aids physicians in diagnosis and treatment

Common Themes in Definitions

  • Analysis, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases
  • Aid to physicians in medical procedures

Medical Technology as an Interdisciplinary Science

  • Includes fields like:
    • Hematology
    • Clinical Chemistry
    • Medical Microbiology
    • Clinical Microscopy
    • Immunology and Serology
    • General Pathology

Historical Milestones in Medical Technology

Ancient Contributions

  • George Ebers:
    • Discovered the Ebers Papyrus (~1500 BC)
    • Earliest medical texts, including laboratory medicine practices
  • Vivian Herrick:
    • Traced medical technology to the identification of intestinal parasites (~1500 BC)
  • Hippocrates (Father of Medicine):
    • Four humors of body fluids:
      • Blood, Phlegm, Yellow Bile, Black Bile
    • Early laboratory procedures like urinalysis

Middle Ages

  • Rufus of Ephesus (50 AD):
    • First description of hematuria
  • Isaac Judaeus:
    • Wrote about urine formation and diagnosis (Kitab al-Ba'ul)

Renaissance & Beyond

  • Microscope Invention (1590s):
    • By Zacharias and Hans Johnson

Development of Medical Technology in the US

  • 19th Century:
    • Public health improvements
    • Establishment of clinical laboratories
  • Key Figures:
    • Dr. William Welch: First pathology course
    • Dr. William Osler: Opened clinical lab at Johns Hopkins

20th Century Developments

  • World War I & II:
    • Growth in demand for laboratory technicians
    • Blood transfusion developments

History of Medical Technology in the Philippines

  • Introduced during WWII by US Army
  • First Clinical Laboratory:
    • Located at 208 Quiricada St., now Manila Public Health Laboratory
  • Formal Education (1954):
    • Training programs initiated by Dr. Pio de Roda and others
  • Philippine Union College:
    • First college to offer a 4-year BS in Medical Technology

Key Institutions

  • University of Santo Tomas:
    • Offered medical technology course as elective in pharmacy initially
  • University of the Philippines:
    • Offers Bachelor of Science in Public Health

Post-Graduate Courses

  • MS in Medical Technology offered by several universities

Quote to Reflect:

  • "If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday." - Pearl S. Buck

Note: This summary covers the key points and developments in the field of medical technology, its history, and educational context as discussed in the lecture. Study well and prepare for quizzes as scheduled.