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Looking back: Medicine in 1883 compared to nowA lot has changed since New Ulm Medical Center’s oldest ancestor, St. Alexander Hospital, accepted its first patient. Over the past 125 years American life has changed drastically.  Surgery at St. Alexander Hospital in 1903.
In 1883 The average life expectancy was only 50 years. Patients typically only went to the doctor if they were extremely sick or injured. Preventative care and wellness did not exist. Pharmacies as we know them today did not exist. Surgery was preformed using ether, a relatively new form of anesthesia at the time. The risk of infection was very high and lead to a high surgical mortality rate. Nurses lived in the hospital, and worked up to 12 hours per day, seven days a weeks. Medical school programs typically consisted of months of lecturing followed by several years apprenticing. There was no standard licensing procedure or medical school curriculum. Patients typically stayed in hospitals for longer periods of time. The average hospital stay was more than 25 days. Care was focused on treating symptoms, not necessarily diagnosing the root problem. Babies were delivered at home by midwives. There was virtually no prenatal care or standard vaccinations. Nearly all doctors were general practitioners, they treated patients of all ages with all types of ailments. Medical records were not widely used or required. In 2009 Drastic leaps in medical technology have caused the average life expectancy to jump to nearly 80 years in the United States. Health care services have expanded; services like preventative care, wellness, physical therapy, psychology and mental health are better understood and more widely used. Doctors receive advanced training, often spending more than eight years learning their craft. They must be board certified and are required to obtain continuous education throughout their career. Nurses and other medical professionals are also required to attend standardized schooling and complete continued education. The risk of surgery has diminished greatly as the complexity and technology used continues to advance. Many procedures can now be done laparoscopicly using cameras. Many minor surgeries can be performed on an out-patient basis, without the need for a hospital stay. Standard vaccines are now given to children, irradiating many deadly diseases from the population. Prenatal care and advancements in obstetrics and genealogy have drastically improved infant mortality.  Back to Health Edition |
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New Ulm Medical Center
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