This chapter explores the early days of healthcare in the U.S., highlighting the stark contrast between the rudimentary medical practices of the 1800s and the complexities of the modern system. It sets the stage for understanding how the current system evolved.
- Early hospitals were places where poor people went to die.
- Doctors used ineffective and even toxic treatments.
- Average life expectancy was around 40 years.
- The concept of health insurance didn't exist.