[Machines and artisanal health workers]

Area of Science:

• Sociology of Health and Medicine
• History of Medicine
• Health Economics

Background:

• The US health field has undergone significant transformations since the late 19th century.
• Dominant conceptualizations of the human body, health work, and healthcare institutions have evolved.
• Key agents, including the medical corporation and medical industrial complex, have shaped the field.

Observation:

• Analysis spans economic-political, ideological-cultural, and scientific-technical dimensions.
• The study contrasts industrial and artisanal models of health work.
• It examines the shift from relational aspects to instrumental reason in healthcare.

Findings:

• Instrumental reason and financial capital have become increasingly dominant in the health field.
• This dominance has occurred at the expense of relational aspects of care.
• The conceptualization of the human body as a machine is a key feature of this transformation.

Implications:

• Understanding these historical shifts is crucial for addressing current healthcare challenges.
• The findings suggest a need to re-evaluate the balance between efficiency and patient-centered care.
• This research provides a framework for analyzing the impact of economic forces on health outcomes.