Mcdonaldization: Health In A Fastfood Society Essay -- essays research

McDonaldization health in A Fastfood SocietyMcDonaldization, is the condition Ritzer derived from the McDonalds fastfood chain to describe the state of our society. Ritzer claims our socialinstitutions kick in become completely dehumanized in the form of a bureaucracy.Health reverence is an example of one institution that is characterized by the fourcomponents of bureaucracy efficiency, predictability, control andquantification.In the past, health care was more simplistic in nature. House c every(prenominal)swere no unheard of, and doctors knew all of their patients and their families ona person-to-person level. The doctor who delivered your parents would deliver you aswell as your future children. Follow-ups were instead normal doctors wereconcerned with your progress for their own peace of mind.Over sequence the modern health care system emerged into the bureaucraticorganization that it is. either the characteristics depicted by Ritzer are easilyseen when one examines he alth care. From a normal trip to the doctor for aroutine check-up or take down a specific ailment to rush trip in the tinge roompredictability, control, efficiency, and quantification are obvious.Quantification is easily seen when you first step into a hospital delay room and a huge sign tells you a subjugate before you are even able tospeak to anyone. after(prenominal) waiting a while your number is called, you essential giveyour health posting number to the receptionist before continuing. You are thengiven a blame number, which is your only identity for the time you spend withinthe hospital environment. After seeing the doctor you may come out with a fewerprescriptions which furthers your nameless ordeal. When you drop namelessordeal. When you drop into a pharmacy to nourish a prescription filled the firstthing they ask is if you accredit your prescription number. If you cannot rememberit, your actual name is a secondary guess as a means of identification.Before payin g you may lay down to show your Blue Cross card number or former(a)insurance cards as well, in all it is a truly dehumanizing, impersonal process.Efficiency is another characteristic that is prominent in the hospitalsituation. To trace sure things more smoothly you must call forrader and make anappointment with the reception... ...ike health care workers has come in the see of ademand for efficiency and quantification. It is hard to say who is victimized intimately by this dehumanization the doctors who must deny their humanity or theirpatients who must go to them for treatment.In conclusion when one applies the four components of McDonaldization toour present health care system one discovers that they are aptly applicable.Quantification is seen when one thinks intimately how our medical identity iscomprised of a series of different numbers. Efficiency is sibylline to occurwith phone-in prescriptions and appointments. Control is assured by a doctorscapacity to make life or d eath decisions. As for predictability it is commonknowledge as to what routine one follows to receive treatment. Theirrationality is how impersonal and inefficient the full-length system can becomethrough overworked doctors and other professionals. The iron cage in is how thepatients of these stressed doctors feel from these doctors ignorance andneglect. In all it is true that the health care system is one socialinstitution that does successfully meet all of Ritzers requirements for aMcDonaldized institution.