Home Page
Scouting » Boy Scouts » Merit Badges Save This Print This

Medicine Merit Badge

Requirements

  • Source - Boy Scout Requirements 2006
  • Last Revised - January 1, 2003
    1. Discuss with your counselor the influence that EIGHT of the following people or events had on the history of medicine:

      1. Hippocrates

      2. The invention of Gunpowder

      3. William Harvey

      4. Antoine van Leeuwenhoek

      5. Edward Jenner

      6. Florence Nightingale

      7. Louis Pasteur

      8. Gregor Mendel

      9. Joseph Lister

      10. Robert Koch

      11. Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen

      12. Marie and Pierre Curie

      13. Walter Reed

      14. Karl Landsteiner

      15. Alexander Fleming

      16. Jonas Salk

      17. James Watson and Francis Crick

    2. Explain the Hippocratic Oath to your counselor, and compare to the original version to a more modern one. Discuss to whom those subscribing to the original version of the oath owe the greatest allegiance.

    3. Discuss the health care provider-patient relationship with your counselor, and the importance of such a relationship in the delivery of quality care to the patient. Describe the role of confidentiality in this relationship.

    4. Do the following:

      1. Describe the roles the following people play in the delivery of health care in your state. (Note: Not all may exist in your state.)

        1. Physician

        2. Chiropractor

        3. Optometrist

        4. Podiatrist

        5. Pharmacist

        6. Psychologist

        7. Physician's assistant

        8. Nurse practitioner

        9. Nurse-midwife

        10. Registered nurse

        11. Licensed vocational/practical nurse

        12. Medical assistant

        13. Emergency medical technician

        14. Medical laboratory technologist

        15. Radiological technologist

        16. Physical therapist

        17. Occupational therapist

        18. Respiratory therapist

      2. Describe the educational and licensing requirements for five of those in 4a -- other than 4a1 -- practicing health care in your state.

    5.  
      1. Tell what is meant by the term "primary care" with regard to a medical specialty. Briefly describe the types of work done by physicians in the following "core" specialties:

        1. Internal medicine *

        2. Family practice *

        3. Obstetrics/gynecology *

        4. Pediatrics *

        5. Psychiatry

        6. Surgery

      2. Describe the additional educational requirements for these specialties.

    6.  
      1. Briefly describe the types of work performed by physicians in FIVE of the following specialties or subspecialties:

        1. Allergy/immunology

        2. Anesthesiology

        3. Cardiovascular disease

        4. Colon and rectal surgery

        5. Dermatology

        6. Emergency medicine

        7. Endocrinology and metabolism

        8. Gastroenterology

        9. Geriatric medicine

        10. Hematology/oncology

        11. Infectious disease

        12. Nephrology

        13. Neurological surgery

        14. Neurology

        15. Nuclear medicine

        16. Ophthalmology

        17. Orthopedic surgery

        18. Otolaryngology/head and neck surgery

        19. Pathology

        20. Physical medicine and rehabilitation

        21. Plastic, reconstructive, and maxillofacial surgery

        22. Preventive medicine

        23. Radiology

        24. Rheumatology

        25. Thoracic/cardiothoracic surgery

        26. Urology

        27. Vascular surgery

      2. Describe the additional educational requirements for the five specialties or subspecialties you chose in 6a.

    7.  
      1. Visit a physician's office, ** preferably one who delivers "primary care." (This may be that of your counselor.) Discuss the components of a medical history and physical examination (an official BSA health form may be used to guide this discussion), and become familiar with the instruments used.

      2. Describe the characteristics of a good diagnostic test to screen for disease (e.g., routine blood pressure measurement). Explain briefly why diagnostic tests are not perfect.

      3. Show how to take a blood pressure reading and a pulse reading.

    8. Do the following:

      1. Discuss the roles medical societies, the insurance industry, and the government play in influencing the practice of medicine in the United States.

      2. Briefly tell how your state monitors the quality of health care within its borders, and how it provides care to those who do not have health insurance.

    9. Compare and discuss with your counselor the health care delivery systems in the United States, Sweden, and China.

    10. Serve as a volunteer at a health-related event or facility in your community (e.g., blood drive, "health fair", blood pressure screening, etc) approved by your counselor.
    * "Primary care" specialties

    ** If this cannot be arranged, demonstrate to your counselor that you understand the components of a medical history and physical, and discuss the instruments involved.
    • Top of Page
    (40)
    Copyright © 2000-2010 Cornhusker Council, BSA - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy
    Contact Webmaster - Web Site Powered By ScoutTools