Welcome to Troop 325's Merit Badge Midway

Medicine Merit Badge

 

Includes minor revisions as of 1/1/05.

 

Thanks for signing up for the Medicinemerit badge class. Don't be put off by the number of requirements. All of the information is right in the pamphlet. Please be sure to obtain and read the entire merit badge pamphlet before attending the class. If you do that, you will be prepared to complete many of the requirements at the Midway!


1, 4a & b, 5a & b, 6a & b, 8. You can write these out in advance and bring the write up with you to class. All the information is there in the pamphlet.


2, 3 & 9. I will allow time at the end of the class for scouts to sit with me and do this.


7. We will go through these in the class. If you can visit a medical office before the class, please do so and write up some notes.


10. You can do this in advance and bring something signed as verification. If you need to do this after Midway, I will sign you off at a later meeting.


I will be available for individual meetings after midway to sign off the remaining requirements as you complete them.


Thanks!

Medicine Requirements

  1. Discuss with your counselor the influence that EIGHT of the following people or events had on the history of medicine:
    1. Hippocrates
    2. William Harvey
    3. Antoine van Leeuwenhoek
    4. Edward Jenner
    5. Florence Nightingale
    6. Louis Pasteur
    7. Gregor Mendel
    8. Joseph Lister
    9. Robert Koch
    10. Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen
    11. Marie and Pierre Curie
    12. Walter Reed
    13. Karl Landsteiner
    14. Alexander Fleming
    15. Jonas Salk
    16. 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. Radiologic 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 4a(1)- - 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. Opthalmology
      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. 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.