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Boy Scouts of America> Boy Scouts> Advancement & Awards> Introduction to Merit Badges> Medicine

Medicine


Medicine
BSA Supply No. 33244

The practice of medicine has a rich history that spans several centuries. Since the first use of plants and other items as simple medicines and balms, many men and women have contributed to the advancement of the "healing arts."

Requirements

  1. Discuss with your counselor the influence that EIGHT of the �following people had on the history of medicine:
    1. Hippocrates
    2. William Harvey
    3. Antonie van Leewenhoek
    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 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. Registered nurse
      10. Nurse-midwife
      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. undefined
    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. undefined
    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 sur�gery
      26. Urology
      27. Vascular surgery
    2. Describe the additional educational requirements for the five specialties or subspecialties you chose in 6a.
  7. undefined
    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 and a pulse reading.
  8. Do the following:
    1. Discuss the roles medical societies, employers, 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.

Resources

Books

  • Cowen, David L., and William H. Helfand. Pharmacy: An Illustrated History. Harry N. Abrams, 1990. (A good introduction to the history of medications.)
  • Estes, J. Worth. The Medical Skills of Ancient Egypt. Science History Publications, 1989.
  • Karlen, Arno. Man and Microbes: Disease and Plagues in History and Modern Times. Touchstone Books, 1996.
  • Ludmerer, Kenneth M. Time to Heal: American Medical Education From the Turn of the Century to the Era of Managed Care. Oxford University Press, 1999.
  • Lyons, Albert S. and R. Joseph Petrucelli. Medicine: An Illustrated History. Harry N. Abrams, 1978. (Well illustrated, easy to read.)
  • Manjo, Guido. The Healing Hand: Man and Wound in the Ancient World. Harvard University Press, 1975.
  • Risse, Guenter B. Mending Bodies, Saving Souls: A History of Hospitals. Oxford University Press, 1999.
  • Rosenberg, Charles E. The Care of Strangers: The Rise of America's Hospital System. Johns Hopkins University Press,�1995.
  • ------. Explaining Epidemics: And Other Studies in the History of Medicine. Cambridge University Press, 1992.
  • Siraisi, Nancy. Medieval and Early Renaissance Medicine: An Introduction to Knowledge and Practice. University of Chicago Press, 1990.
  • Stevens, Rosemary. In Sickness and in Wealth: American Hospitals in the Twentieth Century. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999.
  • Wangensteen, Owen H. and Sarah D. The Rise of Surgery, from �Empiric Craft to Scientific Discipline. University of Minnesota Press, 1978.

Organizations and Government Agencies

American Medical Association
515 North State St.
Chicago, IL 60610
Telephone toll free: 800-621-8335
Web site: http://www.ama-assn.org

The American Medical Association publishes the Health Professions Career and Education Directory and the Occupational Outlook Handbook, both of interest to anyone thinking about a career in the medical field. These publications may also be available at your local library.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333
Telephone: 404-332-4559 or 404-332-4565
Web site: http://www.cdc.gov

The Centers for Disease Control is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health whose mission is "to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability." The agency is composed of other entities such as the National Center for Infectious Diseases and the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which pool their resources and expertise to address specific health issues and threats.

drkoop.com
225 Arizona Ave., Suite 250
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Telephone: 310-395-5700
Fax: 310-395-3800
Web site: http://www.drkoop.com

This useful Web site, operated under the leadership of C. Everett Koop, M.D., former U.S. surgeon general, "empowers consumers to become active, well-informed participants to better manage their health."

healthfinder(R)
Web site: http://www.healthfinder.gov

This Web site, developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and coordinated by the Office of�Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, provides reliable consumer health and human services information. healthfinder(R) can facilitate your search for online publications, clearing�houses, Web sites, support and self-help groups, and other useful information.

Mayo Clinic
200 First Street S.W.
Rochester, MN 55905
Web site: http://www.MayoClinic.com

The Mayo Clinic's Web site was created to uphold its "long-standing commitment to provide health education its patients and the general public." More than 2,000 physicians and scientists contribute to this very informative Web site.

National Information Center
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Referral Specialist
P.O. Box 1133
Washington, DC 20013-1133
Telephone toll free: 800-336-4797
Fax: 301-984-4256
Web site: http://www.health.gov/NHIC

This government agency helps both professionals and the general public locate health information through the identification of health information resources, an information and referral system, and publications.

National Institutes of Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Visitor Information Center
Building 10, Room B1-C218
Telephone: 301-496-1776
Fax: 301-402-0601
Web site: http://nih.gov

The National Institutes of Health strives to "uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone" by, among other ways, conducting research in its own laboratories and supporting research of non-Federal scientists throughout the United States and abroad.

Superintendent of Documents
U.S. Government Printing Office
North Capitol and H Streets N.W.
Washington, DC 20402
Telephone: 202-512-1800

The U.S. Department of Labor produces the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, which is available through the U.S. Government Printing Office. Reference GPO stock No. 029-013-00094-2. Your local library may have this publication �available.

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