About a dozen Girl Scouts from Troop 57119 in Haverford Township recently helped students at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine learn how to more effectively communicate with their pediatric patients, writes Mari A. Schaefer for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

They acted as “standardized patients” — people trained to play the role of patients — said Renee Cree, spokesperson for the college.

The idea of having children in the role, which is fairly unusual, was the brainchild of PCOM faculty member Erik Langenau.

The girls, ages 10 to 12, were given a “crash course” in what to expect from their appointment, and each was assigned a symptom, like a stomachache or trouble breathing. The PCOM students then examined and interviewed them.

The exercise gave students an opportunity to practice interpersonal and communication skills with pediatric patients, who are often afraid of the doctor’s office, said Cree.

The Scouts also benefited from the experience, she added, learning what to ask of doctors when dealing with their own health.

“My favorite thing about working with these girls was how they were so eager to learn,” said Berger Society President Megan Hartwell (DO ’22).

Read more about these Girl Scout mock patients here.

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