In medicine we use "scut" specifically to mean "scut work" -- necessary but menial tasks in the care of the patient, such as emptying bed pans. You can work very hard doing scut work ("I'm getting scutted to death!") without really learning much medicine. There is even a little handbook, officially called The Physician's Pocket Reference, that everyone referes to as "The Scut Monkey" handbook, a scut monkey being of course the poor soul doing all the scut work.

See also number 3 on the list at: http://www.rfc791.org/~churl/lit/rant-cc3.html

A common saying heard among doctors/P.A.'s in training is "I can't have dinner/lunch/sleep right now; I'm buried alive by scut." I never knew there could possibly be another meaning. I love your "What every clinical clerk must know" link. As a "permanent house officer," I can relate to most of these.

The Old Scout (the biggest kid in the troop)

Alex, those are great! Most of what I know about hospitals comes from watching ER, but still, a lot of those "rules" seem right on target.
Welcome to you, Old Scout; grab your compass and come on along on the hike!