Jill Becker

Apr 12, 2024 | kevinmd.com | Pat Rich |Alexandra Beem |Jill Becker |Neill Slater

A non-compliant patient arrives at the ER for evaluation of high blood pressure. Why isn’t she taking her medication? It costs $300 per month, and she can’t afford it. Has she talked to her doctor about a less expensive alternative? No.Unfortunately, this type of interaction occurs far too frequently. The doctor would be happy to prescribe a cheaper alternative if requested, and the patient would love a cheaper option but doesn’t want to question the doctor.

Apr 1, 2024 | kevinmd.com | Bradley B. Block |Alexandra Beem |Pat Rich |Jill Becker

According to The Onion founder Scott Dikkers, “Comedy is meant to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.”As physicians, our patients are the “afflicted,” so how can we use comedy to comfort them? Before we get to the how, let us start with the why. Why make patients laugh? Because laughter is the best medicine. After steroids. Steroids are the best medicine. Laughter is the second-best medicine, and it has fewer side effects.

Sep 6, 2023 | kevinmd.com | Jill Becker |Brandon Jacobi |Pat Rich |Charles Saylor

This past week, I was speaking with a patient; let’s call her Marcy, during her regular appointment. “You’re just not like other doctors,” she said. “How is that?” I asked. This seems like a good place to discuss the reason Marcy comes to see me. Marcy has a history of opioid use disorder. She has been on medication-assisted therapy (MAT) for many years. For those unaware, opioid ushe can alter people’s brains. Some patients can taper off MAT, but others require MAT for life.

May 1, 2023 | kevinmd.com | Timothy Byars |Jill Becker |Pat Rich |Jamie Katuna

Imagine that you are suffering from chronic pain. The pain keeps you awake at night so you don’t get much sleep. Lack of sleep most nights and the ensuing chronic fatigue causes you some anxiety during the day. Your primary care physician suggests that she is concerned with the increasing amount of aspirin and ibuprofen you are consuming to manage the pain. She can prescribe opioids to help with the pain, a benzodiazepine to manage the anxiety, and a sleeping pill (such as zolpidem) for insomnia.