Parade 03-03 by The Southern Illinoisan

S U N D AY, M A OR NC TH 0 30 , ,2 2 00 11 33

A Day in the Life OF A

COUNT∏Y DOCTO∏ Inside the joys and challenges of a modern-day Marcus Welby, M.D.

As one As one ne of of th tthe he few few do fe ddoctors oct c or ors ffo for or miles mi m illees ar aaround, roouund und nd, Howard H Ho owa wardd M McMahan cMaahhaann cM is is always alway lwaayys on lw on ccall aalllll

T ’S

Madeleine Stowe Mad

Q: Madeleine Stowe plays the villainous pl Victoria Grayson so Vi well on Revenge. w What’s she like in W real life? —Nancy A., Lodi, N.J.

A: “People are A so scared when they sc meet me, but I’m really cheerful!” says Stowe, cheer 54. “My “M ethics are very different differen from Victoria’s.” And unlike her character un on the ABC drama, the actress is lucky in love. She and her husband, actor Brian Benben, have been together over 30 years and have a daughter, 16. “We’ve had challenges,” she says, “but we’ve been blessed.”

Larry Hagman

Q: How will Dallas deal with Larry Hagman’s death this season? —Dennis Koches, Richfield, Minn.

A: Five episodes of season two of the TNT reboot were ﬁlmed before Hagman died on Nov. 23 at age 81. Executive producer Cynthia Cidre says his iconic character, J. R. Ewing, doesn’t pass away until episode seven (March 4), and a funeral for the scheming oil tycoon

PARADE

WALTER SCOTT ASKS ...

GABRIEL BYRNE

Braeden and Scott on the set of The Young and the Restless in 1984

Q: Who has been married the most times on The Young and the Restless?

The actor, 62, stars in the History channel drama series Vikings (premieres March 3, 10 p.m. ET).

—Sherry L., Whitehall, Pa.

Did you know much about Viking history before taking this role? I’m from Dublin, and I grew up with a knowledge of their contribution to Irish culture. They are stereotyped as invaders and pillagers, but they were much more sophisticated and complex. How did you get into character? I grew my hair very long and the costumes were pretty spectacular, so it was hard not to feel like a 10th-century Viking warlord! You live in New York City now. Do you go back to Ireland much? It’s my roots, so I come back at least two or three times a year. It’s tremendously important to me.

will air March 11. “I can reveal that J. R. does not die of natural causes, and the mystery of what happened to him will be solved by the end of the season,” Cidre says. “I hope it will do both Mr. Ewing and Mr. Hagman justice.”

A: With 14 “I dos” under his belt, Genoa City’s resident Casanova, Victor Newman (played Submit your by Eric Braeden), questions to personality takes the prize. And @parade.com Victor’s about to tie the knot once more—with on-again, off-again love Nikki—on March 18. “I would love for them to be Before becoming an actor, you studied together forever, but things archaeology. Did you make any discovcan’t go right for very long eries? I actually worked on the excavaor the fans get bored!” tion of Viking ruins in Ireland and was says Melody Thomas lucky to ﬁnd a perfectly preserved child’s Scott, 56, who plays Nikki. leather shoe with ornamental stitching. I The CBS soap celebrates don’t think there’s anything more exciting its 40th anniversary this than knowing the last time a human had month. Get an exclusive seen that shoe was over 1,000 years ago. ﬁrst look at the new cast photo featuring 41 actors at Parade.com/soap.

Q: How many female drivers race in the various NASCAR series? —Donna Pikey, Las Vegas < Danica Patrick

A: Eight women competed in the 2012 season, and NASCAR has four female drivers slated to race in 2013, with a few others possibly joining during the year. “We’re seeing more and more women in racing, either as drivers or mechanics, and that number will only go up,” says NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitor Danica Patrick, 30. “But I’ve always wanted to be the best driver, not the best female driver.”

SUNDAY

F∏EEBIE

Enter for a chance to win the Smash soundtrack, Bombshell, signed by Katharine McPhee at Parade.com/win /

PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: BOB D’AMICO/ABC; KEVIN ABOSCH; CBS PHOTO ARCHIVE; TODD WARSHAW/GETTY IMAGES FOR NASCAR; SKIP BOLEN/TNT

T WA L

COT ER S

2 • MARCH 3, 2013

Inspired by natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautyâ&#x20AC;Ś

Only $ 39!

evered throughout the world for its perfect delicate beauty, the cherry blossom has inspired the jewelers at the Danbury Mint to create an exceptional bracelet. This ďŹ nely crafted piece will not fade as spring passes, but will keep its magniďŹ cence forever.

Product shown larger than actual size.

The Danbury Mint 47 Richards Avenue Norwalk, CT 06857

Glimmering crystals This gorgeous bracelet glimmers and glistens with many hues, from light pink to dark purple. They are perfectly complemented by pretty white colored crystals â&#x20AC;&#x201D; set in leaf designs to add extra sparkle. Sure to be admired, the Cherry Blossom Bracelet is perfect for day or evening wear. Cleverly elasticized for comfort, this bracelet will ďŹ t all wrist sizes. RESERVATION APPLICATION

Send no money now.

YES! Reserve The Cherry Blossom Bracelet as described in this announcement.

Beautifully presented Your bracelet will arrive in a luxurious presentation case, perfect for gift-giving or safekeeping and yours at no additional charge.

Incredible value; satisfaction guaranteed

Name

This stunning bracelet can be yours for the remarkable price of just $39 plus $3.90 shipping and service, payable in two monthly installments of $21.45 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an incredible value. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, your satisfaction is entirely guaranteed. If you are not delighted, return your bracelet within 90 days for a full refund.

Please print clearly.

Address City/State/Zip

Act now!

Signature Orders subject to acceptance.

For fastest delivery: s WWW DANBURYMINT COM

29700010L010

We are expecting demand to be high, so act now to avoid disappointment. For fastest delivery, call 1-800-726-1184 or order online at www.danburymint.com. ÂŠMBI Order today!

Parade

READING CORNER

THE SECRETARY Drawing on four years of travel alongside Hillary Clinton, BBC correspondent Kim Ghattas crafts a candid portrait of one of the world’s most controversial and powerful women.

EIGHTY DAYS The true story of Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland, two journalists racing to see who could circle the globe ﬁrst—and faster than any man before them—is as riveting now as it was when it captivated the nation in 1889.

JACK THE GIANT SLAYER

EGGSTRA CREDIT EG Yo can’t beat You ou our recipepa packed iPad iss issue. Download it at dashrecipes .co .com/eggs. It’s free!

BUY ELECTRONICS

The fairy-tale film is alive and well, judging from the highly entertaining 3-D adventure director Bryan Singer has created from the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. Our hero (Nicholas Hoult, above) sets out to rescue a princess (Eleanor Tomlinson) from the giants who dwell sky-high; fine actors like Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, and Ian McShane round out the cast. Fee, fi, fo—fun! (PG-13)

HUNGER IN AMERICA A Place at the Table looks at the 50 million Americans (like single mom Barbie and her kids, left) who struggle to have a nutritious meal every day. Poverty, politics, obesity rates— they’re all tied in to the crisis, as this eye-opening documentary illustrates. (In theaters and on demand)

MAKE THIS THE MONTH TO ...

HAVE KIDS, WILL TRAVEL

If you’re daydreaming about spring break, check out minitime.com—a vacationplanning website that bases its recommendations on your children’s ages. Punch h in a destination and you’ll get a list of hotelss and activities tailored to your brood, along with reviews from families just like yours.

Retailers are cutting prices on Japanese brands (from TVs to PCs) to make room for new models coming out in April, says timing expert Mark Di Vincenzo, author of Buy Shoes on Wednesday and Tweet at 4:00. For more tips, go to Parade .com/now.

PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: SERGEI BACHLAKOV/ABC; WARNER BROS. PICTURES; OLEKSIY MAKSYMENKO/ALAMY; SONY DIGITAL; TONY DEMIN/GETTY IMAGES; MAGNOLIA PICTURES

A GRIPPING NEW TV SERIES Radha Mitchell (right) stars as a woman whose life is shattered when her husband crosses a crime syndicate and she becomes a Red Widow with a debt to repay. (ABC, March 3)

4 • MARCH 3, 2013

FILL YOUR EASTER BASKETS WITH VEGGIES!

EXCLUSIVE!

FREE 24 Piece Puzzle with purchase!

SAVE $250

EXPIRES MARCH 10, 2013

ON VEGGIETALES “THE LITTLE HOUSE THAT STOOD” DVD

AT WALMART - THIS WEEK ONLY

For more fun go to

veggietales.com!

This coupon redeemable at face value only. LIMIT ONE COUPON PER ITEM PURCHASED. Offer available at participating retailers in the U.S. and Canada. Subject to adjustments due to returns, cancellations or exchanges. Coupon not valid on previous purchases or with any other coupons, discounts or offers. Retailer: We will reimburse you the face value of this coupon plus 8c handling provided it is redeemed by a consumer at the time of purchase on the brand specified. Coupon not properly redeemed will be void and held. Reproduction of this coupon is expressly prohibited. [ANY OTHER USE CONSTITUTES FRAUD.] Mail to Classic Media, CMS Dept. 99723, 1 Fawcett Dr., Del Rio, TX 78840. Cash Value .001c. Void where taxed or restricted.

Happy & Healthy

Kennections By Ken Jennings HOW TO PLAY

All five correct answers have something in common. Can you figure out what it is?

1. Underwood, Olivetti, and Smith Corona were originally manufacturers of what bygone devices?

Short on Magnesium?

Relief For Your Muscle Aches And Pains*

With everything that is going on in your life, you can’t afford to let muscle aches and pains get in the way. Mineral Ice® gel delivers effective pain relief for your muscle aches, sore joints and sports-related injuries. It’s DEEPCOLD® Pain Reliever provides powerful, cooling relief. Available at Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid and other fine retailers. *Use only as directed. U_04875-00

✎

MANUFACTURER’S COUPON

2. Danish-born comedian Victor Borge performed his most famous routines sitting behind what?

✎

PAIN RELIEVING GEL

COUPON EXPIRES 5/31/13

$2 OFF

RETAILER: We will reimburse you the face value of this coupon plus 8¢ if submitted in compliance with our coupon redemption policy, available upon request. Cash value 1/20¢. Mail to: Novartis Consumer Health, Inc., CMS Department 00067, 1 Fawcett Drive, Del Rio, TX 78840. Limit one coupon per purchase.

3. Which state has the longest coastline in the contiguous U.S., at over 1,350 miles?

Discover the solution. Soaking in Epsom Salt is one of the most effective ways to increase your magnesium levels, naturally. Its unique, therapeutic properties are known to help reduce toxins in the body, relax tense muscles and revitalize skin’s appearance. Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt is infused with luxurious essential oils to soothe the senses and provide relief from stress. www.DrTeals.com MANUFACTURER’S COUPON

$1 OFF

ANY DR. TEAL’S PRODUCT

COUPON EXPIRES 8/31/13 For more information about the benefits of Epsom Salt, visit us at www.drteals.com

CONSUMER: May not be sold or otherwise transferred or reproduced. Limit one (1) coupon per purchase. Any other use is fraudulent. RETAILER: May not be combined with any other offers. Advanced Beauty, Inc. will pay you face value (actual retail price or maximum value indicated, if “free” offer) plus $0.08 handling fee per coupon. Send coupons to ABSI/Universal PO Box 222510 Hollywood, FL 33022-2510. Void where prohibited or restricted. Not redeemable for cash. Good only in the 50 United States. Dr. Teal’s® is a Registered Trademark of Advanced Beauty, Inc.

✎ 4. A cryptanalyst’s job is to try to break what?

✎ 5. What honor society became the first Greek-letter college fraternity in the U.S. when it was founded at William and Mary in 1776?

✎ WHAT’S THE “KENNECTION” BETWEEN ALL FIVE ANSWERS?

✎

World’s Finest Eye Cream! Dependable Relief*

Given a 5 star rating on Oprah’s iVillage, refreshing, anti-aging Airbrush Eye Refining Treatment hydrates, soothes, reduces crows feet and puffiness, and promotes collagen for younger, brighter looking eyes. 20% off! Code: PARAD4 at dremu.com or (800) 542-0026.

Constipation is a common ailment and can be very uncomfortable. The best way to prevent constipation is eating a healthy diet, exercising, and drinking plenty of water.1 However, when it does occur, *Use only as directed. Perdiem® stimulant laxative, made with a natural vegetable ingredient, help provide dependable, overnight relief. Perdiem® can be found at Walmart and other fine retailers. 1. www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/constipation-directory 1.10.13

U_04874-00

Woo Hoo! No More Leg Cramps! Play trivia puzzles by Ken Jennings and readers at Parade.com/ken ANSWERS: 1. TYPEWRITERS; 2. A PIANO; 3. FLORIDA; 4. CODES; 5. PHI BETA KAPPA ALL HAVE KEYS

PHOTO: ANDY REYNOLDS

MAKE MORE KENNECTIONS!

Hyland’s Leg Cramps PM is a natural, homeopathic* medicine that’s as gentle on you as it’s tough on cramps. At Walmart and Natural Foods stores. Visit www.hylandslegcramps.com/ sunday for $1 off exclusive coupon for Parade readers.

MANUFACTURER’S COUPON

COUPON EXPIRES 5/31/13

$2 OFF ON ANY 1 (ONE) SIZE

*These statements are based upon traditional homeopathic practice. They have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration.

OCILLA, GA. POP. 3,414

THE COUNTRY DOCTOR IS IN A day in the life of a vanishing breed— the small-town American physician

COVER

By JENNIFER KAHN & INSIDE PHOTOGRAPHS by MELISSA GOLDEN

Imagine this: You are a young doctor who has recently graduated from medical school. An excellent student, you could choose to practice almost anywhere—including Atlanta, where your advising professor has connections. Instead, you set up shop in a small southern town, much like the one you grew up in. It’s the kind of place where the neighbors all know each other, where families have lived for generations and still attend the same church. It’s also a place where a young doctor is unlikely to get rich. In this town of Ocilla, Ga., there are a host of health challenges: obesity, drug abuse, depression— the usual troubles that doctors have to manage, except you’re doing it without the benefit of specialists to advise you. As one of the only doctors for miles around, you are on call every night and

need a range of skills that no city doctor would dream of having: Your patients depend on you for everything from putting a cast on a broken bone to performing surgery. Still, you like the idea of knowing your patients, knowing their families. But two decades pass, and the job has gotten harder. The per capita income around here is roughly $15,300, and unemployment is over 12 percent. Insurance companies have been chipping away at your earnings, and a growing number of your patients are now battling chronic diseases like diabetes and emphysema. Things would be easier if you closed your practice and took a position with the regional medical center 30 miles away. At times, you’ve been tempted. But then, what would your patients do?

6 • MARCH 3, 2013

A BIG IMPACT IN A SMALL TOWN Clockwise from left: 79-year-old Wydene Tomberlin gets a hug after presenting McMahan with an apple; joking around with patient Veronica Watts in the examination room; McMahan spends a few extra minutes chatting with Shedrick Gaskins during a checkup; the old-fashioned leather doctor’s bag that McMahan has carried since starting medical school in 1976.

hese questions are ones that Howard McMahan, M.D., has lately begun to contemplate. Now 58, McMahan has spent more than 20 years caring for the residents of Ocilla, a rural town (pop. 3,414) three hours south of Atlanta. Tall and spry, with short

gray hair, he looks the way you’d imagine a country doctor might. His manner is courtly; he says “yes, ma’am” and “no, sir” and favors bow ties and shirts that have been neatly pressed. As a doctor who knows all his patients by name—and often their parents and grandparents as well—

McMahan occupies an increasingly rareﬁed niche. Over the past 15 years, the number of new general practitioners (physicians trained to handle a wide range of ailments) has been significantly declining, as med students drift away from the field in favor of more lucrative and less demanding specialties. By 2020, the Association of American Medical Colleges projects, the U.S. will be short 45,000 primary care doctors. The scarcity is felt keenest in rural areas, home to nearly 20 percent of the nation’s population but just 9 percent of its M.D.’s. On the Monday I arrive, McMahan has been in the ofﬁce since 8 a.m., seeing patients and reviewing some of the 23 lab and X-ray reports that have arrived over the weekend. His office, a low-slung brick building located

across the street from a pecan orchard, is filled with framed photos of Ocilla’s championship baseball and wrestling teams. Farming is Ocilla’s main industry, and patients often show their gratitude in countr y ways. McMahan once arrived at the office to find a load of homegrown watermelons left as a thank-you. It wasn’t the first time. “Homemade fudge, peanut brittle, pecan brittle, jellies and jams,” he recalled, moving briskly between exam rooms. “It’s a regular occurrence.” McMahan’s 10 a.m. appointment is with 79-year-old Wydene Tomberlin, who has come bearing an apple as a gift. McMahan takes it cheerfully, adding, “You can tell I’ve had an inﬂuence! She used to bring me chocolate.” Tomberlin’s ankle had recently

been treated for a staph infection, and in the ofﬁce she admits that the leg is still giving her pain. “It’s okay today, but on Thursday and Friday I could hardly walk on it,” she says. McMahan kneels to press gently on her ankle. “You soak it or put a poultice on it?” he asks. “You take any pills?” Tomberlin says no. “Miss Wydene used to take a lot of pain medication,” he explains. “We’ve worked hard to get her off that.” Though the ankle is no longer tender, McMahan orders a blood test to conﬁrm that the infection hasn’t returned. Then, to my surprise, he lingers, asking about Tomberlin’s family— he also treats her brother Wycliff and his wife, Ann. Eventually, McMahan escorts Tomberlin out. “That’s one of the advantages of practicing in a small town,” he remarks. “You don’t just see your patients. You see their family, you see their friends. It can help.”

CARING FOR ALL STAGES OF LIFE McMahan spends one morning each week at

the local nursing homes. Here, he checks in on patient Madelyn Posey.

While such patience can be rewarding, it comes at a cost. Tomberlin’s visit, originally scheduled for 15 minutes, has taken almost 45. Which means that McMahan is already running late. It’s a common problem. “Patients get frustrated all the time because they have to wait,” admits Kay Vickers, a nurse who has worked with McMahan for 18 years. She

WILL THERE BE A DOCTOR TO SEE YOU?

A GROWING SHORTAGE OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS COULD LIMIT OUR ACCESS TO CARE

“It’s hard for patients to ﬁnd a primary care doctor right now,” says Jeffrey Cain, M.D., president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). “In 10 years, it will be impossible.” Experts predict that the U.S. will be short 45,000 primary care physicians by the year 2020—throwing an already overstretched medical system into crisis. (Currently, the average U.S. physician is responsible for 2,300 patients—more than twice the recommended number.) “We’re standing on the edge of a primary care cliff,” says Cain. Why?

shrugs. “But it’s a trade-off. When you get in the room with him, he does the same thing for you.” When I later mention Vickers’s observation to McMahan, he looks sheepish. “The majority of the time, I deliver more care than I bill for,” he acknowledges, adding that he often ends up staying in the ofﬁce until 8 or 9 at night. McMahan concedes that he could probably get through

• THE POPULATION IS EXPANDING. Various experts predict that the number of Americans will grow 15 percent by 2025. And the Affordable Care Act may pour 32 million more people into the health care system. • MANY GPs ARE NEARING RETIREMENT. One in three physicians will hang up their stethoscopes in the next 10 to 15 years. Meanwhile, the number of Medicare patients is rapidly rising as the baby boom generation ages. • AND THERE AREN’T ENOUGH NEW DOCS TO TAKE THEIR PLACE. Family medicine, which often pays a third of what specialties like radiology and orthopedics do, is “not as appealing to medical students,” says Christiane Mitchell, director of federal affairs for the Association of American Medical Colleges. Only 8 percent of med school graduates go on to practice

the workday faster if he were willing to stick to the schedule. But in practice he can’t bring himself to. “There’s too much complicated information,” he says. “I want to make sure people understand.” McMahan is starting to streamline his practice by offering patients the option of a “virtual visit”: getting their lab results online, for instance, and then discussing them over the phone or even face-to-face via computer video chat. He points out that such a system would spare patients having to take time off from work—but acknowledges that the option hasn’t caught on yet. “Most folks still prefer the hands-on personal touch,” he says.

n a typical day, McMahan sees about 25 patients, and for the next nine hours, I watch him hop from room to room, working through the day’s appointments. The problems range widely:

primary care; the AAFP says that number should be more like 50 percent. So what’s the solution? Medical schools have pledged to up their enrollments by 30 percent, a goal that Mitchell says the colleges are on target to meet in the next few years. Plus, many med schools are offering debt repayment to graduates who select careers in family medicine. Meanwhile, experts like Cain and Mitchell are calling for more physicians to turn their practices into “patient-centered medical homes,” where nurse practitioners and physician assistants handle much of the basic patient care, with doctors stepping in when necessary. Still, Cain says these are just stopgap measures for the looming shortage. “We’ve been making tiny steps toward something that needs big strides,” he says. —Vi-An Nguyen

8 • MARCH 3, 2013

One man complains of “a deep bone ache” in his legs; another patient is recovering from pneumonia and needs a chest X-ray. One mother is now struggling with postpartum depression but doesn’t want to take the antidepressant McMahan prescribed because she fears it will make her gain a lot of weight. McMahan assures her that’s unlikely. He will also refer patients to a psychiatrist when necessary, though the nearest one is an hour away. “Mental health resources in Georgia are very limited,” he sighs. I notice that with each patient, McMahan listens intently and looks them in the eye when he talks. He acknowledges later that the eye contact is deliberate. “That’s the No. 1 complaint I hear about other doctors,” he says. “Patients say, ‘He never looks at me! He’s always on the computer.’ So I always look up. I put my hand on their shoulder.” He shrugs. “Sometimes compassion is even more important than a prescription.” Such personal attentiveness does take effort, McMahan admits—especially given that computerized medical records have become ever more complicated, with dozens of menus that a physician must click through during each visit. But he’s sympathetic to patients who feel as if they’re being ignored. When McMahan’s then 24-year-old son was diagnosed with a rare cancer in 2008, the famil y sought treatment at Memorial SloanKettering in New York, and the process deepened his perspective. “When you carry some of the battle scars that your

Receive up to oa

MasterCard® Prepaid Card by mail with purchase of select Whirlpool or Maytag Brand Laundry appliances* FEBRUARY 10–APRIL 6, 2013

Whirlpool and Maytag brands invest in America every day and now you can, too. Purchase select laundry appliances designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S.A. Stop in today and help us keep America strong.

*See Store for Rebate Form with complete details and qualiﬁed models. Only valid at participating Whirlpool and Maytag Brand retailers. Rebate in the form of a Whirlpool or Maytag Brand MasterCard® Prepaid Card by mail. Cards are issued by Citibank, N.A. pursuant to a license from MasterCard International Incorporated. MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated. Cards will not have cash access and can be used everywhere MasterCard debit cards are accepted. ®/™ ©2012. All rights reserved. To learn more about the entire Whirlpool or Maytag Brand lines, please visit whirlpool.com or maytag.com. NCP-14222

patients carry, you meet them at their level,â&#x20AC;? he says. What does it take to Besides running be a country doctor today? To see more his private practice, photos of McMahan the doctor spends one in practice, go to Parade.com morning each week /countrydoctor making the rounds at the local nursing homes, checking medications and visiting with patients he knows. He also treats patients at the local detention center, a mixed-use facility in

Ocilla that houses immigrations and customs detainees, along with federal inmates. The detention center work â&#x20AC;&#x153;is necessary,â&#x20AC;? McMahan saysâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; both for the health of the patients inside and because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comparatively lucrative. That extra income is what allows McMahan to keep his practice rates more affordable. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I pride myself on providing value to my patients,â&#x20AC;? McMahan tells me later. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because my patients arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wealthy, I tend to prescribe a lot of generics, and I also use a lot of older medications that are proven, that have stood the test of time.â&#x20AC;?

Legal Notice

If You Currently or Previously Owned, Purchased, or Leased Certain Toyota, Lexus, or Scion Vehicles, You Could Get BeneďŹ ts from a Class Action Settlement. There is a proposed settlement in a class action lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corp. and Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Toyotaâ&#x20AC;?) concerning certain vehicles with electronic throttle control systems (â&#x20AC;&#x153;ETCSâ&#x20AC;?). Those included in the settlement have legal rights and options and deadlines by which they must exercise them. What is the lawsuit about? The lawsuit alleges that certain Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicles equipped with ETCS are defective and can experience unintended acceleration. Toyota denies that it has violated any law, denies that it engaged in any and all wrongdoing, and denies that its ETCS is defective. The Court did not decide which side was right. Instead, the parties decided to settle. Am I Included in the proposed settlement? Subject to certain limited exclusions, you are included if as of December 28, 2012, s 9OU OWN OR OWNED PURCHASE D AND OR LEASE D A â&#x20AC;&#x153;Subject Vehicleâ&#x20AC;? that was s $ISTRIBUTED FOR SALE OR LEASE IN ANY OF THE lFTY 3TATES THE $ISTRICT OF #OLUMBIA 0UERTO 2ICO AND ALL OTHER 5NITED 3TATES TERRITORIES AND OR POSSESSIONS OR s 7ERE A COMPANY THAT INSURED 3UBJECT 6EHICLES FOR residual value.

a brake override system on certain Subject Vehicles; (c) a customer support program to correct any defect in materials or workmanship of certain vehicle parts for other eligible class members; and (d) at least $30 million toward automobile safety research and EDUCATION 3OME OF THESE BENElTS REQUIRE ACTION BY class members by or before certain deadlines. 0AYMENTS WILL VARY DEPENDING UPON SEVERAL FACTORS such as the number of claims submitted, the amounts claimed, and other adjustments and deductions. What are my options? If you do nothing, you will remain in the class and will not be able to sue Toyota about the issues in the LAWSUIT BUT YOU MAY NOT RECEIVE CERTAIN CASH BENElTS for which you may be eligible. 9OU CAN EXCLUDE YOURSELF by May 13, 2013, if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be part of the settlement. 9OU WON T GET ANY SETTLEMENT BENElTS BUT YOU KEEP THE RIGHT TO SUE Toyota about the issues in the lawsuit. 9OU CAN SUBMIT A CLAIM FORM by July 29, 2013, if YOU DON T EXCLUDE YOURSELF FOR ANY CASH BENElTS FOR which you are eligible and which require a claim form.

9OU CAN OBJECT TO ALL OR PART OF THE SETTLEMENT by May 13, 2013, if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exclude yourself. 4HE 3UBJECT 6EHICLES ARE IDENTIlED AT THE SETTLEMENT website and in the full settlement notice available The full settlement notice describes how to exclude on the website or through the toll-free number yourself, submit a claim form and/or object. BELOW 4HE CLASS INCLUDES PERSONS ENTITIES AND OR The Court will hold a fairness hearing on June organizations. 14, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. to (a) consider whether the This settlement does not involve claims of personal proposed settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate injury or property damage. and (b) decide the plaintiffsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lawyersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; request for fees up to $200 million and expenses up to $27 million What does the settlement provide? AND OTHER AWARDS FOR .AMED 0LAINTIFFS AND #LASS The proposed settlement provides for: (a) cash 2EPRESENTATIVES 9OU MAY APPEAR AT THE HEARING BUT payments from two funds totaling $500 million for you are not required to and you may hire an attorney certain eligible class members; (b) free installation of to appear for you, at your own expense.

For more information or a claim form: 1-877-283-0507 www.toyotaelsettlement.com

With elderly patients especially, McMahan likes to check for new prescriptions, some of which may have been suggested by outside specialists or hospital internists. He does so to guard against potentially risky interactions, but also to reduce redundancy, so patients are taking only the pills they need. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybody wants to prescribe,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do is unprescribe. They forget that even an eye drop costs money or can cause a drug interaction.â&#x20AC;?

he question of how to balance care and cost is one that has occupied McMahan since he was in medical school. As a resident, he recalls, he subsisted on tomato soup and hot tea and slept in a house that had been foreclosed on by the Federal Housing Administration. As a student, McMahan was obsessive about preparation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would hole up for three days at a time, studying,â&#x20AC;? he remembers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In college, I never took an exam where I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know every potential question and the answer to every potential question,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been that way since second grade.â&#x20AC;? McMahanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father was a sergeant major in the army, and his postings took the family all over: to New Jersey, Arizona, Germany, France, and Taiwan. As a boy, McMahan recalls, he was â&#x20AC;&#x153;skinny and pale-faced,â&#x20AC;? adding: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was always the new kid, the outcast kid.â&#x20AC;? After graduating, McMahan and a fellow doctor set up an ofďŹ ce in Washington, Ga., but business was slow; the first year, McMahan earned just $12,000. He and his wife had three children by that point, and they lived frugally. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That whole year, we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t buy anything except food to eat,â&#x20AC;? he recalls. A few years later, McMahan learned that the hospital closest to Ocilla was closing because it had no physician, and the town was in dire need of a medical practitioner. The family moved there a few months later. Starting out, McMahan provided mostly acute care, what he describes as â&#x20AC;&#x153;lumps, bumps, rashes, colds, sore throats.â&#x20AC;? These days, though, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more likely to see patients with multiple chronic diseases: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease. Most are overweight, and many smoke. (In Ocilla, smoking is still permitted on the grounds of the local hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a policy McMahan

10 â&#x20AC;˘ MARCH 3, 2013

FEELING STUCK? Like no one listens? Feeling like you have more talent than people recognize? Don’t Just Get Heard —

Learn How to Own the Room How much of your day do you spend communicating at work and personally? Think of all of the meetings, phone calls, emails, presentations, conversations? What would it be worth to be 10-20% better at it—for the rest of your life?

Do the work to become great at public speaking and all other forms of communication are yours.

Whether you talk for a living, sell, manage, present on air or just want to have more gravitas as a leader, advanced communication will make a visible difference immediately. Blue Planet has a proven, trademarked methodology to make it fun and fast, starting in the ﬁrst hour.

“Not like any other trainers. Bill Hoogterp can help anyone feel more comfortable and succeed on such an important skill.” — Elisabeth Shue, Oscar Nominated Actress

5 SIMPLE OPTIONS: Email Jessica@blueplanet.org or call 973-559-5187 for more information 1. Go to Owntheroom.com for free sample videos of modules and training.

“They’re among the top speaking coaches in the world today. I’ve been to their trainings from Silicon Valley to the Middle East.” — Joi Ito, Director, MIT Media Lab

2. Have us send a top trainer to your institution. 3. Participate in a free sample lesson at different locations across the US. 4. Sign up for a low cost webinar at owntheroom.com-- $10 per one hour group lesson. 5. Limited to the ﬁrst 100 participants, come to our Premier Event in NYC May 22-24, 2013. World class coaches celebrities, high tech training – have fun while you become a GREAT speaker in 3 days!

GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO BE GREAT

“Surprising how much you can learn and it was actually fun.” — Urban Meyer, National Champion Football Coach

Michael Balaoing of Blue Planet interviewing Katie Couric for a change!

has been trying to change.) As the doctor to a high-risk population, McMahan spends much of his time trying to convince his patients to eat better and to exercise: unpopular prescriptions in the rural South. “It’s like the Pogo cartoon,” he says ruefully. “ ‘We have met the enemy, and the enemy is us.’ ”

now. Is health care a privilege or a right, and who pays for it? And how much do you get when there’s a limited resource?” One of the last patients of the day, Linda, a blond woman with diabetes and severe heart disease, is a case in point. Despite having had openheart surgery, she rarely checks her

ﬁnally. “That’s my anxiety. If you aren’t measuring it, I don’t know what to do to help you.” He advises her to walk down the road each day as far as she’s able, and also to eat more vegetables. Before she leaves, he gives her a recipe for grilled okra with garlic and olive oil. Afterward, he tells me, “Linda’s a hard sell.” He shakes his head. “I feel like a failure. You saw. I almost begged her: ‘What can we do together to change your behavior?’ ”

B A PERSONAL TOUCH “Sometimes compassion is even more important than a prescription,” says McMahan, who always takes extra time with his patients.

Talking with a 38-year-old minister who has type 2 diabetes (and ﬁve children), McMahan is encouraging but stern. “You’re still in the stage where you can turn this thing around,” he counsels. Then he turns up the heat. “You might want to consider: If something were to happen to you, who will take care of those kids?” The minister looks chastened. He tells McMahan that his aunt, who died recently, lost both her legs to diabetes. He pauses. “I keep thinking it’s far off.” As a doctor, McMahan says, he can sometimes feel powerless in the face of people’s habits. “We’re a bunch of hardheaded southerners,” McMahan acknowledges. “But we’re talking about societal issues

blood sugar and sometimes skips her medication. When she tells McMahan that she feels ﬁne, he squints at her. “How many pillows are you sleeping on?” he asks. “One!” she answers quickly. “I know what that question means!” (Sleeping on more than one pillow can be a sign of labored breathing and sleep apnea.) When McMahan asks about her blood sugar, she grows even more stubborn. “I don’t take it very often,” she says frankly. “Is it because you don’t want to get the bad news?” he asks. She shakes her head. “I just don’t want to.” McMahan sits silently for a moment. “To keep the coronary disease from progressing, we’ve got to control your blood sugar,” he says

y the time the final patient leaves, at 7 p.m., McMahan looks worn out. Retreating to his ofﬁce, he lowers himself into an old red leather chair and stretches his legs in front of him wearily. “It’s all the kneeling,” he says, rubbing his eyes. “As I get older, it becomes a challenge.” Before heading home, McMahan stays to read over the notes for each patient he saw. “It’s easy to miss a detail when you’re busy,” he explains, peering at the computer screen through bifocals. “I try to go over each chart while it’s still fresh in my mind.” Because one patient had fretted over the cost of her medications, McMahan now goes back and tries to streamline them, swapping out two brand-name pills and replacing them with generics. “Being a smalltown doctor, you know who’s going to have to decide whether to pay for groceries or medication,” he says. In the late 1960s, McMahan notes, there were fewer than 50 medicines a doctor might commonly use or prescribe. Today there are thousands, many of them almost identical, but with subtle formulation changes that can alter their efficacy or side effects. For older patients, the problem is exac-

erbated by the fact that hospitals have a 30-day window to update a patient’s medical record (though the health care act will change that). “When you’re the patient’s physician, you can’t wait 30 days to ﬁnd out what was done to them at the hospital,” he says, then sighs. “But the motivation for the hospital to move more quickly is low. Once the patient leaves, it’s not their problem anymore.” At times, McMahan admits, his decision to become a small-town family physician can feel perverse. With no urgent care in the area, McMahan is always on call; he last took a vacation seven years ago. “I remember running into one of my former med school professors, and he asked me, ‘Why are you not a surgeon?’” he laughs. “It’s tough. For the first five or six years, I kept thinking that maybe I should go back and train to do otolaryngology or some other specialty.” Since starting out, he adds, cutbacks by insurance companies have eaten away at the modest profit margin he once relied on. “For many family doctors, it’s nearly impossible to make a living now,” he says. “You have to make enough to pay the light bill, and to pay your employees— while still trying to be compassionate and not overcharge patients. That’s why so many physicians these days are selling their practices.” For a moment, McMahan seems glum, but then he shrugs the mood off. “The truth is, this is what I want to do,” he says, as we walk out into the warm night air. “I like being a family doctor. I believe all Americans deserve a physician that they can rely on. That’s one thing I’d like to publicize: You can get good care in a small town. And I’m doing what I can to keep it that way.”

12 • MARCH 3, 2013

THE ORIGINAL

Ask Marilyn By Marilyn vos Savant

What percentage of appealed court decisions are overturned? —Kara B.,

Sprouts And Covers Super-Fast... Just 10 Days!

Glenelg, Md.

According to the latest figures from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, about 15 percent of civil trial decisions were appealed, about half by plaintiffs and half by defendants. Of these, about 43 percent were dismissed or withdrawn, often due to the parties’ settling. In the remaining 57 percent, about a third were modified or reversed, either by an intermediate court or a court of last resort. Interestingly, verdicts favoring the plaintiffs were modified or reversed twice as often as those for the defendants. So roughly one in five appealed decisions are invalidated, but most of those cases are sent back for a new trial. ®

Numbrix

Complete 1 to 81 so the numbers follow a horizontal or vertical path—no diagonals.

75 77

33 55

Before: Lawn is an eyesore! Grass is brown, dead or dying, with many bare spots and weeds.

After: In just 10 days, a thick, green, beautiful lawn you’ll be proud of!

Just Scatter!

QUICKLY CARPETS 1000 SQUARE FEET JUST $ 95 So Easy To Transform! No preparation. Just broadcast seed, water or let nature do it. Your grass starts growing in just 5 days!

Even Grows In Impossible Spots:

OR LESS! See coupon for special savings

Problem areas that are bare, shady, weedy or hilly!

Don’t Be Caught Without A Beautiful Green Lawn–Order Today! Yours At Last! Beautiful Grass That Stays Green Year-Round, From Florida To Alaska! Yes! The incredibly hardy grass that’s proven itself on golf courses throughout the U.S.A. and Canada is now available to you! And it grows so quickly and easily: • Just scatter seed for a picture–perfect lawn starting in only 5 days! • Tolerates extremes from 120˚F to 40˚F below zero! • So hardy, it stays green thru heavy foot traffic, drought, scorching heat, freezing cold, even under heavy snow! • Saves you work by crowding out weeds. You probably know the abuse fairway grass must take: heavy foot and cart traffic, divots, every kind of weather condition! But through it all, greenskeepers have to maintain perfect grass. That’s why they love this grass that sprouts quickly and thrives through the worst abuse. Exclusive offer! This is your chance to see for yourself how this amazing new seed will beautify your lawn all year long, while saving you time, work and money! Order today with an unconditional money back guarantee! (less s&h) ©2013 Best Buys Direct Allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery

CALL NOW! 1-800-941-8300

YES!

I would love to have a lush green lawn in all 4 seasons! Please send me enough grass seed to cover the following:

❑ 1000 sq. ft. only $19.95 (2 lbs) plus $5.95 S&H. Total $25.90 ❑ 3000 sq. ft. only $34.95 (6 lbs) plus $7.95 S&H. Total $42.90 ❑ SAVE! 6000 sq. ft. $59.95 (12 lbs) plus $9.95 S&H. Total $69.90 ❑ SUPER VALUE! 9000 sq. ft. $90.00 (18 lbs) FREE S&H. Total Enclosed $ (NJ residents please add 7% sales tax) ❑ Check ❑ Money Order ❑ VISA ❑ MasterCard ❑ Discover

Credit Card #

OR MAIL IN THE ORDER FORM BELOW

Exp. Date

Print Name Address

Apt. #

City State Zip Send Your Payment Today To: BEST BUYS DIRECT

By Ann Hood

very Friday night, they gathered at one of their houses in a cloud of cigarette smoke and Aqua Net. They came in twos or threes, dressed in velour sweat suits, skirts with matching sweaters, elasticwaist jeans, and shirts that said BEST MOM or DECK THE HALLS. In their hands: coffee cans ﬁlled with pennies that clanked as they walked. Some wore wigs, big bubbles of fake hair. Or wiglets or falls, bobby-pinned in place like the mantillas they wore to church on Sunday. There were 12 in all. The Dirty Dozen, they called themselves. But more often, they were just The Girls. Most had grown up together in Natick, R.I., a small village in a small state. Their houses all sat within a mile of each other. Yet they arrived in station wagons, the ones they drove to and from school, the beach, and the park, overloaded with kids. Their husbands were foremen in factories. Others worked on the army base or ran the produce department or the deli counter at the local store. One of The Girls—no one could remember how she came to join them—was married to a doctor. She wore a blond fall, cat-eye glasses, drank Chablis. She didn’t ﬁt in, really. The Girls married young and stayed married. This one had an affair and left town. Then they were 11 around the kitchen tables covered with plastic cloths. My mother was part of this group. For as long as I

The Girls

Loyal, loud, tough-talking—these were friends impossible to replace

can remember, Friday nights were sacred, hers. The hurried dinner—maybe tuna casserole, eggs in purgatory, ﬁsh and chips from the takeout place. Then her disappearance to get ready. She left my father in charge for the evening, which meant popcorn and Dr Pepper and staying up late. But never late enough for me to hear her come home. Best was when it was my mother’s turn to host. She began cooking on Wednesday. Marinating. Peeling. Simmering. Friday we were banished to the TV room so she could set up metal trays with small bowls of chips and dip, platters of cold cuts or fried chicken or meat loaf. Always a salad. Always cake or pie.

WHEN IT WAS MY MOTHER’S NIGHT TO HOST, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SLEEP. On my mother’s nights, it was impossible to fall asleep. The excitement of The Girls, so many of them! All squeezed around our small table, laughing and smoking and playing poker. I would creep down the stairs and sit on the harvest gold carpet, listening. They shared worries: about husbands and children and money, always money because there was never enough. They told each other “I hate you” and “I love you” with

equal passion and frequency. They were not like mothers on television. No, they were rough around the edges, high school dropouts, secretaries, and assembly-line workers. They spoke with a hard accent that dropped r’s and added s’s. Kmahts, they said, instead of Kmart. “Your deals” instead of “your deal.” Years of Friday nights passed. Three of The Girls moved away. Then cancer struck. Colon. Lung, twice. The Girls dwindled from 11 to eight to ﬁve. Alzheimer’s dropped them to four. They broke hips and had cataract surgeries, knee replacements, and lumpectomies. Still, they met every Friday night. After their families were grown, they took trips. To Atlantic City. To Foxwoods casino in Connecticut. Overnights and weekends and afternoons. They met for coffee and counted their pennies and planned more trips to more casinos. Then one day, one of them was driving home from my mother’s when she was hit broadside by a teenager in his brand-new car. She died instantly. That Friday was the ﬁrst Friday that The Girls didn’t play. The next week, another one was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer; she lived only four months. Unsure how to help my mother heal, I signed us up for bridge classes with my

PHOTO: TIM KLEIN/GALLERY STOCK

Views

14 • MARCH 3, 2013

19-year-old son. I imagined finding a fourth player, setting a new routine. I imagined I could convince her that things weren’t as bad as they seemed, even though I knew they were. The day before the last class, the teacher announced that we were all bridge players now. “You can go home and teach your friends,” he said triumphantly. “My friends are all dead,” my mother said softly. I glanced over at her. She had turned her head so that no one could see her crying. How foolish I was to think that a new foursome, could replace The Girls. I realized in that moment that there are some things for which there are no substitutes. There are some things that we must mourn and cherish and say goodbye to. Every so often now, on a Friday night, I drive to my mother’s. I bring her treats that make her smile: a bouquet of zinnias, an apple pie warm from the oven, a bunch of flat-leaf parsley. I drink coffee with her and talk about things that don’t matter. She’ll look around the empty table and say, in a voice filled with wonder, “Just yesterday, we were all here playing cards.” I take her hand, bent with arthritis, rough from hard work, and I hold on tight. Or as tight as I can before I let go. Ann Hood’s new novel, The Obituary Writer (W. W. Norton & Company), will be published this week.

The medical alert service that costs less and goes where you go. It’s no wonder 5Star Urgent ResponseTM is the preferred choice of renowned safety expert John Walsh. The 5StarTM is powered by one of the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless networks, so you can get help whether you’re at home or on the go. And its new, patented GPS technology enables 5Star Agents to quickly and accurately determine your location. These Agents, who are highly trained and certified in CPR and other emergency procedures, will evaluate your situation, determine the right course of action and get you the help you need. At only $1499 per month, 5Star Urgent Response can save you up to $300 per year, making it the most affordable medical alert service on the market.

No contracts. No cancellation fees. No equipment to install.

Get the first month FREE when you purchase from Endorsed by John Walsh, host of America’s Most Wanted

Call 1-800-650-3935 today or visit greatcall.com/5Star cannot guarantee an exact location. 5Star service does not require a contract and can be cancelled at any time. Monthly service fees do not include government taxes or assessment surcharges. Prices and fees are subject to change. 5Star and 5Star Urgent Response are trademarks of GreatCall, Inc. GreatCall is a registered trademark of GreatCall, Inc. Copyright ©2013, GreatCall, Inc.

It’s no wonder 5Star Urgent ResponseTM is the preferred choice of renowned safety expert John Walsh. The 5StarTM is powered by one of the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless networks, so you can get help whether you’re at home or on the go. And its new, patented GPS technology enables 5Star Agents to quickly and accurately determine your location. These Agents, who are highly trained and certified in CPR and other emergency procedures, will evaluate your situation, determine the right course of action and get you the help you need. At only $1499 per month, 5Star Urgent Response can save you up to $300 per year, making it the most affordable medical alert service on the market.

No contracts. No cancellation fees. No equipment to install.

Get the first month FREE when you purchase from

Get help at home or on the go, 24/7

Speak with a Certified Agent

Endorsed by John Walsh, host of America’s Most Wanted

Patented GPS locates you quickly

Nationwide Coverage

Access to 9-1-1 emergency services

Most affordable medical alert service

Call 1-800-650-3980 today or visit greatcall.com/5Star

CEREAL + FRUIT FOR 50 PER SERVING ¢

General Mills Cereals Honey Nut Cheerios®, 21.6 oz. Multi Grain Cheerios®, 16.2 oz. Reese’s® Puﬀs®, 22.9 oz.

and enjoy these additional products for

1 or less per serving

To save more on your favorite General Mills brands, visit coupons.walmart.com