Rex Healthcare is offering an online assessment of your heart health. It's free and it's confidential.

And, if you provide your mailing address, Rex will send you a $5 gift card to Applebee's. The gift card incentive runs through the end of February, while supplies last.

Tekelec is one of 12 organizations identified by UnitedHealthcare as having exemplary onsite wellness programs.

The Morrisville company's program includes onsite health assessments and physical activity programs as well as discounts on health insurance premiums for employees who participate.

Barloworld Handling in Charlotte also was among the dozen organizations to receive UnitedHealthCare's "Well Deserved" award.

Last week, Tekelec shareholders overwhelmingly approved the sale of the technology company to a New York private equity firm.

Tekelec, which makes software for phone and Internet companies, is being sold for $780 million to a group of investors led by Siris Capital.

The company employs 620 in Morrisville and 1,140 globally.

Sunday night brings Alejandro Escovedo to town, to headline a benefit show for old Raleigh hand Chip Robinson -- who is recovering from a broken hip but does not have health insurance. That's a sadly common situation; and seven years ago, the roles were reversed. Escovedo was ailing, and Robinson's late great band the Backsliders played a one-off reunion at a benefit show that happened almost exactly seven years ago (see this). Since then, Escovedo has recovered and gone on to reach a new peak of mainstream popularity. We can only hope something similar happens for Robinson. Meantime, come on out Sunday evening.

The news media spent much of the summer focusing on public gatherings where people denounced plans to overhaul the nation's healthcare system. A number of forums featuring people who think an overhaul is long overdue, and who generally support the Obama administration's efforts, also drew coverage.

We covered several in the Triangle, but missed a couple. Thus, we heard from forces both on the right and the left about "media conspiracies." We are keenly aware that some studiously count inches given to the "antis" and the "pros." We strive to be fair, but we don't think that merely keeping up with who is for, or against, something is adequately doing our jobs.  In fact, we have a long history of covering the healthcare system and our coverage of the most recent overhaul effort has gone far beyond public demonstrations.

We will continue to strive for depth in our reporting on this issue, including following the action in Washington and examining the impact on local healthcare providers and the region's industries.

We do believe that hearing from individuals who will be affected by any changes, or no change, is also an important element of our coverage. We will soon begin a series featuring Triangle residents discussing healthcare and the question of whether a revamp is needed. We did not approach these people based on assumptions about their politics or where we think they might come down on the question of reform. 

Rather, we looked for people from a wide variety of life circumstances and occupations. We asked them to talk about their personal situations, their concerns about the healthcare system and what specific changes, if any, would effectively address their concerns. One of the first to be featured is the owner of a small business.  Others include physicians, insurance and hospital administrators, seniors on Medicare, people who lost health insurance with the loss of a job, people who have private insurance through work, and people who have chronic illnesses. 

We think these personal stories will enlighten us all.

We welcome your feedback. 

Linda Williams

Senior Editor/News 

The faltering economy has stifled another project.

Wendell Falls developer Greg Ferguson told the Wendell Planning Board last night that the braintrust at WakeMed has decided to wait on plans to purchase land off Knightdale Bypass in the Wendell Falls development.

Ferguson, and WakeMed's Vice President of Ambulatory Services Carolyn Knaup, both blame rising interest rates for the decision to delay the purchase of the parcel.

"Until recently, they could sell bonds at two or three percent and now it's what? Eight or 9 percent," Ferguson said.

Knaup said the delay is simply a part of doing business. "We are managing our checkbook just like everyone else. The economy has hit healthcare, too. I think people think healthcare is immune to that, but it's not," Knaup said.

Both Ferguson and Knaup say they expect the project will be completed, but exactly when is uncertain. Plans originally called for construction to begin as early as this month.

But WakeMed's board of trustees decided to wait before they actually close on the sale of the land. Ferguson told Wendell planning board members last night that he expects the hospital board of trustees to act on the sale at its meeting next month. He said the sales contract calls for WakeMed to close on the property by the end of the year.

Knaup said she was not familiar with the particulars of the sales contract, but she said hospital trustees don't plan to revisit the project until the first quarter of 2009.

She also said the viability of the project depends on the number of homes in the service area.

"It's our understanding that the housing community that was planned there has taken a bit of a step back. Rooftops are vital for us. We need rooftops and people living under those roofs," Knaup said.

But Ferguson didn't indicate any slowdown on the part of the development process in Wendell Falls. He told the planning board that construction of Wendell Falls Parkway continues on schedule and builders have already claimed lots in three sections within the giant 4,000-home subdivision.

Still, he says WakeMed's decision doesn't surprise him.

"Wendell Falls is not surprised that WakeMed decided not to start in October, perhaps the worst financial month in recent history. But we hope they will start shortly," Ferguson said.