By Marissa Creamer
Rowan Public Library
It seems the more I hear about health care reform, the more confused I get.
There are so many contradictory statements, it’s hard to know what to believe, and the issue has become so charged with emotion, it’s hard to find a balanced viewpoint.Fortunately, NC Health Info has developed a page of health care reform information on their Web site, www.nchealthinfo.org. NC Health Info is an online guide to Web sites of quality health and medical information and local health services throughout North Carolina.The links on this site are selected and maintained by North Carolina librarians, and they lead users to resources that are reliable and easy to understand.
The health-care reform information page provides links to a wealth of information, including a comparison of major health-care reform proposals provided by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit, private operating foundation focusing on the major health care issues facing the U.S.The foundation serves as “a non-partisan source of facts, information and analysis for policymakers, the media, the healthcare community, and the public.” You can download a printable version of the two Congressional authorizing committee proposals, or a side-by-side comparison of all proposals and topics. Or generate your own comparison by choosing from a list of the leading reform proposals, then specific topics for comparison, such as individual mandate and long-term care. This comparison will be updated regularly to reflect changes in the proposals and to incorporate major new proposals as they are announced.
Another link provided is to www.FactCheck.org, “a non-partisan, non-profit ‘consumer advocate’ for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.” FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, and monitors the “factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases.”
This is a good place to check the validity of those alarming e-mails that are so widespread. Regarding a particular e-mail which lists 48 assertions about the House health care bill, it was found that 26 of the claims were false, 18 were misleading and only four were accurate.
NC Health Info also provides links to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the RAND Corporation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, among other reliable sources of information.
Visit www.nchealthinfo.org to find the answers to your questions about health-care reform. If you don’t have Internet access at home, come to the closest branch of Rowan Public Library.
Computer classes: Classes are free. Sessions are 90 minutes long. Class size is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Dates and times are subject to change without notice.
Headquarters ó Monday, 7 p.m., Access: Beyond the Basics; Thursday, 2:30 p.m., Absolute Beginners Internet Searching.
East ó Tuesday, 1 p.m., Basic Windows.
Teen program: Come to the library to create a denim locker pocket or marble magnet. For information, call 704-216-8234. East, Monday, 5:30-7 p.m.; South, Monday, 5-6:30 p.m.; headquarters, Sept. 28, 5:30-7 p.m.
Tuesday Night at the Movies: All movies are at 6:30 p.m. All movies are rated G, PG or PG 13. Children should be accompanied by an adult. Free popcorn and lemonade.
September’s movies celebrate the birthday of author Roald Dahl.
Tuesday, “Matilda”; Sept. 29, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Displays: Headquarters ó Hispanic Coalition and Blues and Jazz Festival; South ó Hispanic heritage by Suzanne White. East ó Folk art by Tim and Lisa Kluttz.Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.
Children’s storytime: Through Nov. 19, weekly story time. for more information, call 704-216-8234.
Headquarters ó Tiny Tots (infants-23 months), Wednesdays, 11 a.m.; Toddler Time (2 years), Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.; Preschool Time (3-5-year-olds), Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.; Noodlehead (4-8 years), Thursdays, 4 p.m.
South ó Preschool Time, Mondays, 10:30 a.m.; Noodlehead, Mondays, 4 p.m.; Toddler Time, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.; Baby Time, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
East ó Toddler Time, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.; Preschool Time, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.; Baby Time, Thursdays, 11 a.m.