Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions (Chicago), a provider of clinical software, connectivity and information solutions, said that the Nasdaq OMX Group has temporarily changed the company's ticker symbol to "MDRXD." It is anticipated that Nasdaq will change Allscripts' ticker back to "MDRX" on Oct. 20, the first trading day after the date on which the previously announced special cash dividend of $5.23 per share will be paid.

Encision to transfer to OTCBB

Encision (Boulder, Colorado), a company owning surgical technology that is emerging as a standard of care in minimally invasive surgery, said that it is in the process of transferring the quotation of its common stock to the OTC Bulletin Board and that it has identified a sponsoring market maker who will make an application to quote the common stock of Encision on the OTCBB. The company's directors, executives and 10% shareholders have filed information with the market maker.

President/CEO Jack Serino said, "The company is ... pursuing quotation of its common stock on the OTCBB. Until the market maker files the Form 211 and FINRA clears the company's common stock for quotation on the OTCBB we will, in the interim, trade on the Pink Sheets. The company will endeavor to operate in compliance with the reporting requirements for the OTCBB, which will include continuing to file with the SEC and all other applicable regulatory authorities."

Scient'x adds U.S., international facilities

Scient'x (Maitland, Florida), a maker of spinal implants and instrument systems, reported changes and additions to its U.S. and international facilities.

Scient'x is relocating its U.S. headquarters to West Chester, Pennsylvania, from Maitland, Florida, effective at the end of October. The new, larger facility will house both the commercial and operational components of the U.S. business. It will also have a dedicated laboratory and training facility capable of hosting surgeon and sales training, as well as supporting product development and testing.

"I am very excited about expansion of the U.S. operation," said President/CEO Michael Huggins. "Not only does it help us to better support our customers, it also provides us the opportunity to expand capacity and allows us to educate and train surgeons and sales professionals on both our technology and surgical solutions."

Scient'x also is adding a new educational facility in Beaurains, just north of Paris. This facility provides the ability to train up to 50 people at a time. It is anticipated to open before the end of the year.

Covidien launches Women in Surgery initiative

Covidien (Mansfield, Massachusetts) reported that it launched its Women in Surgery initiative at the American College of Surgeons (ACS; Chicago) meeting in San Francisco. The Covidien Women in Surgery program will champion and support current and future female surgeons at all stages of their careers to help address the growing need for surgeons in the U.S., the company said.

At the current rate of medical school admissions, the U.S. will experience a shortage of nearly 100,000 surgeons by 2020. Even as patient demand for female surgeons rises, the percentage of women surgeons remains disproportionately low at 13%, despite women representing nearly half of all medical school applicants.

"Our country's healthcare system will face a serious surgeon shortage if we do not act to fill the pipeline of surgeons by supporting young women who are interested in choosing surgery as their profession," said Barbara Bass, MD, a charter advisory council member. "There's a clear need for an environment that encourages women to become surgeons, supports them as they develop and, in the long-term, lays the foundation for a new generation of women surgeons in America."

Kindred Healthcare opens Florida hospitals

Kindred Healthcare (Louisville, Kentucky) reported the opening of Kindred Hospital the Palm Beaches in Palm Beach County, Florida, and reported plans for a new freestanding hospital in Melbourne, Florida.

"We are excited about these new hospitals in Palm Beach County and Melbourne, Florida," said President/CEO Paul Diaz. "These hospitals will further our strategic growth plans and provide new opportunities to expand in markets that need our high-quality, post-acute services."

Kindred Healthcare is a healthcare services company.

Wound Management hires IM

Wound Management Technologies (Fort Worth, Texas) said it has engaged International Monetary (IM) as its investor relations & strategic advisory firm to provide investor relations services, public relations services, and advise the company's management on other strategic decisions.

"IM has a direct connection to the investment community which will help us quickly move forward with our strategy," said President/CEO Scott Haire. "Their vast experience will aid in our overall market support, which is where we have needed some more substantial professional help in the past."

Exiqon named U.S. diagnostic subsidiary

Exiqon (Copenhagen, Denmark) reported the adoption of the name Exiqon Diagnostics for its U.S. subsidiary to signal the company's commitment to expanding its business to a broad offering in molecular and cellular-based diagnostics that guide treatment decisions in oncology.

The company says that this change will demonstrate the continuity of the Exiqon organization and is an important symbol of Exiqon's commitment to transform Oncotech from its leading position in chemotherapy resistance testing to being the leader in personalized cancer diagnostics with a broad menu of molecular and cellular based assays for solid tumor diagnostics.

"We are excited to adopt this name for our business, as it will show to our customers and their patients that Oncotech is undergoing a positive transformation that will lead to a more valuable and comprehensive offering," said President/CEO Lars Kongsbak.

Henry Schein partners in breast cancer awareness

Henry Schein (Melville, New York) has partnered with the American Cancer Society (Atlanta) for the third annual "Think Pink, Practice Pink" program to raise awareness and support a cure for breast cancer, an initiative of Henry Schein Cares, the company's global social responsibility program.

The "Think Pink, Practice Pink" campaign has been launched to hundreds of thousands of Henry Schein dental and medical customers. Henry Schein is offering a selection of "pink" merchandise, produced by the company's many participating supplier partners.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these products will be donated to the American Cancer Society for lifesaving research, prevention and early detection of the disease, and to support programs for thousands of cancer patients and their families. The "Think Pink, Practice Pink" program runs from Oct. 1 to Dec. 19.

Chicago Proton Company previews cyclotron

Officials from Northern Illinois Proton Treatment and Research Center (NIPTRC; Chicago) and Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, Illinois) visited the production facility of Varian/ACCEL (Cologne, Germany) to observe construction of the massive cyclotron being developed and built for the $160 million NIPTRC facility planned for West Chicago, Illinois.

The unit will be used to deliver state of the art proton beams to cancer patients during radiation therapy when the facility opens in 2010.

"We are delighted with the progress being made on the NIPTRC cyclotron and fully expect the unit will be delivered on time and budget to its home in West Chicago, sometime in the spring of 2009," said NIPTRC Executive Director John Lewis.

"This is an important trip for everyone involved in this project because the cyclotron is the most critical piece of equipment needed in developing a proton therapy center," said Lewis. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with international leaders in the proton therapy field in order to bring the best treatment and research center to Chicagoland."

Covidien launches Women in Surgery initiative

Covidien (Mansfield, Massachusetts) reported that it launched its Women in Surgery initiative at the American College of Surgeons (ACS; Chicago) meeting in San Francisco. The Covidien Women in Surgery program will champion and support current and future female surgeons at all stages of their careers to help address the growing need for surgeons in the U.S., the company said.

At the current rate of medical school admissions, the U.S. will experience a shortage of nearly 100,000 surgeons by 2020. Even as patient demand for female surgeons rises, the percentage of women surgeons remains disproportionately low at 13%, despite women representing nearly half of all medical school applicants.

"Our country's healthcare system will face a serious surgeon shortage if we do not act to fill the pipeline of surgeons by supporting young women who are interested in choosing surgery as their profession," said Barbara Bass, MD, a charter advisory council member. "There's a clear need for an environment that encourages women to become surgeons, supports them as they develop and, in the long-term, lays the foundation for a new generation of women surgeons in America."

Kindred Healthcare opens Florida hospitals

Kindred Healthcare (Louisville, Kentucky) reported the opening of Kindred Hospital the Palm Beaches in Palm Beach County, Florida, and reported plans for a new freestanding hospital in Melbourne, Florida.

"We are excited about these new hospitals in Palm Beach County and Melbourne, Florida," said President/CEO Paul Diaz. "These hospitals will further our strategic growth plans and provide new opportunities to expand in markets that need our high-quality, post-acute services."

Kindred Healthcare is a healthcare services company.