The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Cleveland Clinic are teaming up to raise awareness about deep brain stimulation (DBS) and its impact on Americans with neurological disorders and disabilities. The HHS Office on Disability and the clinic's Center for Neurological Restoration will hold a conference on May 6 to focus on the impact brain pacemakers (DBS) have on patients' quality of life, level of functioning and return to work.

Topics will also include improving access to care, encouraging medical innovation and research and examining ethical considerations.

Currently, DBS is approved by HHS' FDA for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and dystonia, with data emerging regarding its benefit in treating patients with obsessive compulsive disorder, depression and most recently, traumatic brain injury.

"We are approaching a defining moment in the neurological field," said Ali Rezai, MD, director of the Center for Neurological Restoration at the Cleveland Clinic and meeting co-chair. "This is the beginning of a new era for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders. DBS technology continues to improve, and we are encouraged by the results in patients."


Ventas moves HQ to Chicago

Ventas (Louisville, Kentucky) said that, effective with its May 19 annual meeting of shareholders, the company's headquarters will be located in Chicago.

"As a $10 billion, NYSE-listed real estate investment trust with assets in two countries and 43 states, we believe that identifying Chicago as our headquarters will provide ... increased visibility and access to the city's robust real estate community, including other REITs, private real estate companies and real estate investors important to our success," Debra Cafaro, president/CEO and chairman of Ventas, said.

Ventas said its Louisville office, its previous corporate headquarters, will continue as the company's largest location. Three of the five members of the company's management committee and more than 60% of its employees will remain in Louisville.

The company said it recently agreed to expand its Louisville office space by about 50% to provide capacity for its growing workforce there.


Take Care opens Palm Beach stores

Take Care Health Systems (West Palm Beach, Florida), a manager of convenient-care clinics and a subsidiary of Walgreens (Deerfield, Illinois), has opened five Take Care Health Clinics at Walgreens drugstores in the West Palm Beach area.

The clinics are walk-in centers open seven days a week, with extended evening and weekend hours. One additional clinic will open later in the West Palm Beach area.

West Palm Beach is the fourth Florida market with Take Care Health Clinics, joining Miami, Orlando and Tampa. Take Care said it plans to have more than 400 clinics open at Walgreens stores by year's end.

"Take Care Health Clinics have been incredibly well-received in our existing Florida markets and across the country, with more than 475,000 patients treated since November 2005 and exceedingly high patient satisfaction ratings," said President/CEO Peter Miller. Take Care Health Systems (West Palm Beach, Florida), a manager of convenient-care clinics and a subsidiary of Walgreens (Deerfield, Illinois), has opened five Take Care Health Clinics at Walgreens drugstores in the West Palm Beach area.

The clinics are walk-in centers open seven days a week, with extended evening and weekend hours. One additional clinic will open later in the West Palm Beach area.

West Palm Beach is the fourth Florida market with Take Care Health Clinics, joining Miami, Orlando and Tampa. Take Care said it plans to have more than 400 clinics open at Walgreens stores by year's end.

"Take Care Health Clinics have been incredibly well-received in our existing Florida markets and across the country, with more than 475,000 patients treated since November 2005 and exceedingly high patient satisfaction ratings," said President/CEO Peter Miller.


VitalCare to open new diabetes centers

VitalCare Diabetes Treatment Centers (Carson City, Nevada) reported signing a letter of intent to open two new diabetes treatment and wound care centers in Indiana. The centers will be administering the iCAT treatment for diabetes and related wound care for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes patients. These are the first of a series of centers to be opened in the Midwest.

The centers in Peru and Indianapolis were picked for their strategic locations and capacity for growth.

VitalCare Diabetes Treatment Centers specializes in providing administrative, marketing, business development, strategic planning, clinical oversight and clinical management services to the diabetes sector.


Concerro new name for BidShift

BidShift (Seattle), a provider of staffing solutions for healthcare organizations, said that the company has changed its name to Concerro, and that Concerro is introducing "Excellence in Staffing, powered by HealthStaff 2.0," a new healthcare staffing platform.

Graham Barnes, CEO of Concerro, said, "Our mission is to facilitate self-organization and collective intelligence that will empower healthcare workers in the areas of informed staffing and enterprise-wide communication via a Web 2.0 platform."