Medtrade Spring Preview

The comedians and magicians of Las Vegas will be sharing the marquees in a few months with a different kind of event when Medtrade Spring returns to the Sands Expo and Convention Center from April 10-12.

The sheer size of the conference is the big attraction, with nearly 315 exhibitors expected to register for conference booths. Attendees will give the conference its real people power, as organizers anticipate that about 4,500 will attend Medtrade Spring this year.

The spring conference is one of two gatherings held every year by Nielsen Business Media to foster networking and continued education in the HME industry. Apart from its regular sessions, the spring conference offers a variety of events to engage HME professionals. Here are a few of them:

Pre-Show Seminars

Before the expo starts, seven pre-show seminars are scheduled. These educational workshops provide a solid start to a prominent theme of the conference: continuing education.

Pre-show seminars will focus on “best business practices, from operations to clinical care to emerging trends in reimbursement and retail-based sales,” says Kevin Gaffney, director for Medtrade Spring and its big sister show, Medtrade Fall in Atlanta.

This year’s early seminars also will include presentations on audits, competitive bidding and reducing operating costs. Topics all revolve around the same question: How can I get my business to work for me?

Lunch and Learn Sessions

Last spring, Medtrade 2011 added Lunch and Learn sessions, and they  “exceeded our expectations,’’ Gaffney said. In fact, organizers had to close registration for Lunch and Learn sessions when demand exceeded capacity.

“Feedback from our attendees indicated that they were looking for more interactive education opportunities and had a strong desire to have more time to learn from each other,” Gaffney said.

Lunch and Learn sessions filled the bill, and will return for 2012’s first conference. Their success may make them a permanent addition to the Medtrade repertoire.

Lunch and Learn sessions are exactly what their name suggests. Registered attendees pick up a box lunch and gather for round table discussions. The discussions have a moderator, but the real allure is the freedom and informality. Providers can engage each other and learn from each other’s successes and mistakes.