Beginning the show each morning of Medtrade 2003, HomeCare magazine will sponsor an opening session designed to get your day going with a focus on the future. These information-packed daily seminars will spotlight legislative issues, business forecasting and strategies for professional achievement that will keep you informed, get you prepared and move you toward success in home health care's changing landscape.

First up on Thursday, Oct. 9, the American Association for Homecare will present its “Washington Update,” where you will learn about the association's fight against competitive bidding and other reimbursement-reducing legislation currently facing the industry. Never before has it been so important to understand how decisions in Washington can affect your company. Hear first-hand what issues are being discussed, what they mean for you, and what steps you can take to protect your business.

On Friday, Oct. 10, glimpse the future for home health care in The Weeks Group's “Outlook for HME: 2004-2008.” In this research-based industry forecast, HME providers will be privy to market growth information that can be used to set business goals and put long-range plans in place.

By incorporating research statistics a-long with personal interviews for this strategic report, company President Wallace Weeks and his competitive intelligence team address market growth, the bargaining power of buyers and suppliers, competition and regulatory issues.

Which product lines will grow the fastest in the next five years? What will the demographics of patients/customers be? How will distribution of products and services change? What developing technologies and treatments may replace current methods? And what factors will contribute to a growth rate of more than 10 percent in DME spending? Hear the answers in this important session, and find out why the HME industry has so much to be optimistic about.

Get moving on Saturday, Oct. 11, with small business guru and management expert Timothy S. Mescon, Ph.D., in a session he calls “Size May Not Matter: Winning in a Challenging, Competitive Market.”

The challenges are everywhere: Medicare reform, reimbursement cuts, shrinking margins and the prospect of bidding for business. According to Dr. Mescon, winning in this tough, uncertain environment is a function of the fundamentals that have distinguished entrepreneurs and independent businesses for decades. In HME today, it's about speed, agility and responsiveness to the market. In the old days, big beat small; today, fast beats slow. As a provider, that can be your company's advantage. Find out how in this informative, entertaining session.

A speaker, facilitator and consultant, Dr. Mescon provides 21st century thinking in the areas of business strategy, customer service, leadership and optimum performance to executives, managers and employees throughout the world.

The author of more than 300 articles and several books on business management, Dr. Mescon serves as dean of the Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University, which has been recognized by Success magazine and U.S. News and World Report as having one of the leading entrepreneurship programs in the nation. He is a contributing writer for the Atlanta Business Chronicle and Delta Air Lines' SKY magazine.

At Medtrade 2003 and HomeCare's opening sessions, the early bird gets the information. All three daily sessions will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. in rooms B 401-402 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

So get up, get motivated and get the information you need to keep your business on track.

We'll see you there!

Schedule at a Glance

  • Tuesday, Oct. 7

    Billing Boot Camp 8:00 a.m. — 5:15 p.m.

  • Wednesday, Oct. 8

    Medtrade Continuum of Care 8:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.

    AAHomecare Golf Classic 1:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.

  • Thursday, Oct. 9

    Registration 7:00 a.m. — 5:00p.m.

    Opening Session 7:30 a.m. — 8:15 a.m.

    AAHomecare's Washington Update Sponsored by HomeCare

    Educational Seminars 8:30 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.

    Exhibit Hall 10:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.

    Kick-off Event 5:30 p.m. — 7:00 p.m.

  • Friday, Oct. 10

    Registration 7:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.

    Opening Session 7:30 a.m. — 8:15 a.m.

    The Weeks Group's Outlook for HME 2004-2008 Sponsored by HomeCare

    Educational Seminars 8:30 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.

    Exhibit Hall 10:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.

  • Saturday, Oct. 11

    Registration 7:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m.

    Opening Session 7:30 a.m. — 8:15 a.m.

    Dr. Timothy S. Mescon - Size May Not Matter Sponsored by HomeCare

    Educational Seminars 8:30 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.

    Exhibit Hall 10:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.