Medtrade 2005 Opens in Atlanta; VNU Moves 2006 Show Date

ATLANTA–When Medtrade opens its exhibit hall tomorrow,
providers not only will be scouting the trade show floor for the
latest home medical products but many also will be searching for
answers on how to cope with Medicare’s changing environment to keep
their businesses going strong.

The Georgia World Congress Center is expected to host more than
20,000 home care professionals Tuesday through Thursday for the
26th annual expo and conference, the industry’s largest of the
year.

With 170 sessions, educational tracks on the Medtrade schedule
include accreditation; business operations/customer service; home
health/clinical issues; information technology; legislative and
legal issues, pharmacy; professional motivation; rehabilitation and
assistive technology; reimbursement and sales and marketing. This
year, show organizers also will debut three new tracks: mergers and
acquisitions, sleep-disordered breathing and oxygen/respiratory
issues. Sessions begin at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 8:30
a.m. Thursday.

On the show floor, 900 exhibitors will showcase an estimated
250,000 home medical products and services. Exhibit hours are 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday. For a full conference schedule, visit www.medtrade.com or call (800)
933-8735.

And if you’re working on your calendar for next year, make a
note that Medtrade will be held earlier than originally planned,
trade show organizer VNU Expositions announced last week. Citing a
conflict with religious holidays, the company said it is moving
Medtrade from October to Sept. 19-21, 2006, although the show will
remain at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

Medtrade Spring will not be affected and will take place as
originally scheduled March 21-23, 2006, at the Las Vegas Convention
Center.

If you will be attending Medtrade, we hope you’ll join
HomeCare for the Medtrade Welcome Reception & Awards
Ceremony on Tuesday night, Oct. 18, at 5:30 p.m. in the Thomas
Murphy Ballroom, where the magazine will present its 2005
HomeCaring Awards(TM), given in recognition of distinguished
service to the home medical equipment industry. The $30 ticket
price includes food and beverages, and proceeds will be donated to
the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Tickets will be available at the
door.

While you’re on the floor, stop by to meet the HomeCare
staff at Booth 3129 and sign up for a FREE subscription.