Watch the Bird-ie

Tapped as Medtrade group show director in July — with only three months to go until the fall expo and preparations underway for Medtrade Spring in a new location — Kevin Bird admits that tackling the job has not been his easiest challenge. But he’s ready.

The 29-year-old Bird, who lives in Atlanta with wife Jennifer and 23-month-old daughter Alexis, has been with the show’s producers since 1998. He has worked with Medtrade in various positions since 2000, most recently as national sales director. So Bird understands the ins and outs of HME — and the industry’s current tumultuous conditions.

“Despite the lobbying efforts of AAHomecare and other organizations, competitive bidding is here, and that’s the reality … I know competitive bidding is going to be a huge knock, but I also believe we are a strong industry, and if you have the will to survive, you can find other avenues to keep your business alive,” Bird says.

He intends to make sure providers can find those avenues at Medtrade, Bird adds, noting that the show will continue its dual role as both a buying and educational event. “Our goal has always been to provide the industry with an event that will give providers the education they need as well as the ability to meet with their manufacturers and to find out about new products on the show floor.

“That, in a nutshell, is Medtrade, and that’s what it’s always going to be,” he states.

According to Bird, with the advent of competitive bidding there are going to be two kinds of providers: “those with contracts and those without.” While in previous years providers have attended Medtrade to hunt down products, Bird says, “this year, in my estimation, they are coming to find out what their future is.”

And it’s not only providers who are worried, he points out; the show’s exhibitors are facing major changes themselves. “The concerns for providers are concerns for manufacturers as well,” Bird says. “[With the government] paying less per item, manufacturers are going to have to produce more of an item to get the same profit.”

But he aims to address exhibitors’ needs, too, by broadening Medtrade’s audience. “Our drive for the future will be to bring in referral sources, like clinicians, and provide the education that they need to get them here. We have already started that with NRRTS,” he notes. The organization will facilitate the show’s rehab track this year wtih 16 sessions.

Over the past several years, the show has also beefed up its offering of service companies to help providers wring additional costs from their businesses. “We actually saw this coming and made a push to bring in software and business services companies. I have to say we were ahead of the curve on that one,” Bird says.

With sleep market growth predicted in the double digits, the show will include a large contingent of sleep therapy exhibitors. “And,” Bird says, “anything on the retail side is huge right now,” so attendees will see a number of vendors in that area. He points to products like stair lifts that are making a comeback at the show as providers search for items that will attract new customers and boost revenues.

Looking ahead to 2008 and Medtrade Spring, Bird acknowledges complaints about the change of venue from Las Vegas to Long Beach, Calif. However, he says, the decision to move the show was made several years ago “because Las Vegas will be doing some renovations and we had to find a new home.

“California is a hotbed for HME, so Long Beach was a natural decision,” he continues. “Nielsen (Medtrade’s parent company) does numerous trade shows there, and it is a beautiful city. You can go down to Citywalk, and everyone there will be with Medtrade,” he predicts. “With the size of Medtrade Spring, HME will own the town.”

Medtrade and Medtrade Spring “will evolve just like the industry,” says Bird.

“This is not a static industry. It’s going to change, and you have to be willing to change your direction along with it.” That’s what Medtrade will do, Bird sums up, “and that’s what will make it successful.”

Schedule At-A-Glance

Monday, October 1

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
AAHomecare’s Continuum of Care Conference

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
AAHomecare’s Reimbursement Conference

Tuesday, October 2

7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration

8:30 a.m. – Noon
Concurrent Educational Sessions

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Open

Wednesday, October 3

7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration

8:30 a.m. – Noon
Concurrent Educational Sessions

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Open

Thursday, October 4

7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Registration

8:30 a.m. – Noon
Concurrent Educational Sessions

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Open

Medtrade 2007 Session Tracks

• Accreditation
• Business Operations
• Home Health Nursing/Clinical
• Industry Updates
• Information Technology
• Leadership & Staff Development
• Legislative & Regulatory Issues
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• NRRTS Best Rehab
• Oxygen/Respiratory Issues
• Reimbursement
• Sales & Marketing
• Sleep-Disordered Breathing

For complete schedule information and conference descriptions, visit www.medtrade.com