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.

Lunch and Learn sessions strip away the stiffness of a formal presentation, and replace it with a conversation that puts HME professionals at ease and fosters opportunities for exchange and growth.

“The facilitators are not only exceedingly knowledgeable in their fields, but they also have the ability to initiate conversations that result in providers sharing their perspectives and their experiences in their markets,” Gaffney said. “Participants have the ability to learn what works and what doesn’t in an energetic and open environment.”

Competitive Bidding

The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) has remained a consistent part of Medtrade conferences, but 2012 may see this organization taking more of the spotlight. HME providers have competitive bidding on their minds, accompanied by an even more pressing question: What does it mean for my business?

AAHomecare’s Washington Update and Medtrade’s Competitive Bidding Central will deal with this question, as uncertainty about competitive bidding runs high.
Both programs will help providers prepare their businesses for the repercussions of competitive bidding.

“There will be a strong focus on competitive bidding, as this issue continues to impact the entire industry,” Gaffney said. “Updates on the program will be timely and will include strategies providers need to undertake to determine if and how they will participate.”

What Happens in Vegas…

The marketing slogan “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” may be true for The Strip, but not for Medtrade Spring. Attendees will likely leave the desert city informed, inspired and itching to apply what they have learned.

“We hope attendees will learn the things that will help them continue to grow their businesses and care for those they serve, and meet the people that can help them do both more effectively,” Gaffney said.

Medtrade Spring Show Schedule

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

8 a.m. – noon
Pre-Show Seminars
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch & Learn Session
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Conference Sessions
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Conference Sessions
4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Conference Sessions
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
AAHomecare’s Stand Up for Homecare Reception

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

8 a.m. – 9 a.m.
Conference Sessions
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Conference Sessions
10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Expo Show Floor hours
1:30 p.m. –  2:30 p.m.
AAHomecare’s Washington Update
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Conference Sessions

Thursday, April 12, 2012

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Conference Sessions
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Conference Sessions
10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Expo Show Floor hours

HomeCare February 2012