First opened in 1979, Medtrade will celebrate its 25th
anniversary this year as the largest international trade show for
the home health care industry. The gigantic expo and conference, to
be held Oct. 26-28 at the Orange County Convention Center in
Orlando, expects 250,000 products from 850 exhibitors to be on view
for an estimated 21,000 HME providers and other home care
professionals. Check the following pages for a preview of
schedules, special sessions and events that can help make the most
of your time at the show. For more information, visit www.medtrade.com or
call 800/933-8735.
Business Issues, Current Events On the Conference Schedule at
2004 Show
Meet the Experts Each Day with HomeCare
Along with the thousands of new products that will be on
display, providers can find out the latest on the home medical
equipment industry's challenges and changes at 180 educational
sessions during Medtrade 2004. With a concentration on current
topics, this year's conference program will focus on changing
regulations, reimbursement issues and other business conditions
that will affect home care companies.
If you want to improve your HME's business practices, then come
“Meet the Experts” with HomeCare at a panel
series sponsored by the magazine each morning of the show from 8:30
a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Providers will hear best practices in
reimbursement, sales and marketing, and legal and regulatory issues
from industry experts in these areas, many of them
HomeCare's columnists and Editorial Advisory Board
members.
“These ‘Best Practices’ panels will bring
together the top experts in HME to share their insights, discuss
current issues and field questions so attendees can learn the
latest trends and cutting-edge solutions,” according to Jack
Evans of Global Media Marketing.
“Meet the HME Experts in Reimbursement” will discuss
reimbursement strategies that work with HIPAA, Medicare audits and
fraud and abuse issues. Moderated by Bruce Brothis of Alternative
Billing Solutions, the panel includes HomeCare columnists
Jane Bunch of JB&CS and Miriam Lieber of Lieber Consulting,
along with Maureen Hanna of Healthcare Reimbursement
Consultants.
In “Meet the HME Experts in Sales & Marketing,”
HomeCare contributors Wallace Weeks of Weeks Group and Louis
Feuer of Dynamic Seminars & Consulting, plus Alison Cherney of
Cherney & Associates will present sales and marketing
strategies for maximizing sales-per-customer and net profits,
increasing ROI for advertising and building long-term relationships
with referral sources. Evans will moderate this panel.
With Moderator Jeff Baird of Brown & Fortunato, “Meet
the Experts in Legal & Regulatory Issues” will offer
advice in coping with surprise NSC inspections, Medicare
reimbursement cuts, the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) and
DOJ/OIG investigations of joint equity arrangements and marketing
programs. Panelists include HomeCare columnist Cara
Bachenheimer of Invacare, AAHomecare adviser Asela Cuervo and a
representative of CMS' Medicare program.
Other special conference sessions include AAHomecare's
“Washington Update,” which will offer an overview of
the legislative and regulatory issues that have rocked home care's
world over the last year. On Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 7:30 a.m., the
association will outline its plan for representing the industry in
Washington to members of Congress and government agencies, so get
up early and get involved.
On Thursday, Oct. 28, representatives from the Accreditation
Commission for Health Care (ACHC), the Community Health
Accreditation Program (CHAP) and the Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) will delve into
provider accreditation during Medtrade's “Accreditation
Summit.” Panelists will describe their accreditation
services, processes, benefits and costs, and discuss how each of
their programs can meet the needs of home health care companies
under MMA.
And, be sure to save a spot on your schedule for the
“Retail Design Workshop” led by Evans and Ed Lemar of
Gladson Store Design, two of the industry's leading retail
consultants and showroom design experts. Sponsored once again by
HomeCare, this special workshop will teach providers how to
transform their showrooms into inviting, open spaces that can work
to generate sales.
There are also a number of special events that can round out
your visit before and after the show.
On Monday, Oct. 25, Jane Bunch and Louis Feuer will put
attendees through “Billing and Sales Boot Camp.” Hear a
presentation about the challenges HME billing and sales departments
must address as they work together to build revenues, then spend
the rest of the day learning how to compete and getting the answers
you need from this dynamic duo. For more information on this
all-day special session, visit
target="_blank">www.jbcservices.com or call 678/445-1221.
Also on Monday, the Continuum of Care, presented by AAHomecare,
will offer continuing education credits for professionals in home
health nursing, rehab/assistive technology, respiratory
therapy/sleep-disordered breathing and prosthetics and orthotics.
For information on this workshop, visit www.aahomecare.org
or call 703/535-1887.
And on Friday, Oct. 29, the Rehabilitation Engineering and
Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) will
administer ATP, ATS and RET exams as part of the organization's
credentialing program. For more information or to register, visit
www.resna.org or
call 703/524-6686.
Conference Schedule At A Glance
Monday, October 25
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Medtrade Continuum of Care
1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
AAHomecare Golf Classic
Tuesday, October 26
7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Registration
7:30 a.m.-8:15 a.m.
Opening Sessions
8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Educational Seminars
10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Hours
Wednesday, October 27
7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Registration
7:30 a.m.-8:15 a.m.
Opening Sessions
8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Educational Seminars
10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Hours
Thursday, October 28
7:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Registration
8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Educational Seminars
10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Hours
Big Doin's in Orlando
Beyond the walls of the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando
has some BIG attractions and theme parks that can keep you
entertained for days. Visit their Web sites or call for more
information to plan your trip and find out more about the special
events, dining and exhibits that will be featured at each of the
locations below.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
888/800-5447
www.buschgardens.com
Discovery Cove
877/4-DISCOVERY
www.discoverycove.com
Kennedy Space Center
800/572-4636
www.kennedyspacecenter.com
Sea World Adventure Park
800/4-ADVENTURE, (407) 351-3600
www.seaworld.com
Universal Resort
407/363-8000
www.universalorlando.com
Walt Disney World Resort
407/939-6242
www.disneyworld.com
