Retail-ready wares take center stage
by HomeCare Editors

The competition was tight at Medtrade 2018. For companies with new products in the home medical equipment industry, Medtrade is the place to be seen and get the word out about product innovation.

Providers with retail-ready wares stated their case in the Innovative HME Retail Awards on October 15 before a panel of three judges. Moderated by Rob Baumhover of VGM Retail, the seven finalists had to also impress the packed room of attendees, who submitted their votes for the top three. (See the full Product Showcase and finalists).

The winners are:

First Place: Convexity Scientific with the Flyp Nebulizer, a pocket nebulizer that fits the patient’s life.

flypInnovative HME Retail Award First Place: Convexity Scientific with the Flyp Nebulizer. Pictured are HomeCare’s Liz Carey, Geoffrey Matous and Jenna Bulmahn from Convexity Scientific, and Kevin Gaffney of Medtrade.

Second Place: Triple W with the DFree, a wearable device that predicts when someone needs to use the bathroom, helping reduce the need for diapers.

dfreeInnovative HME Retail Award Second Place: Triple W with the DFree. Pictured are HomeCare’s Liz Carey with Atsushi Nakanishi of Triple W and Kevin Gaffney of Medtrade.

Third Place: Pride Mobility Products with the Jazzy Air 2, the newest version of the Jazzy Air power wheelchair.

jazzy airInnovative HME Retail Award Third Place: Pride Mobility Products’ Jazzy Air 2. Pictured are Renae Storie and Micah Swick from Pride, Medtrade’s Kevin Gaffney and HomeCare’s Liz Carey.

In the New Product Pavilion, Medtrade attendees can find the latest products and services for the industry. This year’s entries did not disappoint, with everything from fall safety mats to patient-engagement software solutions on display. Providers at the conference voted for their favorite new solutions, and three winners were named at the show:

Providers’ Choice Winners

Gold: CAIRE with the FreeStyle Comfort portable oxygen concentrator. The POC weighs only five pounds and has an ergonomic curved shell, with up to eight hours of battery charge.

CAIREProviders’ Choice Gold winner: The CAIRE FreeStyle Comfort portable oxygen concentrator. Pictured are George Coppola of CAIRE with Kevin Gaffney of Medtrade and Liz Carey of HomeCare magazine.

Silver: ABELY LLC with the Abelift Recliner that makes any bed an adjustable bed.

AbelyProviders’ Choice Silver winner: ABELY LLC with its Abelift Recliner. Pictured is CEO Sabrine Hairabedian (center) with Medtrade’s Kevin Gaffney and HomeCare’s Liz Carey.

Bronze: 3B Medical with the Lumin Bullet CPAP Hose Cleaner. The stand-alone accessory to the Lumin floats through the CPAP hose, sanitizing it with UVC light.

3BProviders’ Choice Bronze winner: 3B Medical with its Lumin Bullet CPAP Hose Cleaner. Pictured is Lauren Zito and Angela Giudice (centered left, right) with HomeCare’s Liz Carey and Medtrade’s Kevin Gaffney.