Down South

• By Bill Lozon, Pamela Friedman
• Sep 01, 2001

The fall buying event for the home health care industry will reconvene when Medtrade 2001 kicks off Oct. 23-25 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The conference is designed to educate home health care professionals about trends and new technologies, while also offering educational resources on subjects related to the industry such as the upcoming HIPAA regulations and reimbursement. The show offers a comprehensive line-up of events that will undoubtedly attract an even larger audience than in previous years.

Who Should Attend

Attending Medtrade 2001 is an important investment for any home health care professional to make. The show is designed to help build business, increase revenue and improve clinical skills-all in one conference. From the new products to the seminars, attendees will find three days full of important information and exciting technology.

The show offers a comprehensive line-up of events that will no doubt attract an even larger audience than in previous years.

Anyone interested in the home health care arena should make plans to visit Medtrade 2001. These groups include home health care owners or managers, clinical personnel as well as sales and marketing staff. Rehabilitation professionals, such as occupational therapists, physicians and physical therapists also will find relevant subject matter at the conference. Home medical equipment dealers, manufacturers and sales representatives will discover that Medtrade offers the perfect backdrop to developing clientele and networking with other professionals in the industry.

Professionals, such as case managers and nurses as well as delivery technicians and home health care consultants can take the opportunity to view new products that may help some of their patients or take advantage of the many learning opportunities Medtrade has to offer.

How Do You Attend?

VNU Expositions, Atlanta, Ga., has reconstructed its Web site to offer the many parties interested in attending Medtrade 2001 a wide variety of options. This year's conference program can be found at www.medtrade.com well in advance, and attendees can download, print and review conference proceedings prior to the show-an advantageous edge for getting the most out of Medtrade.

The Web site also allows users to register for the conference online, making registration and attendance as simple as possible. The company is offering a chance to win two roundtrip airline tickets for travel in the United States-with some restrictions-to those who register online.

If the information desired cannot be found on the Web site, questions may be directed to (877) 693-1013, or international attendees may call (972) 906-6800. Registration forms also can be mailed or faxed.

Why Should You Attend?

Anticipating the announcement of new products is a very important reason for attending Medtrade. The New Product Pavilion is only a small example of the innovative technologies manufacturers' are using to develop home health products. With more than 1,100 exhibitors, conference attendees will have ample opportunity to view modifications to products and learn about various new products in the home health care market.

Some of the diverse products that will be exhibited at Medtrade include: mobility products, respiratory systems, wound care, aids to daily living, rehabilitation, computer systems and

Attending Medtrade 2001 is an important investment any home health care professional can make.

software for monitoring and reimbursement. Many manufacturers also offer special pricing available only at the exposition.

While the products sometimes seem to steal the show at Medtrade, recently, many educational programs and seminars have been added to cater to the diverse groups of attendees. Sales and marketing programs are designed to help manage sales efforts and reach new customers. Clinical programs on wound care management, mapping, treatment and diagnosis are always full of information as the wound care market continues to grow due to the many chronic conditions being diagnosed.

The conference and exposition also offer an opportunity to network with potential customers and other professionals in the industry. This is one way that manufacturers and dealers can see what their competitors are doing as well as confer with clients to discover their needs.

This year also marks the third annual Kick-off Reception at Medtrade. The reception will take place in the La Louisiane Ballroom of the convention center on Tuesday, Oct. 23 from 5 p.m to 6:30 p.m. Attendees will find this offers an enjoyable opportunity to cut loose, relax and enjoy live entertainment, an open bar and light hors d'oeuvres.

Need More?

If Medtrade's in-depth seminars and extensive display of products are not enough to entice attendees, then the backdrop for Medtrade surely will-New Orleans. Down south, attendees will find ample opportunity for adventure and entertainment after the show closes.

Known for its cultural atmosphere, New Orleans has a variety of entertaining venues for conferences attendees. Restaurants such as Arnauds, which serves classic Creole dishes, will satisfy the palate of any patron. Ember's Steak House not only serves up delicious steaks and local specialties such as soft shell crabs, but it also overlooks historic Bourbon Street. Antoine's Restaurant has been serving up delicious dishes for years in the French Quarter.

Whether you are in New Orleans for business or pleasure, you will not run out of things to do. The city is home to several art and antique stores and points of interest, such as Pontchartrain Vineyards where guests are welcome to visit the winery, tasting room and vineyards. Shopping in the Garden District also offers ample opportunity to see some of the local flavor of New Orleans. Rivertown, located in Kenner's Historic District, features 12 museums and attractions.

For those interested in nightlife, there are several casinos, such as Bally's and Harrah's. The French Quarter and Bourbon Street are home to many bars and nightclubs where jazz and blues fans can sit back and enjoy the ambience.

However long your stay in New Orleans, take time to learn what you can at the Medtrade conference and then head out for some good 'ol fashion fun, down south.

This article originally appeared in the September 2001 issue of HME Business.