Medtrade Preview

Keeping Pace with Change

Another installment of Medtrade should offer providers a complete education program.

• By David Kopf
• Sep 01, 2016

Once again, the home medical equipment rounds the bend on another year, and is facing new challenges and new opportunities. And once again, another Medtrade is keeping pace with the industry, offering an education program and other features that should help providers adjust and grow until another year is past. In addition to that the show is offering some serious social outlets that provide an opportunity to network and take in some serious entertainment.

Slated for Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 at what’s beginning to feel like the show’s home, Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center, Emerald Expositions says the show’s educational advisory board (EAB) has been reviewing Medtrade feedback in an effort to ensure the show’s curriculum adjusts to the changing times.

The show’s lineup of conference tracks includes an all-new Executive Leadership track that aims to offer expert advice to HME executives. In addition to that, the show features additional sessions on:

• Audits
• Business operations
• Competitive bidding
• Legal issues
• Medicare updates
• Retail
• Sales and marketing
• Strategic planning

All told, there will be 86 education sessions across that range of topics. In addition to the regular tracks, the show will feature several in-depth workshops on Mon., Oct. 31:

• Mission Possible – Mobility and Respiratory Reimbursement, which will be presented by VGM Group’s Dan Fedor, compliance director, and Ronda Buhrmester, reimbursement specialist.
• Brightree’s Annual Summit, which is running under the theme of Get Connected this year. The event is geared to give Brightree users a chance to hear from industry peers and learn Brightree best practices.
• A compression fitters course, Medical Compression 101, presented by Cindy Anderson, returns/product training manager for compression garment maker Juzo Inc.
• An Introduction to the Certified Durable Medical Equipment Specialist (CDME) designation by BOC’s Cynthia Tolson, business development manager, and Michelle Yoon, credentialing manager.
• A Better Way to Manage Medical Document Compliancy, presented by Joe Simanton, senior product owner for Computers Unlimited/TIMS Software.
• HME Sales Training & Certification, a two-day workshop presented by Mike Sperduti, CEO of Mike Sperduti Companies, and Mike Strange, vice president of Emerge Sales Inc.
• Taking a Deep Dive to Understand Payor Development Opportunities for the HME Provider, presented by The MED Group’s Rhonda Hines, vice president, and Jeff Woodham, senior vice president.
• The HME D-League: Professional Development for the HME Executive, presented by Laboratory Tactical Consulting.

Networking and Social Events

In addition to the educational events, this year’s Medtrade offers some familiar networking venues, as well as exciting entertainment. Looking at social gatherings, the show’s highlights include:

• The Audit “Happy” Hour on Oct. 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., sponsored by ECS Billing & Consulting North; Mediware; and Pride Mobility.
• First-time attendee orientation on Nov. 1 from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.
• The American Association for Homecare Washington Update on Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
• The Innovative HME Retail Product Awards on Nov. 1 form 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Stand Up for Homecare on Nov. 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Additionally, The United States Power Soccer Association returns to Medtrade to play on Nov. 1, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. The event will take place on the Medtrade show floor at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Power Soccer is the first competitive team sport designed and developed specifically for power wheelchair users. Athletes’ disabilities include quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and many others. The game is usually played in a gymnasium on a regulation basketball court. Two teams of four players attack, defend, and spin-kick a 13-inch soccer ball in a skilled and challenging game similar to able-bodied soccer.

The USPSA has played at the show before and the contest of skill and teamwork is worth checking out.

Other Expo Highlights

In addition to the Nov. 1 USPSA action, the expo floor offers some additional highlights:

• The New Product Pavilion, which features innovative HME products that have been on the market for less than one year. Attendees of Medtrade vote on these products for three Providers’ Choice awards.
• Ideas in Caretail, a special display that will showcase point-of-purchase (POP) displays that are either vendor supplied or racks that providers can fill with your choice of products to create a custom POP display.
• A Team USA Power Soccer Exhibition where attendees can learn more about the sport — known internationally as Powerchair Football — that is played in 27 countries by gifted athletes of all ages.
• The HME State Association Pavilion, which features information about various state industry associations. Providers can learn more about the benefits of joining their state’s association.

This article originally appeared in the September 2016 issue of HME Business.