Medtrade 2000

The Orange County Convention Center will become home to hundreds of exhibitors and attendees during Medtrade 2000, held October 3-5. This is an exciting year for Medtrade as many changes are being made to registration, educational seminars and exhibitions.

"As always we are very excited about this year's Medtrade show because it is the forum where our industry can get together," said Walt Goldsby, director of sales, Medtrade shows, VNU Expositions, Atlanta.

Attendance & Networking

With the success of the Medtrade West show, held May 3-5 in Las Vegas, VNU Expositions is planning on a very productive three days at Medtrade 2000.

There will be a wide range of attendees including home medical and durable medical equipment dealers (HME/DME), manufacturers, rehabilitation professionals, sales and marketing staff, case managers, home healthcare consultants and many others.

Attendees are able to register online at www.medtrade.com, making it easier than ever before to prepare and get organized for seminars and exhibitions. The conference registration is $99, while the exhibition registration is free for those who register early.

Goldsby hopes that the high concentration of dealers in Florida will impact show attendance since it is within driving distance for many.

Manufacturers and providers will have ample time to network with clients, customers and healthcare professionals throughout the conference.

Medtrade will be hosting its second annual kick-off reception Tuesday, October 3, 5-6:30 p.m., in the Valencia Ballroom at the Orange County Convention Center. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 on site. The reception will have an open bar, live entertainment and hor d'oervres. This event will provide an opportunity for attendees to meet people and visit with other professionals in the industry.

"We look forward to the networking opportunities every year," said Genny da Roza, general manager, Wheelcare Inc., Camarillo, Calif.

Special Programs

On Monday, October 2, before the show opens, Kathleen Moreo, RN, CCM, past president of the Case Management Society of America, and Louis Feuer, MA, MSW, president of Dynamic Seminars and Consulting Inc., will co-present a sales training program, Power Training for Igniting Your Health Care Business.

"We're a bit high energy in our approach, but I am sure (attendees) will enjoy it," said Feuer, who also is the educational director for Medtrade shows, VNU Expositions.

Other special programs include a presentation by The National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers as well as information about legislative concerns being addressed in Washington.

"We are also paying special attention to the needs of the homecare nursing segment of our industry," said Feuer.

The American Association of Homecare (AAH) will sponsor programs addressing the issues of the prospective payment system and its effect on the clinical and business operations of the homecare agency.

Throughout the conference there will be several free seminars such as Doing Business in Europe, which focuses on identifying current challenges and health care forums in Europe.

Camp Healthcare representatives will present a Mastectomy Bra Seminar where bra styling, features and components will be discussed as well as the multiple facets involved in fitting breast surgery patients.

"It is mainly an informative seminar from an educational standpoint to give (attendees) a tool for buying special garments for their stores and finding the right garments for their customers," said Jodie Jackson, post-mastectomy bra product manager, Camp Healthcare, Jackson, Mich.

Jackson also said they would have a fitting expert, who also is a breast cancer survivor, to address customer sensitivity issues when fitting for post-mastectomy products.

Educational Seminars

The conference will feature more than 150 programs and for the first time, attendees will find sessions that have been approved for continuing education units.

"This is a great opportunity for (individuals) to receive credits for professional licensing," said Feuer.

Feuer recommends attendees should check with the presenter or sponsor of each program on how to receive verification for attending the session.

Another change this year is the expansion of programs in the area of clinical patient care. Sessions will cover topics such as wound care mapping and choosing the appropriate seating systems.

The seminars will be centered on nine different tracks providing ample opportunity for attendees to learn about various aspects of the industry.

"The seminars (provide) a lot of valuable information that we can take in and learn from," said da Roza.

Sessions related to legal issues will discuss trademark and service mark protection as well as information on how DME suppliers can enter into business relations with other health care providers such as pharmacies and hospitals.

Those who are interested in accreditation and licensing information may want to attend the session on the Life Safety code as it relates to organizations that are accredited by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. In this session, Rosalyn Jordan, RN, BSN, CETN, will discuss the relevance of this code to the distribution of foam mattresses in facilities that are accredited and understand appropriate fire barriers.

Attendees interested in respiratory care will not want to miss the session that reviews the FDA's strict rules about quality control and record-keeping or the discussion of long term oxygen therapy.

Medtrade also will be hosting sessions related to sales and marketing, customer service and management techniques. Retail merchandising, marketing and advertising tools will be discussed along with strategies for improving cash flow, profitability and sales.

The rehabilitation/clinical tract will have programs centered on manual mobility, powered mobility and seating systems. On Wednesday, October 4, those involved in re/hab technology may be interested in the panel discussion moderated by Judy Vance, NARRTS. The panel will examine the impact of e-commerce, trends in discount and terms structures, and accreditation for re/hab technology companies.

Product Exposition

This year, all the seminars are scheduled in the morning, allowing more time to attend the product exposition. Attendees will see state-of-the-art rehabilitation products, aids to daily living, respiratory systems and treatment products, e-commerce solutions and much more.

"It's always really important to be current and up to date with what's going on in the industry," said da Roza.

The new product showcase will feature products from Vital Home Products, The Saunders Group Inc., Dan Services Inc. and Chattanooga Group Inc.

The Saunders Group will be exhibiting The Saunders Lumbar Hometrac in the showcase.

"It's a great opportunity because people remember you. It's very good exposure," said Lori Newman, marketing coordinator, The Saunders Group, Chaska, Minn.

The product exhibition gives attendees the opportunity to see new products, discover merchandising techniques and see point-of-purchase materials in action.

It also gives exhibitors an opportunity to utilize new technologies such as the Internet and e-commerce.

"We're introducing our Web site and we're excited about that and we look forward to showing people the site and how it can benefit them," said Lynn Reid, marketing manager, Apex Foot Health Industries Inc., South Hackensack, N.J.

From the seminars to the products to the exciting Orlando nightlife, attendees are sure to have three fun-filled days of learning, networking and entertainment.

"Medtrade will motivate and educate you. From the conference to the exhibit floor, Medtrade will provide our guests the solutions for handling the challenges facing our industry today," said Feuer.

Whitfield is assistant editor for Home Health Products.



This article appeared in the September 2000 issue of Home Health Products, Vol. 8, No. 8.

See Orlando!

With Medtrade closing on a Thursday afternoon, attendees will have the opportunity to take advantage of the entertainment Orlando has to offer. From the excitement of Disney theme parks to a relaxing day of golf, Orlando has something for everyone to enjoy.

Orlando has over 3,700 restaurants, is home to many world-renowned chefs and can satisfy both the palate and pocketbook. From pizza and pasta to sushi, steak and seafood, attendees are sure to find a broad range of ambiance and menus. Attendees can take advantage of their free evenings to try an array of different dining experiences.

For the night owls, Orlando is home to the Mercado entertainment complex where singing and music can be heard at clubs like Blazing Pianos or Howl at the Moon. Dancing can be found at the numerous nightclubs where good times and good spirits mingle with the live bands at the downtown Orlando hot spots.

Other areas like Downtown Disney, Universal's City Walk or Church Street Station offer a variety of choices for nightlife.

Shopping in Orlando provides a wonderful opportunity to find souvenirs or to explore some of the interesting stores such as Candy Cauldron. This store, designed as the Wicked Queen's dungeon from Snow White, features fudge, caramel apples, cotton candy and much more.

Guitar Gallery features more than 150 custom guitars from a variety of manufacturers, while Starabilias offers a vast selection of collector's items such as a Beatles' signed guitar or an Emmitt Smith autographed Dallas Cowboy football helmet.

Magnetron offers more than 20,000 magnets such as Micheangelo's David or characters from the Wizard of Oz, which are sure to catch a collector's eye.

For those interested in seeing the atypical, the LEGO Imagination Center is for you. Step inside the door and see a giant LEGO helicopter or a spaceship.

Adults and children alike are sure to find plenty of entertainment at the many theme parks in Orlando. Disney's Magical Kingdom and the new Animal Kingdom are sure to provide hours of fun sightseeing. For those who like a wild ride, Walt Disney MGM Studios has a new Rock N Roller Coaster that races from 0 - 60 mph in three seconds.

Many attendees may want to use their time for more relaxing ventures such as going to the beach or playing a few rounds of golf.

Daytona Beach plays host to millions of tourists each year and is home to the Daytona 500. Visitors can drive right onto the 18-mile stretch of beach.

Just south of Daytona is the New Smyrna Beach, home to historic sites of interest such as the Old Fort and Sugar Mill Ruins. Ponce Inlet, famous for its historic lighthouse, offers a variety of entertainment through sunset cruises and deep-sea fishing trips.

The Canaveral National Seashore stretches north of Cape Canaveral, home of the Kennedy Space Center. Visitors can investigate the sea turtle nesting grounds or visit the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge north of the space center.

Many public golf courses such as Hunter's Creek or The Greens Golf Club are available in Orlando as well as in surrounding areas such as Apopka and Clermont.

However much time attendees have after the conference, it is sure to be filled with entertainment and fun from the many attractions and sights found in Orlando.

This article originally appeared in the September 2000 issue of HME Business.

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