Five safe bets at Medtrade Spring

LAS VEGAS - The proverbial “good old days” may indeed be gone, but the good new days may well be around the corner. For providers who have rejected nostalgia, Medtrade Spring has long represented the promise of a fresh new season.

“Getting out of the office to completely focus on the business is not a new idea, but it continues to resonate even in a digital age,” says Kevin Gaffney, vice president and group show director, Medtrade. “Medtrade Spring is the perfect opportunity to jump start the year and discover new products, new knowledge, and fresh inspiration.”

Unlike a roll of the dice at the craps table, those who make the trip to Las Vegas routinely come away with some predictable reactions. Call it the five safe bets of Medtrade Spring: fruitful networking; new knowledge; new products; continuing education units; and inspiration.

No. 1 Networking Events

Networking at Medtrade Spring can happen via planned events or chance meetings in hallways and educational sessions. These crucial social connections can yield valuable information, or merely provide an avenue to share common challenges.

“I met great people at the Audit Happy Hour, and we might even end up doing projects together with them,” said Berioska Sosa, Aviva Pharmacy, Sunrise, Fla. “Overall, the show was a great event.”

“Linked In, Facebook, and Twitter are all wonderful ways to get to know people, but these types of social media platforms take a backseat to meeting people face to face,” adds Sarah Varner, senior director of Marketing, Medtrade. “Audit Happy Hour, Stand Up for Homecare, and those chance meetings make Medtrade Spring an amazing event. Invite your new friend to one of the networking events, or head to a show, because it is Las Vegas after all.”

No. 2 New Knowledge

Beyond the expo hall, HME industry leaders present the latest updates and provide unmatched educational offerings that help providers find and leverage new opportunities. The Medtrade conference program is loaded with insights to help attendees understand the ever-changing legislative/regulatory environment, and the opportunities of retail and other diversification strategies.

In addition to educational sessions, Medtrade Spring has four workshops scheduled for day one (April 16) of the show. Key exhibitors/speakers will offer four in-depth educational opportunities, available as an add-on to the conference or expo pass, and Fees vary per workshop.

No. 3 New Products

Medtrade Spring is the second largest tradeshow in the U.S. focused exclusively on the home medical equipment market. Medtrade Spring is designed to give today's providers the largest selection of HME products under one roof.

No. 4 Continuing Education Units

Thanks to the educational team at Quantum Rehab/Pride Mobility Products, continuing education units (CEUs) are back at Medtrade Spring. Attendees at this year's Medtrade Spring 2019 can choose: 1) Clinically Speaking - A Practical Guide to Evaluation and Documentation for Power Seat Options; and/or 2) The Case for Wheels - Selecting the Clinically Appropriate Base. Each class offers .20 CEUs. Courses are free, but registration for the Expo at Medtrade Spring is required, in addition to registration with Pride Mobility/Quantum Rehab.

No. 5 Inspiration

It's difficult to quantify, but a little inspiration can go a long way toward maintaining motivation in the challenging HME industry. “It may sound a bit touchy-feely, but the inspiration factor of attending Medtrade and Medtrade Spring can't be underestimated,” Gaffney says. “The 'safe bets' at Medtrade Spring—fruitful networking, new knowledge, new products, and continuing education units all foster that element of inspiration, and that feeling is a priority for all of the organizers, presenters, and exhibitors. We all want to foster that feeling in attendees. That's why we're here.”