Medtrade West

PHOENIX – Medtrade West, which took place in April this year not July, was “a little bigger, a little different and a lot cooler,” says Show Director York Schwab.  Medtrade West once again kicked off on Monday night in the exhibit hall with the “Welcome to Phoenix Preview Night,” but this year, officials concentrated show floor hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday.  “Show traffic has been steady,” Schwab said. “Rather than starting...

PHOENIX and ATLANTA – Emerald will combine Medtrade West and Medtrade East into one event in 2023, says Show Director York Schwab.  The change is in response to years of “consistent feedback” from exhibitors and attendees, he says.  “It’s the No. 1 thing I’ve seen on every survey,” he said.  This year, Medtrade West takes place this week in Phoenix and Medtrade East takes place Oct. 24-26 in Atlanta.  Schwab says neither a...

PHOENIX - Telehealth for the complex rehab market is never going away, says Scott Martin, MD, MS, medical director of TeleHealth Clinical Evals. Last year, TeleHealth Clinical Evals conducted thousands of wheelchair assessments via telemedicine. HME News recently spoke to Dr. Martin, who will be hosting a session at Medtrade West on telehealth, about its benefits.  HME News: Why is telehealth the new normal?  Dr. Scott Martin: Was the need always there for a smartphone? Absolutely....

PHOENIX – When an HME provider approaches a managed care organization for the first time, 98% of the time they’re going to hear no, says Julie Rhodovi, senior vice president, payor and regulatory relations, RestorixHealth and AMT. Here’s what Rhodovi, who will be hosting a session at Medtrade West on managed care, has to say about winning insurers over and why it’s worth it.   HME News: What do providers need to keep in mind when it comes to managed care?  Julie...

PHOENIX – After a two-year stretch of largely virtual communications, exhibitors are hanging out their shingles to let Medtrade West attendees know they are available for in-person meetings on the show floor at the Phoenix Convention Center April 4-6.   Troy Holland, president of Logan, Utah-based Stander, believes it could be cathartic for everyone.  “After being cooped up for the past two years, people want to get out of the office and see what’s new out there,”...

PHOENIX - Health care will become even more personal over the next few years – a trend that HME providers will want to take by the horns, says Weston Hopper, vice president of strategic national accounts for McKesson Medical Surgical.  “(Consumers) have higher expectations and (their) choices are now global,” he said. “If we want to keep health care local, it’s up to us.”  HME News recently spoke to Hopper, who will be hosting the session, “Emerging...

PHOENIX - While respiratory products may be spared in the short term, audit activity is increasing overall, says Wayne van Halem, president of The van Halem Group. Here’s what session co-hosts van Halem and Sarah Hanna, CEO of ECS North, have to say about what to expect in 2022 and how to get paid the first time.  HME News: What is the state of audits right now?   Wayne van Halem: The biggest thing I see on the horizon is that the ALJ backlog will be resolved probably mid-2022,...

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The virtual messaging component will be stronger than ever at Medtrade West, April 4-6, at the Phoenix Convention Center. In fact, social media is “integral” for promoting the show before, during and after it’s over, said Christina Morrison, president of Stina Bee Marketing, who is leading the Medtrade social media effort.  “Now, more than ever, social media and digital content has created a way to showcase what’s happening from the show...

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Temperatures for Medtrade West at the Phoenix Convention Center, April 4-6, are almost certain to be milder than last year, but the business atmosphere promises to be just as hot, says Show Director York Schwab.  “Phoenix was definitely a welcome change from the bustle and expense of Las Vegas,” Schwab said. “We did have complaints about the mid-July heat, but we’re now back to our normal spring timing and the average temperatures will be low...

PHOENIX – The success of Medtrade West, the first major in-person event in more than a year, is a good sign that the industry is ready to move on, say show organizers and attendees.  “Somebody had to be the first in the industry and planning this was like nothing I could have ever imagined,” said Show Director York Schwab of his first time at the helm of the show. “But I think the energy in the hall is very positive and the feedback from speakers is that engagement...