Medtrade Spring draws a full house

LAS VEGAS - New surprises and challenges popped up in every corner of the DME industry last year, from the passing of the Medicare Prescription Drug Act to the average sales price's creation to the DMERC clarification of non-ambulatory. Las Vegas is the site of Medtrade Spring and AAHomecare's Continuum of Care conference, March 16-18. Now, with Medtrade Spring at our doorsteps, it's time to regroup. “Unfortunately, when you are an HME provider you don't have a huge network at home, especially if you are in a small community,” said Medtrade spokesperson Denise McClinton. “[Medtrade Spring] is the place to come to be with the members of your industry and maybe get some solace, and then get prepared to move forward and make good decisions.” Organizers are expecting record attendance this year with 4,100 attendees and 450 exhibitors. Attendance at the show grew by 50% from 2000 to 2003, and Trade Show Week named Medtrade Spring one of the 50 fastest growing shows based on floor size and attendance. Zuzette Estevez, Medtrade's interim show director following Cory Smith's promotion within VNU Expeditions, said that despite its growth, the big draw of the spring show is its tight-knit feeling. “It is not Las Vegas versus Atlanta or East Coast versus West Coast. It's just the fact that this is a show full of big players but with a small show feeling,” she said. “We are lucky it hasn't changed in that regard.” Estevez will be tackling the job as show director for the first time, but she has been with the show for several years. She started as a sales associate10 years ago. A permanent replacement from Smith has not been announced. Smith was recently appointed director of Atlanta-based VNU Exposition's Building Group, which includes the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, Wood Technology and Multi-Housing World events. Other features at this year's show include: - Accreditation Summit at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Tuesday, March 16 from 1-4 p.m. The meeting will give providers an opportunity to compare accrediting bodies. - AAHomecare's Continuum of Care conference, also on Tuesday, added a fourth track, Orthotic and Prosthetic Fitting, to its educational sessions. The other tracks are Rehab and Assistive Technology, Home Health Nursing and Respiratory Therapy/Sleep Disordered Breathing. - Keynote Presentation featuring Bruce Vladeck, former administrator of HCFA. Vladeck will present “The Future of Medicare.” - The 5th Annual Party by the Pool at the Las Vegas Hilton on Tuesday from 5-6:30 p.m.