Medtrade 2006 Sneak Peek

To say these are changing times in the home medical equipment industry is a huge understatement. Fortunately, along with the changing environment, better, more efficient ways to operate your business are emerging. And that will be the focus of Medtrade 2006. Exhibitors are prepared not only to showcase their new products — and as usual, there are a lot of them at about 250,000 — but also to offer programs and services that target the challenges providers now face.

“In light of all the challenges we as caregivers, as health care professionals and as mobility specialists have, we need to continue to deliver high-level, quality products and care even when resources are limited,” says Dan Meuser, president of Pride USA, Exeter, Pa. “So that is what we have to be focused on and that's what Medtrade is going to be about: finding new ways of doing business.”

First, though, it's time to celebrate.

This year marks the 10th birthday of Pride's Jazzy power chair, so attendees can expect a festive time at the company's “Birthday Bash,” Meuser says. “This 10-year birthday celebration of the Jazzy is also a 10-year birthday celebration of Jazzy providers,” he notes. “They have been with us developing this product, taking care of people who really couldn't be taken care of before and giving us the input for the evolution of the Jazzy to what it is today.”

In addition to displaying its newest products, Pride will also provide a retrospective on the Jazzy. “We'll have the first Jazzy that we ever built and our new Jazzy Select model,” adds Annmarie Poslock, Pride's general manager of merchandising and trade shows. “We will also focus on the birthday theme with a video that includes well wishes for the Jazzy and a big celebration atmosphere of how far we've come over the last 10 years and the impact the Jazzy has had on the industry.”

Meuser says there will be “a big birthday party with cake, candles and party hats,” but there will also be a look toward the future for providers. “It's nice for us that on the 10-year birthday of the Jazzy we are introducing what we consider to be the best Jazzy ever, the Jazzy Select. It has all of the features and benefits of Jazzy at a very great value, which is what providers should be looking for at Medtrade.”