More than 21,000 home medical equipment providers and other home care professionals are expected to meet in Orlando for Medtrade's 25th annual conference and expo, to be held at the Orange County Convention Center Oct. 26-28. A schedule and listings on the following pages will help you plan your visit. And when you're not on the trade show floor, this tourist mecca is sure to keep you busy. For more information, visit www.medtrade.com or call 800/933-8735.
Show Highlights
With more than 180 educational sessions and a number of other special events connected with Medtrade 2004, you may have a difficult time deciding what to attend. Here are only a few highlights you won't want to miss.
Monday, Oct. 25
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Continuum of Care, presented by the American Association for Homecare, will offer continuing education credits for professionals in four tracks: home health nursing, rehab and assistive technology, respiratory therapy/sleep-disordered breathing and orthotics and prosthetics. This one-day workshop will offer a comprehensive look at the issues and challenges that home health, rehab and respiratory providers face. For information on the Continuum of Care, visit www.aahomecare.org or call 703/535-1887.
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
ACCESS 2004 offers advice for builders, contractors, architects, designers and home medical equipment providers involved in creating accessible homes and facilities for the disabled and aging population. Two tracks are available at the one-day conference: Universal Design and the Building Community, or Universal Design and the Home Medical Equipment Provider. The accredited educational program features industry experts such as independent living strategist Louis S. Tenenbaum and Jim Hersh of Rehab Solutions & Design. For more information, visit www.primeinc.org or call 954/718-6055.
Tuesday, Oct. 26
10 a.m.-Noon
Jack Evans of Global Media Marketing and Ed Lemar of Gladson Design will offer ideas on how to redesign an HME showroom to increase add-on sales and sales per customer in this hands-on Retail Redesign Workshop. Sponsored by HomeCare.
Wednesday, Oct. 27
7:30 a.m.-8:15 a.m.
Get an expert's insights on the upcoming Congressional and presidential elections at “New Balance of Power for 2004 — Down to the Wire.” Stuart Rothenberg, editor and publisher of The Rothenberg Report, will present AAHomecare's Washington Update this year.
Thursday, Oct. 28
7:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Learn how accreditation programs can best meet the needs of DME companies under the Medicare Modernization Act at the Accreditation Summit, moderated by AAHomecare. Speakers include Tom Cesar of the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC); Robert Floro, RRT, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO); and Terry Duncombe, RN, MSHA, Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP).
For a detailed listing of Medtrade conference sessions, visit www.medtrade.com.
Conference Schedule at a Glance
MONDAY, OCTOBER 25
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Medtrade's Continuum of Care
1 p.m.-5 p.m.
AAHomecare Golf Classic
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26
7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Registration
7:30 a.m.-8:15 a.m.
Opening Sessions
8:30 a.m.-Noon
Educational Seminars
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Hours
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27
7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Registration
7:30 a.m.-8:15 a.m.
Opening Sessions
8:30 a.m.-Noon
Educational Seminars
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Hours
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28
7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Registration
8:30 a.m.-Noon
Educational Seminars
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Hours
Expert Advice
Every morning of Medtrade 2004, “Meet the HME Experts” panels, sponsored by HomeCare, can help you improve your company's business practices. Industry experts will offer best practices in reimbursement, sales and marketing and legal and regulatory issues.
Tuesday, Oct. 26
8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.
Learn strategies that comply with HIPAA, Medicare audits and fraud and abuse issues at Meet the HME Experts in Reimbursement. Moderated by Bruce Brothis of Alternative Billing Solutions, the panel includes Jane Bunch of JB&CS, Miriam Lieber of Lieber Consulting, and Maureen Hanna of Healthcare Reimbursement Consultants.
Wednesday, Oct. 27
8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.
Sales and marketing strategies for maximizing sales-per-customer and net profits, increasing ROI for advertising and building long-term relationships with referral sources will be discussed at Meet the HME Experts in Sales & Marketing. Jack Evans of Global Media Marketing will moderate this panel, presented by Wallace Weeks of Weeks Group, Louis Feuer of Dynamic Seminars & Consulting, and Alison Cherney of Cherney & Associates.
Thursday, Oct. 28
8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.
Meet the Experts in Legal & Regulatory Issues offers guidance in managing surprise NSC inspections, Medicare reimbursement cuts, the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) and DOJ/OIG investigations of joint equity arrangements and marketing programs. Panelists include Cara Bachenheimer of Invacare, Neil Caesar of the Health Law Center and AAHomecare adviser Asela Cuervo. Jeff Baird of Brown & Fortunato will moderate.
Getting Around
Medtrade offers a convenient shuttle service from area hotels to the Orange County Convention Center. Check www.medtrade.com for stops and schedules. Many hotels also offer free shuttles to and from major theme parks, but if you want to venture outside of these areas, you'll have to find another way to get around.
I-Ride Trolley
407/248-9590
www.iridetrolley.com
This trolley, which stops right in front of the Orange County Convention Center, is an easy way to get around International Drive, which can be a nightmare to drive on your own. The trolley travels from the far north end of International Drive near the Belz Factory Outlet Mall all the way to SeaWorld from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily. Fare is 75 cents; daily and unlimited passes also are available.
LYNX
407/841-5969
www.golynx.com
This tri-county bus system can take you just about anywhere in the metro Orlando area. Just make sure to check all routes and transfers to figure out how long your trip will actually take. If you feel like exploring downtown (consider taking a cab to get to the area from the convention center), make sure to take advantage of LYMMO, LYNX's free bus service. With 19 stops, LYMMO makes its rounds downtown until 10 p.m. and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. One-way fare for LYNX in most other areas is $1.25.
Driving
If you feel like exploring the city on your own or venturing to the coast, you may want the freedom of driving on your own. Avoid Interstate 4, Orlando's major artery, during rush hour or you could be stuck in traffic for some time. The city's other major thoroughfares, Florida Turnpike, Highway 528 (Bee Line Expressway), 408 (East-West Expressway) and Highway 417 (Central Florida Greenway), are toll roads, so make sure to keep plenty of change handy.
Taxis
For short distances, this is one of the quickest ways to get around. Before you hop in, make sure to calculate the distance (or ask first), so you're not hit with a huge bill when you reach your destination.
Eat Up
You'll have no trouble locating restaurants in the area, but you may find it difficult to sort through the sea of signs after a day on the show room floor. From international cuisine to familiar chains, the I-Drive area serves up nearly anything you could imagine. Here are a few highlights.
Bergamo's Italian Restaurant
(407) 352-3805
Singing servers perform everything from Broadway tunes to opera as guests feast on pasta, steak, seafood and fine wine.
B-Line Diner
407/345-4460
This 1950s-style diner, located in the Peabody, serves up all-American burgers, fries, shakes and more 24-hours a day.
Cafe Tu Tu Tango
407/248-2222
Feast on tapas and enjoy live music in a setting that resembles a Spanish artist's loft.
Charley's Steakhouse
407/363-0228
Continually rated among the top 10 steakhouses in the country, food is cooked over a pit of burning oak and citrus wood.
Dux
407/345-4500
Put on a dinner jacket or dress before heading out to this upscale establishment renowned for its global haute cuisine.
McDonald's — World's Largest Entertainment and Playplace
407/351-2185
Sure, you have this fast-food favorite back home, but this one offers pizza, Panini sandwiches and crème brulee cheesecake on its expanded menu.
Ming Court
407/351-9988
Sample regional Chinese dishes such as Szechuan filet mignon or mango chicken.
Samba Room, A Cuban Bar and Latin Cafe
407/226-0550
Latin fusion permeates the atmosphere, as well as the menu, at this retro-style cafe, featuring Cuban, Brazilian and Carribean-inspired selections.
Siam Orchid
407/351-0821
Pad Thai and other traditional favorites are served up spicy or mild.
Shopping Around
Right down the street from the Orange County Convention Center are a number of shopping experiences that will satisfy any shopaholic. If you're looking for a bargain, visit one of the outlet malls to find designer clothes, shoes and housewares at a discount.
The Florida Mall
8001 South Orange Blossom Trail
407/851-6255
www.simon.com
With more than 250 stores, The Florida Mall is the largest shopping mall in the Orlando area, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Lord & Taylor.
The Mall at Millenia
4200 Conroy Rd.
407/363-3555
www.mallatmillenia.com
This upscale Orlando mall is home to more than 150 stores including exclusive retailers like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Cartier and Burberry, as well as department stores Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's. If you work up an appetite after all of that shopping, the mall has seven sit-down restaurants and a food court.
Orlando Premium Outlets
8200 Vineland Ave.
407/238-7787
www.premiumoutlets.com
Shop at 110 discount retailers including Giorgio Armani, DKNY, Fendi, Coach, Burberry, Versace, Kenneth Cole and Barneys New York. In addition to apparel, accessories and jewelry, the outlets also offer home decor and wares.
Belz Designer Outlet Centre and Festival Bay
5211 International Dr., 5401 West Oakridge
Rd., 5250 International Dr.
407/352-9611
www.belz.com
Belz Designer Outlets is spread out over three locations offering discounts at designer stores such as Anne Taylor and Perry Ellis, as well as brand-name stores like Gap and Geoffrey Bean. Festival Bay, the center's latest addition, features a unique mix of stores including Bass Pro Shops and Ron Jon Surf Shop.
