Medtrade 2007 Boosts Patient and Providers’ Businesses with Innovative Products

In the midst of significant legislative changes, the home medical equipment (HME) industry introduced creative solutions that can be expected to enhance the lives of patients and boost the success of providers’ businesses. It all occurred in Orlando during Medtrade 2007, held at the Orange County Convention Center in October.

More than 13,000 HME home healthcare professionals and manufacturers attended the show to view a vast display of home healthcare products and services. More than 750 exhibitors were on hand to meet with customers, develop new relationships, and showcase the latest technology. Many of the exhibitors were familiar names to our industry, as noted below.

And from what I gleaned, the booth traffic was steady and most exhibitors were happy about their results.

A product very important to our industry, oxygen therapy gas, has been in transition for a decade, one could say, with all the technological innovations and reimbursement finagling going on in the marketplace. And now, with competitive bidding a reality, an 18-month capped rental a possibility, and portable systems gaining more sophistication, it seems that the sector is truly at a crossroads.

It appears that economics will drive the oxygen therapy landscape for the coming few years with reduced payments, more economical oxygen products, and reduced provider services.

The market has already seen a shift to new technologies, such as portable oxygen concentrators and transfillers. Now, a liquid oxygen plant in the home is soon to be Medicare-approved and available.

Borrowing from the water heater concept, the liquefier’s purpose is to generate and store liquid oxygen that is readily available for use. Inspired Technologies’ VIAspire is a filling station for the company’s SmartDose portable liquid unit. It offers extended breathing time in a light weight, portable container.

More than 2,300 attended the numerous educational conferences that are part of this show. And the New Products Pavilion focused attention on the industry’s newest products.

While some of the exhibitors were hawking products far from our wheelhouse in the medical and specialty gas and equipment arena, I believe there is no better way to get maximum exposure or total immersion in the marketplace than by attending a trade show.

A Medtrade Spring Conference will be held in Long Beach Calif., on May 6-8, 2008, and Medtrade 2008 returns to Atlanta October 28-30, 2008

Patrick Carlucci, Business Manager, Specialty Gas Report, 3701 Sweet Gum Ct., Virginia Beach, VA 23456; (Tel) 757.471.1560; (Fax) 757.471.2124 pcarlucci@specgasreport.com; www.specgasreport.com

Specialty Gas Report FOURTH QUARTER 2007 //