LAS VEGAS – A few weeks ago, most of us were probably complaining about losing an hour of sleep during the annual ritual of daylight savings time known as “spring forward,” but it occurs to me that the idea of moving out of the cold and into the hope of spring parallels the positive energy in the HME industry.
Medtrade Spring exuded the hope, positivity and renewal that I see spreading to more providers and industry stakeholders. I saw this hope in discussions with colleagues, the liveliness on the show floor, and the energy at the networking events. I especially saw it in the first time attendees—they came to Medtrade Spring with fresh eyes, ready to learn and meet industry leaders.
I also saw it at our annual fundraising event, Stand Up for Homecare. The first-timers and long-timers gathered together to give back, and were revitalized with an emotional and inspiring talk from disability advocate, para-lympian, and Save My Medical Supplies champion, Bert Burns, who reminded us to face adversity head on and rise to the occasion.
I also see this energy in the staff at AAHomecare. Whether it’s Jay Witter on the Hill, Kim Brummett at CMS, or Beth Ludwick working with the media, the team at AAHomecare is driving toward a win. There is a sense that we are turning the tide for this industry, and it only makes us work that much harder. Spring forward indeed.
Let’s keep this energy going as we stand up for homecare, and I hope to see you at the AAHomecare Washington Legislative Conference, May 20-21, 2015, in Washington, DC.
Tom Ryan is president and CEO of the American Association for Homecare, Washington, DC.