DALLAS – Medtrade organizers came to Dallas with high expectations. After all, countless exhibitors asked to be in the Lone Star state because of its central location and convenience. A vast majority of attendees managed to get to the state with a two- to three-hour flight, and mostly non-stop.
Check out the Heard At Medtrade 2023 article in today’s Medtrade Monday for more opinions about the show. Those quotes may look like a vast exercise in cherry picking, but I assure you it’s not. In fact, there were many exhibitors who I never approached because they were too busy.
Bottom line is that the high expectations were met. Exhibitors were happy. Attendees were happy and there was an unmistakably positive vibe.
As the name badges to the right attest, I have been to many different Medtrades. Some of these were on the edge of the “good old days” and I have heard more than my share of tall tales. At Medtrade 2023, I only heard one wistful remembrance.
It seems that pining away for times that will never return is finally (just about) over. However, the new reality is not all bad. Reimbursements are way lower than the old days, but the much-hyped boomer demand is coming on strong. It must.
Another round of competitive bidding is likely, but perhaps it won’t hurt as much as past rounds. It’s more difficult to make good money in the DME business, but savvy people are doing well, mostly through the wise use of technology and ruthless efficiency.
Unlike years past, we have to wait a whole year to see each other again. It still feels kind of odd, but it makes sense. By the time 2024 rolls around, we will all be ready. The industry now has a single rallying point (Medtrade) in a highly convenient location (Dallas), so let’s make the most of it.
Meanwhile, we’ll be covering industry topics and delving into issues with real analysis in the virtual pages of Medtrade Monday. If there is a particular issue you’d like me to cover or you’d like to write your own editorial, feel free to send an e-mail.
Greg Thompson is editor of Medtrade Monday and can be reached at [email protected].
