Tony Joe White must have experienced a spell in Georgia similar to last week when he wrote the song that Brook Benton popularized in 1970. (Yes, I played it on the radio many times, but not when it was a hit!)
Rain pelted downtown Atlanta the entire week of Medtrade. But that didn’t seem to hinder attendance or enthusiasm at the Georgia World Congress Center.
I expected another downward trend in attendance. I’d spoken with a number of HME providers who’d slashed this trip from their shrinking budgets. I anticipated catching up on paperwork in a barren exhibit hall on Day Three. I expected the position of our floor space in the exhibit hall to further exacerbate the challenge.
Boy, was I pleasantly surprised! From the opening bell at 10 AM on Tuesday until less than an hour from tear-down on Thursday, we were able to answer questions, demonstrate solutions, and help providers. Not just one at a time, but multiple providers throughout the Medtrade exhibit times.
Personally, I really enjoy that face-to-face time. When a provider has been dealing with a challenge from limited software capability and I can show that provider a solution within 60 seconds, I love that surprised and relieved look!
It’s the opportunity to help providers automate more, so they can continue to serve their patients, even in the face of Medicare-related controversy. It’s true that the only sunshine I’d seen from Sunday to Sunday was at 35,000 feet; however, I witnessed a lot of beaming smiles in Atlanta. I’ll take that type of day-brightening any day.
