By John Wallace, Editor
MD Expo Nashville 2015 was a hit from start to finish, with top-quality education, a packed exhibit hall, networking events and new exhibit features. Vendors and attendees praised the event which visited the Music City for the third time and was met with great success.
Almost 700 people descended upon Nashville for the spring MD Expo to participate in signature events including the golf tournament sponsored by DirectMed Parts, the Welcome Reception sponsored by AllParts Medical, the Networking Happy Hour sponsored by MW Imaging and the always informative Keynote Breakfast featuring John Maurer from The Joint Commission and presented by RSTI. A representative from one company said they picked up four leads at the Welcome Reception alone.
In addition, new features of the premiere trade show for medical equipment sales and service included a CBET Review presented by David Scott as well as Product Demos, Workshops and a Vendor Networking Lunch. Each of these brought additional benefits to attendees and exhibitors. One of the Product Demos was so successful that the presenter plans to share more information via TechNation’s Webinar Wednesday series. In addition, the Door Prize Extravaganza provided an extra networking opportunity as exhibitors gave away great door prizes.
Traffic throughout the show was so busy, one exhibitor said that he ran out of company literature. Several exhibitors commented on the heavy traffic both days that the exhibit hall was open.
The top-tier educational seminars provided biomeds the opportunity to expand their knowledge and earn CE credits, all at no charge, thanks to VIP Passes provided by exhibitors. The presentation by John Maurer from The Joint Commission at the keynote breakfast also provided valuable insights.
“I received information on The Joint Commission standards for critical access hospitals that I did not know,” John Shore, Director of Clinical Engineering at Tanner Medical Center in Georgia said. “We are in the window for an inspection now and this will help us be properly prepared.”
“I sat in on a class yesterday for the Joint Commission and CMS requirements as well as the keynote (breakfast) this morning presented by The Joint Commission for the updates for 2014 and 2015 that I can take back to my facility and use immediately,” said Kyle Clark with Holzer Medical Center in Ohio.
The Music City Surprise Party, sponsored by Sodexo, was the perfect conclusion to a busy and productive MD Expo. Hundreds of people gathered in the lobby of the Omni Nashville hotel for a short walk to the surprise location of the party – the Johnny Cash Museum! The parade stretched five blocks long. Those in attendance were treated to catered snacks along with beer, wine and a signature Tennessee Whiskey cocktail as they waited for a surprise entertainer.
They were not disappointed when Johnny Cash and June Carter’s son, John Carter Cash, took the stage. He performed several of his father’s classic hits while providing the story behind the songs and other insights into the family’s history.
Attendees and exhibitors alike praised the MD Expo Nashville for once again providing the perfect atmosphere for learning and networking. People caught up with colleagues and added to their network of contacts throughout the three-day event.
“I saw people I haven’t seen in many years and it was refreshing catching up,” Shore said.
“There is an opportunity to meet new friends. There is an opportunity to network,” said Carlos Driver from Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia, Tennessee. “There is definitely the opportunity to learn about some things that you may have questions about or learn new things.”
“I think these are great courses that MD Expo has with the seminars and the speakers. It is a lot of valuable information. It’s really beneficial to us as a program,” said Geminia Hopkins, supervisor Biomedical Engineering at Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. “I also checked off some of the vendors I wanted to talk with just so I can ask them some questions and so they know that I am here since a lot of them are local for us too.”
“I think (MD Expo) has to be in my rotation now,” Shore added. “It is a great show with great value!”
Ryan Rauch from Carle Foundation Hospital may have summed up the MD Expo experience best.
“The Expo was awesome and I am so glad I went. Thanks to you and everyone that put forth the effort to make it amazing,” Rauch said in an email.
FOR INFORMATION on the next MD Expo visit www.mdexposhow.com