Medtrade attendees were thirsty for knowledge this year, with registration for educational sessions up 17% over last year. Overall, non-exhibitor attendance at Medtrade, held from Oct 26-29, 2015, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, registered a 1% jump when compared to last year.

“Overall non-exhibitor conference attendance had a slight jump this year, and with the amount of struggles this industry has had, that is a positive sign,” says Kevin Gaffney, group show director, in a release. “The larger numbers at educational sessions showed that attendees wanted to learn.”

Medtrade officials hope the modest attendance increase is a sign that the industry is in recovery mode. “Ultimately, Medtrade is a reflection of the industry, and the many challenges that providers faced were felt at the show in recent years,” says Gaffney. “I hope these numbers represent a turning of the corner, with providers adjusting to new realities and learning how to capitalize on opportunity.

“We are pleased with the 1% jump, particularly in light of the industry’s continued uneasiness over audits, and the impending Jan 1, 2016 ‘rural rollout’ of competitive bidding fee schedules. We look forward to seeing providers at Medtrade Spring, scheduled for Feb 29-March 2 in Las Vegas.”