» HEARTLAND CONFERENCE
WHERE COMMUNITY MEETS OPPORTUNITY
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WATERLOO, IA • SEPT. 13-15, 2021
www.vgmheartland.com
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» AGENDA AT-A-GLANCE MONDAY, SEPT. 13 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Registration Open
9 a.m. - Noon
Pre-conference Education Sessions
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
DMERT Certification
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
VGM Live at Home Installer Training
Noon
Van G. Miller Memorial Golf Tournament (Lunch included - 1 p.m. Shotgun Start)
2 - 4 p.m.
Afternoon at the Farm or A Journey Through VGM’s Headquarters
6 - 7 p.m.
First-Time Attendee Social
7 p.m.
Hog Roast and 3D Fireworks at RiverLoop Amphitheatre
TUESDAY, SEPT. 14 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Registration Open
8:30 a.m.
Opening Remarks
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
VGM Live at Home Installer Training
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
U.S. Rehab Tech Training
9:10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Conference Education Sessions
11:20 a.m. - 1:20 p.m.
Lunch
2:30 & 4:30 p.m.
A Journey Through VGM’s Headquarters
4 p.m.
Expo Hall Grand Opening
7 - 10 p.m.
Community Dinners: • Complex Rehab • Home Modifications • Retail • Executive • Respiratory
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 15 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
VGM Live at Home Installer Training
8:30 - 9:45 a.m.
Keynote Speaker: Mark Scharenbroich
9:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Expo Hall Open and Lunch
10:15 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.
U.S. Rehab Tech Training
1:30 - 5:20 p.m.
Conference Sessions
2:30 & 4:30 p.m.
A Journey Through VGM’s Headquarters
6:30 - 10 p.m.
Farewell at the VGM Farm: Wild Wild Midwest
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Heartland Conference 2021 | www.vgmheartland.com
» WHAT’S NEW AT HEARTLAND? Heartland 2021 Keeps Getting Better This year is sure to be one for the books. After all, we’re celebrating 20 years! All the classic Heartland traditions you’ve come to know and love are back—our iconic hog roast, community dinners at local hotspots, and fantastic educational sessions presented by industry leaders. And, we’re adding some new experiences we can’t wait to show you. Learn more about what we have planned at VGMHeartland.com.
» DAZZLING 3D FIREWORKS End your first night of Heartland with a bang. You may have enjoyed the Heartland fireworks show next to the scenic Cedar River before, but we promise you’ve never seen it like this! This year we’ve added a stunning, unique twist to our famous fireworks display you’ll have to see to believe.
» FAREWELL AT THE VGM FARM: WILD WILD MIDWEST
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Spend your last night with us enjoying good old-fashioned Midwest hospitality. Join us at the VGM Farm to kick back with homegrown Iowa drinks, mingle with fellow conference attendees, play a game of cornhole, and make memories that’ll last a lifetime. Feel free to dress up in your favorite cowboy gear!
» WE’LL SEND YOU OFF IN STYLE Heartland Conference 2021 | www.vgmheartland.com
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» EXPANDED EXHIBIT HALL
» STOP BY THE SHOW FLOOR. Attend the expo this year to experience even more opportunities to interact with VGM’s vendor partners. With an expanded show floor, the 20th anniversary of Heartland will provide a great setting to interact with VGM’s vendor partners. See their industry-leading products, software solutions, and conference promotions all while enjoying refreshments and networking with peers. So tour the floor and meet this year’s vendors—some of which are joining us for the first time!
» EXHIBITORS AS OF JUNE 22, 2021 Abbott Nutrition ABMRC, LLC* ATLAS Enterprise Software Cintas Molift Permobil ROLKO* AG Industries* American Breast Care Aurora Breathe LLC* CleanCut Contour Products, Inc.
Cork Medical* Dental Sleep Care Alliance (DSCA)/Oventus* DermaRite DeRoyal DMEhub* Domtar Personal Care Encore Healthcare EZ-ACCESS GCE Healthcare Graham-Field Harmar HQAA Incrediwear
Innovation in Motion Joerns Healthcare Ki Mobility Kinetec USA Lake Court Medical LUCI, LLC* McKesson Medical- Surgical Med Mizer* MEDI USA* Merits Health/ Avid Rehab Motif Medical* Motion Concepts
MuscleMX Nestle Health Science PaceSaver / Leisure-Lift PainGone U.S.* PEL, LLC* Pepper Medical* Philips Respironics RAZ Design, Inc. RND Soft rtNOW* S3 Resupply/Sleep Solutions & Services Sleep8* SoClean
Sovasage* Span-America Sunrise Medical Therafirm, a division of Knit-Rite, Inc. Trace Medical VeruStat, Inc. Vim & Vigr LLC* First Street* Best-Bath Brightree, LLC Medela LLC MK Battery Rifton
*Welcome to our first-time exhibitors!
» HEARTLAND AT HOME VIRTUAL SESSIONS Your online resource for everything Heartland. We can’t wait to bring everone back together for Heartland’s 20th Anniversary celebration. Included in full registration are nearly 20 on-demand virtual courses. Added Bonus: With every two full conference registrations, your business will receive one complimentary Heartland At Home registration to share with a colleague that isn’t able to join you in Waterloo.
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Heartland Conference 2021 | www.vgmheartland.com
» HEAR WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
“Heartland was my very first conference to attend as a director. VGM welcomed me with open arms and immediately made me feel like family. From the classes to events, everything was exceptional with top-notch hospitality. The level of knowledge they provide to you is greatly beneficial. I left the Heartland Conference feeling like a true leader for my team, and I cannot wait to see what Heartland 2021 brings!” - Whitney Baker, Home Medical Products, Inc.
“Well…getting to Waterloo, Iowa, might not be the easiest via Expedia, but it’s worth the trip! Why? The people at VGM are beyond welcoming and helpful, with the end goal of you and your team leaving with an improved skill set and understanding today’s challenges and opportunities within the HME industry! I have been in this business a long time, yet I learn something new every time I make the trip to Waterloo. If you truly desire to expand your knowledge and speak directly to top industry talent, Heartland is the place to go!” - Michael Dick, Adapt Health
Heartland Conference 2021 | www.vgmheartland.com
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» ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING You CANNOT Afford to Miss This! We keep our registration price low because attending Heartland is about supporting our industry. With all the educational sessions and the networking opportunities for only $499*, you can’t afford to miss Heartland Conference this year! Here’s What You Get With the Heartland Conference All-inclusive Price: Pre-conference sessions and education tracks in areas such as rehab, respiratory, billing and reimbursement, accessibility, regulatory and audits, business leadership and people strategies, sales, marketing, and retail, business operations, and specialty markets Exhibitors from across the country gather at Heartland to showcase their industry-leading products and software solutions Networking opportunities with VGM members, VGM thought leaders, industry experts, and exhibitors Conference education, food, and entertainment Journey through the halls of VGM and learn how to maximize your membership
» THERE IS NO BETTER DEAL IN THE HME INDUSTRY 100% Money Back Guarantee Try Heartland Conference risk-free, and find out what everyone is talking about! If you’re not 100% satisfied with your Heartland experience, we will refund your registration cost.
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Heartland Conference 2021 | www.vgmheartland.com
» ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING EDUCATION
EDUCATION (TECH TRAINING)
Full Conference Attendee Member $499* ($599 Regular)
Advanced U.S. Rehab® Tech Training $499* ($599 Regular)
1-day Conference Attendee $275
Intermediate U.S. Rehab® Tech Training $499* ($599 Regular)
Heartland At Home Virtual Sessions $199 (On-demand courses only)
Beginner U.S. Rehab® Tech Training $499* ($599 Regular)
Pre-conference Sessions FREE (included with registration) Heartland At Home Included in full registration is nearly 20 on-demand virtual courses. Added Bonus: With every two full conference registrations, your business will receive one complimentary Heartland At Home registration to share with a colleague. *Early Bird pricing expires July 15, 2021
NOTE: All pricing is listed in USD
SOCIAL EVENTS Van G. Miller Memorial Golf Tournament Guest Social Events $150 $70 Bring your spouse or guest to ALL social events. Limited spots available, so sign up early. Limited spots available, so sign up early. Heartland Conference attendees may cancel their registration without penalty at any time. If you are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19 within 2 weeks of the event, please do not attend in person. Please contact the conference office at events@vgm.com for assistance and further information.
» REGISTER 1 Visit www.vgmheartland.com 2 Click on the REGISTER button. 3 Register by July 15 to take advantage of early bird pricing.
“VGM’s Heartland Conference is truly the most impactful conference of its kind, where attendees put Heartland right back on their calendars the day they arrive back home, already excited to get back together with our VGM family again.” - Shelby Graveman, Membership Account Manager, VGM & Associates Heartland Conference 2021 | www.vgmheartland.com
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» KEYNOTE SPEAKER Mark Scharenbroich | Emmy Award-winning & Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker Mark is known as a top performer in the speaking industry for his authentic delivery, his talent for delivering unique stories, and his comedic timing. His audiences remember his “Nice Bike” presentation for years after it is delivered. Mark’s core messages have always been about connecting. Sometimes it was in schools to help teachers connect to their students, or in organizations and businesses to help team members feel truly connected to their core values and their customers.
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» Visit nicebike.com to learn more about Mark!
» SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS Nick Knowlton | VP, Business Development, Brightree Nick is vice president of business development for Brightree, leading the company’s strategic initiatives, including partnership development and healthcare interoperability efforts. He brings more than 20 years of business experience across sales, marketing, product and strategy roles for technology, and health information technology businesses. Mark your calendar for Wednesday, Sept. 15 to attend a panel discussion moderated by Nick, Operations: Leveraging Connected Technology to Improve Your Bottom Line.
Ronda Buhrmester & Craig Douglas | VGM Government Relations Revenue cycle management (RCM) is an integral part of any HME business, and how well it is performed can mean the difference between a thriving business and a failing one. Some of the most common questions that you should know the answers to are: What is your DSO? How does your A/R aging look, especially the 90 days plus bucket? What is your denial rate? What tools exist within your billing software? Simply knowing the answers to those questions is not enough, though. You also need to know what you would like the answers to those questions to be, and what to do if the actual answers don’t match up with the expectation. During this session, moderators Craig and Ronda will be discussing these questions and more with a panel of your peers within the industry, suppliers that have solutions and best practices to share.
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Heartland Conference 2021 | www.vgmheartland.com
Ty Bello | CEO, Team@Work As we move beyond the Pandemic of 2020, we can choose to embrace technology for sales or ignore it. We are living in a SMART sales environment and many are still using flip-phone technology to manage and grow our sales efforts. There are opportunities for us to increase referrals, target top accounts, and create a strong engaging messaging through the adoption and execution of a CRM and market data. During his session, Embrace Sales Technology and Thrive in 2021, Ty will not just explore this opportunity, but provide case information that proves the adoption of these sales technologies works.
Michelle Huie | Founder & CEO, Vim & Vigr Let’s face it—online shopping is the 800-pound gorilla for any brick and mortar store and COVID has only accelerated this. In her session, Beyond the Shop Floor: Transcending Customer Experience in the Digital Age, Michelle will discuss how brick and mortar stores are still highly relevant in this digital landscape and are able to cater to customers and provide experiences in ways that online stores cannot replicate. Her presentation highlights best practices that physical stores need to adopt to not only survive but to thrive.
Kit Shellhouse | Vice President, ECS North Do you feel that commercial payers and managed care contractors employ claims processing stall tactics, denials, and give no provider manual in hopes that you just give up and write off the balance owed you? Navigating these waters is challenging and the payer practices are frustrating. That being said, dealing with these entities to get the reimbursement you deserve takes contract knowledge, perseverance, and tenacity. During her session, Start Gaining Traction with Commercial Payers, Kit will address some of the billing challenges providers face when dealing in the commercial world as well as provide ideas on how to combat denials and reimbursement runarounds.
“The educational opportunities are endless and being able to network with our vendor partners and others—it’s an experience you’ll never forget. Your entire day will be filled with great conversations and endless hospitality! We would love for you to come and experience what your membership truly means to us.” - Rhonda McCumber, Sr. Member Account Manager, VGM & Associates
Heartland Conference 2021 | www.vgmheartland.com
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» UNPARALLELED EDUCATION
VGM Heartland Conference offers two days of in-person education, pre-conference, and access to 20 additional on-demand education sessions. Your registration grants you access to education tracks mapped out to provide the premier education you can only find at Heartland. More than 70 total sessions available with your full conference registration! » Click here to view the complete agenda.
Accessibility
Billing & Reimbursement
Business Operations
Regulatory & Audits
Rehab
Respiratory
Sales, Marketing, & Retail
Business Leadership & People Strategy
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Heartland Conference 2021 | www.vgmheartland.com
» HANDS-ON TRAINING U.S. Rehab Tech Training | Sept. 14-15 U.S. Rehab Tech Training is a two-day seminar on power and manual wheelchair repair. A beginner, intermediate, and advanced track are offered to allow education content to be tailored to the attendees’ skill levels. Tech Training is not included in your Heartland Conference registration. You must pre-register for Tech Training when registering for Heartland. » Learn more.
DMERT Certification Exams | Sept. 13 DMERT certification is a standard and benchmark in the durable medical equipment (DME) and complex rehab (CRT) industry. There are three levels of DMERT Certification LEVEL 1: Basic medical equipment from walkers and manual wheelchairs to hospital beds, scooters, and Group 2 power chairs LEVEL 2: CRT manual wheelchairs, Group 3 power chairs and basic seating adjustments and installation LEVEL 3: Technician trainer able to teach in community colleges or any other approved training venue Number of hands-on exam stations is limited. THIS EVENT SELLS OUT QUICKLY! » Learn more.
Live At Home Installer Training | Sept. 13-15 If you’re in the home modification industry, you can’t afford to miss this one-of-a-kind, hands-on training with our vendor partners. The instructorled curriculum provides practices of the installation, operation, and servicing of an assortment of lifts and ramps. Space is limited. When registering for Live at Home Installer Training, you will need to select which course or courses you wish to attend. » Learn more.
DON’T DELAY! REGISTER TODAY! Earn up to 15 contact hours all in one place and at one low price!
Register by July 15 to take advantage of early bird pricing. Heartland Conference 2021 | www.vgmheartland.com
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» THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS Your Contributions Make Heartland Great Without these great companies, the 2021 Heartland Conference wouldn’t be what it is today. Don’t forget to stop by their booths while you’re here. Current as of June 22, 2021.
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