Around 1,100 people attended the AHRA 2008 Annual Meeting and Exhibition last week, not including the 200+ vendors. The floor was very dynamic this year, and only at the AHRA can you see so many brand new companies showcasing new equipment.

"Normally, all vendors come to me here so I usually know what's out there and what's new before anyone else, and not everyone's that fortunate," said Bonni Standley, CRA, MBA, Director of Radiology, Mayo Clinic.

The DOTmed.com Auction team met well over 200 people at our booth, among them top radiology directors and imaging opinion leaders. We also met more than a dozen staffing companies. Other booths at the show gave away free pens and chocolate, but DOTmed raffled off a free Apple iPhone. Based on a statistical random sample, the following visitor to our booth was chosen as the winner of this year's raffle: Brenda DeBastiani, Op CC Supervisor, Monongalia General Hospital. Congratulations Brenda!
AHRA is for radiology administrators. "Dollar for dollar, it is the best show. The people know what they are looking for when they come to the AHRA," said Anne Yi, Marketing Supervisor, Canon Medical Systems.

So what was the buzz at the AHRA this year? "The biggest focus of the courses offered was on graphics and catch phrases to save money -- budgeting -- because of the DRA cuts," said Yi. "Now is the time to provide a solution."

Hazel C. Hacker, FAHRA, Business Manager of Edison Imaging Associates P.A., had the opportunity to facilitate the morning round table of the DRA discussion and the conversation was positive. "It seems to me that everybody realizes we all need each other now more than ever," said Hacker. "If the vendors fail we fail and vice versa."

There was also a session on national patient safety goals, which was a big hit and is what Covidien focuses on with their product (see below). Their presentation on Tuesday night, July 29, which generated a great deal of interest and had an extraordinary turn out.

Overall, most have seen nothing but growth, change and improvement each year. "The show floor was bigger than we've ever seen," said Standley, "It was a huge success."

DOTmed Business News Magazine staff had the privilege of meeting some of the exhibitors at the AHRA. Here is a rundown:

Dunlee

At Dunlee's booth, Tom Spees, Director of U.S. Sales, proudly showed off their speed line table, introduced at last year's RSNA, with patient positioning and radiographic solutions. "There is a single pedestal and a detector or C-Arm can be slid under the table easily," said Spees. "It is made out of carbon fiber and holds a 500-pound patient capacity." The product has sold very well, with 100 already installed in operating rooms, which is exceptional for a single DR system.

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