The three-day Kinnser Conference in Austin, TX commenced with much hype and concluded on Thursday with the promise of better awareness of the latest trends, standards, and how to face challenges ahead. For us at QAnnovate, we left the conference hopeful that we were able to shed some light on QA solutions available for the growing home health and hospice companies we met.

With sessions abound, relevant topics and business-changing knowledge, the Kinnser Conference delivered. "The Financial sessions probably weren't the best topics for me to walk into right after eating lunch, but I'm glad I did," says David Hurlocker of At Home Health Care. People of all levels and positions from different agencies were bustling around trying to get into the next session. They were also enthusiastic to learn about the different companies who came to showcase their products and services. Of course, QAnnovate was one of them. We were happy to see that everybody at the conference – from the Kinnser team, co-exhibitors, and especially the conference attendees – were very welcoming and we couldn't have asked for a better reception.

To make things exciting, the conference sponsors and exhibitors had prepared some fun raffle drawings and 7 lucky winners were drawn to pick a prize of their choice from our booth. QAnnovate gave away Bluetooth speakers, power banks and streaming sticks. And the winners were...

• Angie Moore from Arizona Home Care
• Wendi Snell from Aspire Home Health and Hospice
• David Hurlocker from At Home Health Care
• Nicky Guillory from Evangeline Home Health
• Dana Brown from Golden Age Home Health
• Victoria Jefferson from Caring Health Services
• Geronimo Rodriguez from Exclusive Home Health and Hospice

Just as the heat was up with all the activities at the conference, Austin made it's share of the experience. All three of those days in Austin was hot and you just want to be out in it! Kinnser sponsored a bat river boat cruise that went up and down the Colorado River. The climax was this beautiful sunset view while eagerly waiting for the bat show. Austin is also know to be the "Bat City" where these pound-size mammals can outnumber Austinites for most of the year.

It was such a joy exchanging hellos and sharing stories with all of the participants. But what is the ultimate takeaway? The home health world is changing and the changes are coming faster than ever. Equipping yourselves with the knowledge and support of peers in the industry, companies like Kinnser, QAnnovate and several others, you can be confident that you are not alone in your challenges.