Each year, the Connect conference brings together ImageTrend users, emergency response leaders, and experts for a week of shared learning, collaboration, and forward-looking conversations. Connect26 carried that tradition forward, creating space to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and spend time face-to-face with the people shaping emergency response every day.
From packed sessions and one-on-one conversations at the Solutions Booths to spontaneous hallway discussions and evening social events, the week was defined as much by connection as it was by content.
A Week Built on Connection and Collaboration
At its core, Connect has always been about bringing the community together. That was on full display throughout the week.
Attendees spent time working directly with ImageTrend teams at the Solutions Booths, digging into real workflows, asking questions, and finding practical ways to solve day-to-day challenges. In breakout sessions and discussion groups, conversations moved beyond presentations into peer-to-peer learning, where attendees shared what’s working, what’s changing, and what comes next.
Whether it was a quick exchange between sessions or a longer conversation with a peer facing similar challenges, Connect26 reinforced the value of stepping away from the day-to-day to connect, learn, and collaborate.
Setting the Tone: Leadership, Resilience, and Showing Up Strong
Day 1 opened with remarks from President and CEO Patrick Sheahan, who reflected on the strength of the ImageTrend community and its role in pushing emergency response forward. His message centered on the idea that meaningful progress comes from people willing to challenge the status quo, find new solutions, and stay focused on improving outcomes across the continuum of care.
That theme carried into the keynote from speaker Rob Swymer, whose session, “Own the Moment: Reset Fast. Show Up Strong.” focused on how individuals and teams perform under pressure. His message was both personal and practical: in a profession where change is the only constant, performance comes down to how you show up. Blending leadership insight with science-backed techniques, the keynote gave attendees tangible ways to manage stress, stay focused, and adapt in real time.
Introducing a New Era of Intelligence with Unified Analytics
One of the most impactful moments of the week came with the introduction of Unified Analytics, a new intelligence suite designed to bring reporting, dashboards, alerts, and data access into one cohesive experience.
Positioned as one of the largest investments in ImageTrend’s history, Unified Analytics represents a shift toward a more connected, accessible approach to data. Bringing all datasets and products into a single, unified layer gives agencies faster access to insights and greater flexibility in how they analyze and act on their data. As Senior Product Manager Chris Brown put it, “This is the foundation of our future in analytics.”
AI in Action: Supporting CQI and Smarter Workflows
Throughout the week, one theme came up repeatedly: AI is already being integrated into everyday workflows. Sessions focused on Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) highlighted how new tools like AI Assist: CQI Check can bring quality insights earlier into the documentation process, helping teams catch issues sooner, reduce rework, and improve consistency across reviews.
By automating routine checks, organizations can free up time to focus on clinical improvement, education, and long-term initiatives. It’s a practical shift that reflects what many agencies are looking for today: ways to reduce administrative burden while still raising the standard of care.
Connecting the Continuum of Care
Interoperability and connected data were also front and center at Connect26. The introduction of Carelytics demonstrated how EMS-to-hospital data sharing can be streamlined through near real-time interoperability, automatically connecting prehospital records with hospital encounters and closing the loop with data returned back to EMS.
This broader focus on interoperability extended across sessions exploring the future of EMS data exchange, where standards-based connectivity and smarter automation are helping agencies, hospitals, and health systems make more informed decisions.
The message was clear: better data sharing leads to better coordination, and ultimately, better patient outcomes.
From Insight to Real-World Impact
Beyond product announcements and future-focused conversations, Connect26 also highlighted the real-world impact of data and innovation in action.
One session explored the San Antonio Fire Department and STRAC Whole Blood Program, walking through how it was built, how it’s been sustained, and how data is used to measure its impact on patient outcomes.
Another focused on the Rural Health Transformation Program and the role technology plays in extending care to underserved communities. These sessions grounded the broader themes of the conference in the reality behind the work, demonstrating how agencies are using data, technology, and collaboration to solve complex challenges in the field.
Celebrating the Community at the 11th Hooley Awards
On Wednesday night, the eleventh annual Hooley Awards once again recognized the individuals driving innovation in emergency response. The evening highlighted forward-thinking approaches to improving outcomes, reinforcing the impact of data, collaboration, and leadership across EMS, fire, and healthcare. Read our press release for the full list of winners.
The evening social at the Science Museum of Minnesota provided a chance to continue those conversations in a more relaxed setting, followed by another night of networking and connection at New Bohemia and Truck Park.
Carrying the Connect26 Momentum Forward
As attendees headed home from Connect26, the conversations continued to inspire.
The ideas shared, the connections made, and the innovations introduced throughout the week all point toward the same goal: helping organizations deliver better care, operate more effectively, and stay ready for what’s next.
For those who joined us, thank you for being part of the experience. And for those who couldn’t attend, the spirit of Connect continues year-round in the work being done every day across EMS, fire, and healthcare.
CTA: It’s time to change the game. Explore the 2026 EMS Insights Report to see how agencies are turning data into action across the industry.
Lane Ledesma
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