This year’s ImageTrend Connect 2025 conference brought together hundreds of EMS, fire, and public health professionals from across the country to explore the future of emergency response, clinical performance, and data intelligence. Held in Saint Paul, MN from April 30–May 2, the annual event provided a dynamic forum for hands-on learning, peer collaboration, and real-world insights on how data can shape the next era of care.
From the debut of Next Gen Reporting to powerful sessions on Community Health, NERIS readiness, and the use of AI to streamline documentation, this year’s event showcased just how far the industry has come—and where it’s headed. With 100 sessions led by industry experts on enhancing emergency response, and an inspiring keynote from retired USMC Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch, Connect 2025 was a blueprint for innovation in action.
Let’s break down the key themes from this year’s conference and what they signal for the future of EMS, fire, and public health operations.
From Complexity to Clarity: The Evolution of Reporting
Data reporting was front and center at Connect 2025, with multiple sessions focused on making complex data not only accessible, but actionable.
The introduction of Next Gen Report Writer marked a major milestone for agencies looking to extract faster, smarter insights from their systems. Built to enhance the original ImageTrend Report Writer, this new solution offers a streamlined, intuitive experience for configuring reports across EMS, fire, and public health datasets. It allows administrators to move from static outputs to dynamic, near real-time intelligence that can directly inform operations, resource deployment, and compliance.
In addition to hands-on sessions on building configurable columns, using scheduled reports, and optimizing CAD reconciliation, attendees participated in peer-to-peer workshops to address unique reporting challenges and share best practices.
“We built Next Gen Report Writer with the future in mind—speed, scalability, and simplicity,” said Dylan O’Connor, Digital Learning Specialist at ImageTrend.
Preparing for NERIS: A New Era of Fire Reporting
With the upcoming transition from NFIRS to NERIS, fire departments are preparing for a new reporting landscape.
Multiple sessions provided overviews of the NERIS dataset, compared it with NFIRS, and walked agencies through configuration best practices.
Live demonstrations inside the Elite platform showed how ImageTrend is supporting the shift with tools that simplify the transition and ensure long-term compliance.
For agencies unsure of where to begin, workshops like “Get NERIS Ready with ImageTrend” provided concrete strategies and implementation tips, reducing guesswork and building confidence.
The ImageTrend Platform: One Connected System Across the Lifecycle
At the heart of the conference was a clear message: ImageTrend is one connected platform—uniting EMS, fire, healthcare, and government users under a single, intelligent system.
In the session “ImageTrend: One Connected Platform,” participants explored how solutions like Elite, Continuum, Slate, License Management, and Health Information Hub (HIH) work together to break down silos and streamline care across the full incident lifecycle, from 911 dispatch to hospital follow-up.
Key capabilities showcased included:
- Bidirectional EMS-to-hospital data exchange
- Integrated reporting across incident types
- Seamless scheduling and crew management
- Near real-time dashboards for accreditation and performance
- Shared workflows between EMS, Fire, and Community Health teams
This connected architecture allows organizations to act on data—not just collect it—empowering better decisions, faster documentation, and improved care delivery.
Wellness, Resilience, and the Human Impact of Data
While much of the event focused on technical innovation, Connect 2025 never lost sight of the human element.
In his moving keynote, Nick Popaditch—a retired Marine and Silver Star recipient—delivered “Clarity at 4AM,” a message on leadership, character, and mental toughness in high-pressure moments. His story served as a powerful reminder of the importance of clear thinking under fire, and why the work of EMS, fire, and healthcare professionals matters.
Complementing that theme, sessions like “Reduce the Sirens, Keep the Care” and “Workforce Retention Data Dive” explored how agencies can use data not just to improve performance, but to protect their people and communities. These sessions examined burnout, overuse of lights-and-sirens, and how better workflows can enhance safety for both responders and patients.
Hands-On Learning and Peer Collaboration Between Fire, EMS, and Public Health
The strength of Connect lies in its format—hands-on workshops, interactive discussions, and peer-led case studies.
Attendees participated in small-group sessions on:
- CQI tools and review lists
- Form building and checklist optimization
- EMS-hospital integrations and data exchange
- Community health program scalability
- Crew scheduling automation using Slate
From the First-Timers Meet-Up to the State Administrators Roundtable, the conference created space for knowledge sharing across roles, regions, and experience levels.
EMS teams tackled the increasingly complex challenges of performance management, public health surveillance, and system-wide coordination.
Conversations ranged from blood administration protocols and overdose response trends to the rising pressure of shrinking budgets and interstate performance benchmarking. Across the board, the message was clear: EMS leaders are no longer just managing transport—they’re driving policy, shaping public health strategy, and navigating deeply layered operational demands.
Josh Walters, ImageTrend’s VP of Government Solutions and former biospatial executive, spotlighted how syndromic surveillance tools can give state offices earlier visibility into overdose spikes, trauma patterns, and emerging health threats. Powered by biospatial’s real-time insights, state leaders are finding new ways to act faster and smarter when every minute counts.
These conversations underscored why documentation, connectivity, and real-time intelligence are no longer nice-to-haves, they’re mission-critical. Whether through Elite, Continuum, or HIH, ImageTrend is equipping state EMS offices with the tools they need to lead with confidence and clarity.
Celebrating Trailblazers in Data Innovation: The 2025 Hooley Awards
Each year at Connect, ImageTrend honors individuals and organizations who go above and beyond to serve their communities with purpose, creativity, and data-informed action. Now in its 10th year, the Hooley Awards have become a cornerstone of the conference—an evening of inspiration and recognition that brings the industry together.
This year’s winners exemplified everything the Hooley Awards stand for:
- Innovation Award. Katharine Hickcox, Program Coordinator at the Connecticut Department of Public Health, won for her leadership in expanding the SWORD system to guide the placement of Naloxone vending machines. Her work—blending overdose data, GIS modeling, and multi-agency collaboration—has redefined how states can target harm reduction efforts.
- Service Award. Peggy Huddleston from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services won for her research into the effects of Missouri’s repealed helmet law, bringing to light the rising toll of motorcycle fatalities and injuries. Working alongside ImageTrend’s epidemiologist Morgan Anderson, Huddleston used EMS and trauma data to drive legislative awareness and spark statewide safety campaigns.
- New Frontier Award. Deputy Chief Armando Suarez Del Real of the West Allis Fire Department in Wisconsin won for transforming care through his department’s Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) program. Under his guidance, the department achieved an 80% reduction in high-utilizer 911 calls and created a groundbreaking municipal data exchange contract with the VA—blending clinical care with visionary policy work.
“The 2025 Hooley Award winners represent the very best of what can happen when passion meets purpose and data meets action,” said Patrick Sheahan, President and CEO of ImageTrend. “The winners are industry trailblazers, and we are honored to celebrate their achievements.”
Looking Ahead: The Future of the ImageTrend Platform
One of the most highly attended sessions was “The Future of the ImageTrend Platform,” where product leaders unveiled what’s next for the ecosystem. The roadmap emphasized deeper AI integration, smarter workflows, and a unified UX experience across modules.
Breakout topics included:
- AI-assisted documentation and predictive alerts
- Expanded automation in License Management
- Enhanced visualization tools in Continuum
- Interoperability for hospitals, trauma centers, and registrars
As the platform evolves, the focus remains on configurability, usability, and helping agencies not only meet compliance but lead with innovation.
ImageTrend is Data-Driven, Mission-Focused, and Future-Ready
Connect 2025 reinforced what industry leaders already know: Data is no longer a back-office tool, it’s a frontline asset.
From EMS to fire to healthcare systems, the ability to capture, analyze, and act on real-time information is transforming operations and outcomes alike.
Looking ahead, ImageTrend continues to lead the industry with AI-driven data intelligence designed to reduce burden, improve care, and close the loop in emergency, prehospital, and community health. We’re not just solving challenges—we’re building a more connected, proactive, and intelligent future for Fire, EMS, and Public Health agencies across the country.
Until next year—stay connected.
