ImageTrend Report Highlights Shifts in Prehospital Care Delivery
Event summary
- ImageTrend's 2026 EMS Insights Report analyzes 157 million EMS activations from 2018 to 2025 across all 50 states.
- Prehospital blood administration doubled from 5% in 2023 to 10% in 2025, though 87% of administrations were still air-based.
- Behavioral health-related responses rose from 9.8% in 2023 to 11.7% in 2025.
- Only 3% of EMS records included hospital outcome information, highlighting care continuity gaps.
The big picture
The report underscores the evolving complexity of prehospital care, driven by increasing demand for specialized services and operational constraints. ImageTrend's analysis highlights the need for systemic investments to support EMS agencies in managing these shifts, particularly as trauma and behavioral health incidents rise. The limited visibility into patient outcomes suggests broader challenges in care coordination across healthcare systems.
What we're watching
- Operational Scaling
- How EMS systems will adapt to the growing demand for prehospital blood administration and behavioral health responses.
- Data Integration
- Whether the industry can improve hospital outcome data integration to enhance care continuity.
- Resource Allocation
- The pace at which EMS agencies will allocate resources to address trauma care gaps, particularly in pain management.