If It Isn’t Broken, Don’t Fix It!—Right?

June 23, 2025

9:30 am –

10:20 am

Meeting Room 5

Tracks: Hot Topics, Operations, Workforce & HR

We keep hearing data drives decisions but are we collecting the right data and analyzing correctly to make those right decisions. Unit Hour Utilization is still a widely used term throughout the EMS industry. This session will explain what data should be collected and analyzed to determine the UHU of your system and individual units. We will explain how to redefine UHU to time-on-task exploring direct and non-direct tasks while creating a safe, efficient, and effective system that will help prevent provider burnout.

Speakers:

Chris Lake
Deputy Director of Fire and EMS Response System Development
International Association Fire Fighters

Chris Lake has been Deputy Director of Fire and EMS Response System Development for the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) since 2021, previously serving as Fire-Based EMS Specialist since April 2020. Prior to starting his career with the IAFF, Chris retired as a Captain/Paramedic after a 23-year career with the City of Lansing, MI. Fire Department. Chris served in every elected position of Lansing Fire Fighters IAFF Local 421...

Jason Derrey
Fire-Based EMS Specialist
IAFF

Jason Derrey joined the IAFF in 2020 as a Fire-Based EMS Specialist. He works with IAFF affiliates to evaluate EMS systems and provide recommendations aligned with national consensus standards and best practices. Jason retired at the rank of Captain from an all-hazard fire department in Southwest Washington, bringing decades of experience in emergency medical services. His EMS career began in 1996, and he became a paramedic in 1999. Over the years,...