The Future is Now - AI’s Expanding Role in Emergency Department Operations
By Nicholas Stark, MD, MBA, Joe Gannett, MD, Moira E. Smith, MD, MPH, and Brandon Allen, MD, on behalf of the SAEM Innovation Interest Group, the SAEM ED Administration and Clinical Operations Committee, and the SAEM Informatics, Data Science, & AI Interest Group
At SAEM25 in Philadelphia, a packed session brought together clinical and operational leaders to explore how AI is already reshaping emergency departments. Panelists shared real examples—from cutting transfer delays with predictive models to overcoming resistance with data-driven wins—and emphasized the need for thoughtful governance, frontline engagement, and a focus on solving real problems. The message: AI is here, and emergency medicine has a critical role in shaping its future.