The Future is Now: Impacts of Artificial Intelligence on Emergency Department Operations (ED Administration and Clinical Operations Committee- and Innovations Interest Group-Sponsored)
As demand for emergency services rises, emergency departments (EDs) face increased pressure to deliver timely and efficient care. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a valuable tool to address these challenges and transform ED operations. Understanding AI's potential and limitations is essential for healthcare leaders seeking to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency. In this session, a panel of experts—including an AI specialist, a physician in the tech industry, and an operations leader—will explore how AI is reshaping ED operations from their perspectives. By the end of this session, attendees will gain insights into the benefits and challenges of AI integration, as well as strategies for leveraging AI to enhance ED practices. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to improve efficiency and patient care, ensuring AI is effectively implemented in their own departments.
Learning Objectives:
- Analyze the current and potential impacts of AI on emergency department operations.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of AI-driven tools in optimizing patient care and operational efficiency within the ED.
- Identify key challenges and opportunities in integrating AI technologies into existing ED workflows.
- Formulate strategies for incorporating AI into emergency department practices to enhance clinical decision-making and efficiency.
Presenters:
- Nicholas R. Stark, MD, MBA
- Joe Gannett, MD
- Brandon R. Allen, MD
- Moira E. Smith, MD, MPH
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Nicholas R. Stark, MD, MBA
Mercy Medical Center Merced
Nicholas Stark, MD, MBA, is a board-certified Emergency Physician working at the intersection of clinical care, administration, and innovation. A former Chief Resident at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), he works clinically at UCSF and serves as the Assistant Director of UCSF's Acute Care Innovation Center. Nicholas also works clinically and serves as the Chair of Emergency Medicine and Director of Operations at Mercy Medical Center in Merced, CA. At Mercy Merced, Nicholas is the founding director of the Acute Care Innovation Center and is currently reconstructing their triage and vertical care processes as well as working across disciplines to streamline the admission process and invigorate patient experience efforts. Nicholas has extensive experience leading health system-wide quality improvement initiatives and has received the prestigious Patient Safety Movement’s Leadership Award. Nationally, Nicholas is the founding co-director of a digital-based business curriculum sponsored by ACEP & EMRA, co-founder of the Emergency Medicine Innovation Collaborative, and serves on several boards and committees.
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Joe Gannett, MD
Los Angeles General Medical Center
Dr. Joe Gannett is an emergency medicine physician currently serving as the Assistant Medical Director of Patient Flow at Los Angeles General Medical Center. Dr. Gannett has a strong background in healthcare operations, patient safety, and social emergency medicine, focusing on improving care for underserved communities.
Dr. Gannett earned his Doctor of Medicine with distinction from Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, NJ. He then completed his residency at the LSU Spirit of Charity Emergency Medicine Residency in New Orleans, LA, where he served as Chief Resident in his final year. During residency, he received several prestigious awards, including the LSU Spirit of Charity Albert J. Lauro Award for Outstanding Graduating Emergency Medicine Resident. He also received the Louisiana Quality Network Target Guideline Top Performer Award and the Low Value Care Excellence Award for Leadership in Assisting Low Performers, recognizing his leadership in clinical excellence and quality improvement.
Following his residency, Dr. Gannett completed the Health System Leader Fellowship at Los Angeles General Medical Center (formerly LAC+USC Medical Center). This fellowship focused on patient flow, operations, and quality improvement, where he led efforts to streamline clinical workflows and enhance care transitions.
Dr. Gannett's research and professional work focus on health equity, quality improvement, and language justice. He has contributed to key publications, including "EMRA Practice Essentials of Emergency Medicine," and actively shared his insights at national forums. Notably, in 2024, he presented on the impact of language barriers on emergency department throughput at the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. His recent projects include a significant redesign of triage processes at UT Southwestern’s Clements University Hospital, which substantially increased physician productivity and earned a Top 5 Service Improvement Award.
Dr. Gannett is dedicated to improving hospital operations and patient care as the Assistant Medical Director of Patient Flow at Los Angeles General Medical Center, striving to make a meaningful difference in the health of underserved communities. -
Brandon Allen, MD
University of Florida
Brandon Allen, MD, FACEP is an Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine UF Health. He serves as the Administrative Fellowship Director, Medical Director of the Clinical Decision Unit (CDU), and UF Health Chest Pain Center Medical Director. Dr. Allen also holds the position of Affiliate Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and is the UF Health Rehab Quality Medical Director. His academic and clinical interests focus on emergency medicine, cardiac and TBI biomarkers, clinical decision-making, and quality improvement in patient care. -
Moira E. Smith, MD, MPH
University of Virginia
Moira Smith, MD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, Director of Digital Clinical Workflows, and Assistant Emergency Medicine Informatics Director at the University of Virginia. She completed her emergency medicine residency and clinical informatics fellowship at the University of Virginia. Her work focuses on data analytics and reporting, quality improvement, electronic health record usability and workflow optimization, and clinical decision support. She is the current Chair Elect of the SAEM Informatics, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence Interest Group.