Pandemic Tracking and Public Health In addition to providing direct clinical support within the emergency department, AI can analyze vast quantities of publicly available data, including social media and news reports. This can assist with the early recognition of potential future pandemics, as well as predict the timing and location of surges.9 Companies such as Epiwatch are already utilizing NLP to search the internet in real-time for keywords which may signal a potential outbreak. These early warning systems can in turn be utilized to help emergency departments prepare for an impending viral surge or new pandemic.
The Future Ahead
As the field of artificial intelligence rapidly evolves, the impact on healthcare operations and clinical care will continue to expand in ways we cannot yet imagine. The ideas mentioned above represent the tip of the AI iceberg, and the potential for future growth remains vast. As AI continues to expand, its impact will be felt in every aspect of emergency medicine and all of healthcare. As emergency medicine physicians on the frontlines of healthcare, we must commit to fully embrace the benefits AI can have in our clinical practice. The growth of AI will lead to increased ED efficiency, reduced physician workload and burnout, and ultimately improved care for all of our patients. Author’s note: In the spirit of AI, ChatGPT was utilized to help proof this article.
References 1. Artificial Intelligence: Potential benefits and ethical ... Available at: https:// www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2016/571380/IPOL_ BRI(2016)571380_EN.pdf 2. Ivanov O, Wolf L, Brecher D, et al. Improving ED Emergency Severity Index Acuity Assignment Using Machine Learning and Clinical Natural Language Processing. J Emerg Nurs. 2021;47(2):265-278.e7. 3. Environment, A.C. (2023) Using AI to improve patient bed allocation decisions in hospital, GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/ government/case-studies/using-ai-to-improve-patient-bed-allocationdecisions-in-hospital 4. Cleveland Clinic (2024) How AI assists with staffing, scheduling and once-tedious tasks, Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://consultqd. clevelandclinic.org/how-ai-assists-with-staffing-scheduling-and-oncetedious-tasks 5. Lubell, J. (2023) How geisinger uses AI to ensure incidental findings get follow up, American Medical Association. Available at: https://www. ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital/how-geisinger-uses-ai-ensureincidental-findings-get-follow
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6. Hill RG Jr, Sears LM, Melanson SW. 4000 clicks: a productivity analysis of electronic medical records in a community hospital ED. Am J Emerg Med. 2013;31(11):1591-1594. 7. Robeznieks, A. (2024) Ai scribe saves doctors an hour at the keyboard every day, American Medical Association. Available at: https://www. ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital/ai-scribe-saves-doctors-hourkeyboard-every-day 8. Morey J, Winters R, Jones D. (2024) Artificial Intelligence to Predict Billing Code Levels of Emergency Department Encounters. Ann Emerg Med. 9. Heilweil, R. (2024) Ai is already tracking the next pandemic, Harvard Public Health Magazine. Available at: https://harvardpublichealth.org/ policy-practice/ai-services-like-epiwatch-are-already-tracking-the-nextpandemic/