INFORMATICS, DATA SCIENCE & AI
The Future Is Now: AI’s Expanding Role in Emergency Department Operations
SAEM PULSE | JULY-AUGUST 2025
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
60
At SAEM25 in Philadelphia, a packed audience gathered for a dynamic didactic session, “The Future Is Now: Impacts of AI on Emergency Department Operations.” Cosponsored by the SAEM Innovation Interest Group, the ED Administration and Clinical Operations Committee, and the Informatics, Data Science & AI Interest Group, the panel brought together leaders at the forefront of clinical operations and artificial intelligence integration into emergency care. Panelists included Dr. Joe Gannett, hospital flow lead at LA General; Dr.
Ben Slovis, chief medical information officer at Temple University; Dr. Alan Cherney, emergency department medical director at Jefferson Health; and Rebecca Urban, vice president of operations at Jefferson Health. Their insights went beyond hype into the operational realities, pitfalls, and potential of AI tools as they pertain to operations and flow.
What Should We Build Toward?
Opening the session, the panel focused on a foundational question: What does success in ED operations actually mean — and what should AI be building toward?
“For me, it's about quality, safety and efficiency. We're here to take better care of more patients — and AI should make that easier,” said Dr. Gannett. The panelists emphasized that AI should be building toward a future where burdensome clerical tasks are minimized, workflows are streamlined, and frontline teams are freed to focus on patient care. They painted a clear picture of AI’s emerging role as a strategic co-pilot in clinical operations. For example, Dr. Cherney and Urban shared how predictive models