STAT+: Can AI fix the emergency room?

STAT's AI Prognosis newsletter reports that ambient AI scribes, which transcribe patient-clinician conversations, address only a small fraction of emergency department workflow problems, according to a new story by the newsletter's author. The piece highlights that while AI documentation tools are popular, they do not tackle broader issues like resource shortages and patient flow that dominate emergency care.

Y ou’re reading the web edition of STAT’s AI Prognosis newsletter, our subscriber-exclusive guide to artificial intelligence in health care and medicine. Sign up to get it https://www.statnews.com/signup/ai-prognosis/ delivered in your inbox every Wednesday. It’s hard to resist the world’s obsession with productivity and efficiency and to force yourself to be present in a quiet space. I’ve been enjoying the wandering cassettes Instagram account, which posts videos of Fisher Price cassette players playing songs in different settings. This one https://www.instagram.com/reels/DcdlqS8hll2/ is particularly calming, but they’re all timeline cleansers. The newsletter will be off next week as I work on a big new story, but I’ll be back in your inboxes Sept. 23. AI scribes only fix a tiny slice of the problem Today’s AI Prognosis — and my new story — are brought to you by “The Pitt.” Not in any financial way — I just mean that I finally started watching “The Pitt.” No spoilers I’m only halfway through season two. Everyone is right — it is extremely compelling television. But what struck me the most was how “The Pitt” feels exactly like the ambulance ride-alongs and emergency department shadowing visits I’ve done: Dropping in on the worst day of someone’s life, but doing it over and over every 40 minutes, for eight to 12 hours, without enough resources. This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in /login/ View All Plans https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/