What if your emergency department could predict admissions at triage, automatically flag high-risk patients in real time, and tell families exactly when they’ll be seen – before a clinician ever walks into the room?
In this second interview in our AI series, I sit down with Dr. Jason Fischer, Division Head of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at SickKids | The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, to break down how AI is already transforming pediatric emergency care. From AI-driven patient flow and precision wait times, to proactive safety systems that identify high-risk patients during surges, to a future where physicians may evolve into “pioneers, guardians, and stewards,” this conversation goes well beyond theory into what’s actually happening – and what’s coming next.
Dr. Fisher offers a rare systems-level view of AI in action, along with a candid discussion of the challenges ahead, including regulation, safety, and the risks of becoming too dependent on centralized AI platforms. Check out the video interview and audio-only version below!
If you missed the first interview in this series, you can check it out here.
Audio Podcast:
AI Won't Replace Doctors – But Doctors Who Use AI Will | Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli – Doctors Are People Too
In this episode, Dr. Josh Belfer sits down with Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli – emergency physician, attorney, and Co-President/CEO of Cooper University Health Care – for a fascinating discussion on the present and future of artificial intelligence in medicine.While much of the conversation around AI has focused on ambient documentation and note-writing, "Dr. Mazz" argues that we're only seeing the beginning. From real-time clinical decision support and quality improvement initiatives to transforming medical education and physician workflows, AI has the potential to fundamentally change how healthcare is delivered.Together, they discuss:Why ambient scribes have been adopted so rapidlyHow AI may soon support clinical decisions at the bedsideThe role of Epic Cosmos and large-scale healthcare datasetsWhat AI means for residents, medical students, and physician trainingHow healthcare systems are using AI to improve quality and safetyWhy physician adoption may be a bigger challenge than the technology itselfThe three skills future physicians will need to thriveDr. Mazzarelli offers an optimistic but practical perspective on how clinicians can embrace these tools while preserving the human connection that remains at the heart of medicine.
- AI Won't Replace Doctors – But Doctors Who Use AI Will | Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli
- Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Emergency Medicine | Dr. Jason Fischer on How AI Is Reshaping the ER
- Measles is Back: The Experts Tell You What You Need to Know
- Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Emergency Medicine | A Conversation with Dr. Selin Sagalowsky
- Mass Casualty 101: Real-Life ER Disaster Planning with Dr. Matt Harris
Dr. Joshua Belfer, MD, is a Pediatric Emergency Medicine physician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of HipPEMcrates. He can be reached at HipPEMcrates@gmail.com.
