Emergency Department Packed to the Gills? Someday, AI May Help

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#"> <head> <title>Emergency Department Packed to the Gills? Someday, AI May Help | UC San Francisco</title> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="description" content="With further validation and clinical trials, the use of artificial intelligence in emergency departments could one day help prioritize patients based on the urgency of their treatment, and help with triage in emergency care." /> <meta name="abstract" content="With further validation and clinical trials, the use of artificial intelligence in emergency departments could one day help prioritize patients based on the urgency of their treatment, and help with triage in emergency care." /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/05/427521/emergency-department-packed-gills-someday-ai-may-help" /> <link rel="image_src" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Emergency Department Packed to the Gills? Someday, AI May Help | UC San Francisco" /> <meta property="og:type" content="news" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/05/427521/emergency-department-packed-gills-someday-ai-may-help" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Emergency Department Packed to the Gills? Someday, AI May Help" /> <meta property="og:description" content="With further validation and clinical trials, the use of artificial intelligence in emergency departments could one day help prioritize patients based on the urgency of their treatment, and help with triage in emergency care." /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:secure_url" content="https://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="With further validation and clinical trials, the use of artificial intelligence in emergency departments could one day help prioritize patients based on the urgency of their treatment, and help with triage in emergency care." /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@ucsf" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Emergency Department Packed to the Gills? Someday, AI May Help" /> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@ucsf" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg" /> <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="||||" /> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="rSaM6CprJQndLnVGSxg0oZ-oB85lajeVcjE1fQzK1-I" /> <meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 10 (https://www.drupal.org)" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <script type="application/ld+json">{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "NewsArticle", "headline": "Emergency Department Packed to the Gills? Someday, AI May Help", "name": "Emergency Department Packed to the Gills? Someday, AI May Help | UC San Francisco", "description": "With further validation and clinical trials, the use of artificial intelligence in emergency departments could one day help prioritize patients based on the urgency of their treatment, and help with triage in emergency care.", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "representativeOfPage": "True", "url": "https://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg", "width": "940", "height": "481" }, "datePublished": "2024-05-06T10:54:31-0700", "dateModified": "2024-05-06T10:54:31-0700", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://www.ucsf.edu/", "name": "University of California San Francisco", "url": "https://www.ucsf.edu/", "sameAs": "https://twitter.com/ucsf, https://www.facebook.com/ucsf, https://instagram.com/ucsf, https://www.youtube.com/ucsf, https://www.linkedin.com/school/ucsf", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "representativeOfPage": "True", "url": "https://www.ucsf.edu/themes/custom/ucsf/assets/images/ucsf_logo_navy_for_google_structured_data.png", "width": "360", "height": "174" } }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://www.ucsf.edu/", "name": "University of California San Francisco", "url": "https://www.ucsf.edu/", "sameAs": "https://twitter.com/ucsf, https://www.facebook.com/ucsf, https://instagram.com/ucsf, https://www.youtube.com/ucsf, https://www.linkedin.com/school/ucsf", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "representativeOfPage": "True", "url": "https://www.ucsf.edu/themes/custom/ucsf/assets/images/ucsf_logo_navy_for_google_structured_data.png", "width": "360", "height": "174" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/05/427521/emergency-department-packed-gills-someday-ai-may-help" } ] }</script> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:content_title" content="Emergency Department Packed to the Gills? Someday, AI May Help" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:content_type" content="article" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:page_type" content="node page" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:language" content="en" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:content_section" content="" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:content_keywords" content="" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:post_id" content="427521" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:content_uuid" content="702fe984-9868-43ae-8332-ef89e9ccfb93" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:published_date" content="1715018071" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:persona" content="" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:engagement_score" content="1" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:account_id" content="UCSF" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:site_id" content="ucsfedu" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:liftAssetsURL" content="https://builder.lift.acquia.com" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:liftDecisionAPIURL" content="https://us.perz-api.cloudservices.acquia.io" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:bootstrapMode" content="auto" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:contentReplacementMode" content="trusted" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:apiVersion" content="v3" /> <script src="https://builder.lift.acquia.com/lift.js" async></script> <link rel="icon" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/GranjonLTW01-Roman.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/HelveticaNeueLTW04-45Light.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/HelveticaNeueLTW04-55Roman.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/HelveticaNeueLTW04-56Italic.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/HelveticaNeueLTW04-65Medium.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/HelveticaNeueLTW06-75Bold.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <script src="/sites/default/files/google_tag/primary/google_tag.script.js?sroovw" defer></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_1M6X16-toc9kPsDUV7f1fRiXXjEbDp_DX8NYskiSeKQ.css?delta=0&language=en&theme=ucsf&include=eJxlkFFuxDAIRC_krj96IIvYbEIXm8jgpO7p691E2kb9QehpYAbiAxOZ1NA_jcLKbaaifscpSl6lYDF1CQwYOlY_4QIbSVWnEgk45DENgak81P9HN1swo9OuhtlPoOgig2q_9BlVYUZ1USr6IjUD0w-6FvXuZ5YJ2HVp1iYMMzBj7Sf-UOvDaHZqYKRGUX2qbQW-vYnbCHf1r3rLkhrjBcEXfB9eyCNtsXCHhFeiu4guB3uWAHWsZgwm67AII3nFaGFBSM88l2HZsDKsIaENDUn5s-f8GUUpeuJCQ6_AilDj4RkgyTgeCnB_HfmGv-lmsOQ" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_4PZ6r_xanNQIMXbNLeKTmAm5lmCaCgvk1r8DntMPrSA.css?delta=1&language=en&theme=ucsf&include=eJxlkFFuxDAIRC_krj96IIvYbEIXm8jgpO7p691E2kb9QehpYAbiAxOZ1NA_jcLKbaaifscpSl6lYDF1CQwYOlY_4QIbSVWnEgk45DENgak81P9HN1swo9OuhtlPoOgig2q_9BlVYUZ1USr6IjUD0w-6FvXuZ5YJ2HVp1iYMMzBj7Sf-UOvDaHZqYKRGUX2qbQW-vYnbCHf1r3rLkhrjBcEXfB9eyCNtsXCHhFeiu4guB3uWAHWsZgwm67AII3nFaGFBSM88l2HZsDKsIaENDUn5s-f8GUUpeuJCQ6_AilDj4RkgyTgeCnB_HfmGv-lmsOQ" /> <script>if (!window.customElements) { document.write(' <script type="text/javascript" src="/modules/custom/ckeditor_y3ti_plugins/bower_components/webcomponentsjs/custom-elements-es5-adapter.js"></script>  <script src="/modules/custom/ckeditor_y3ti_plugins/bower_components/webcomponentsjs/webcomponents-loader.js?sroovw"></script> <script src="/modules/custom/ucsf_adobe_analytics/js/ucsf-data-layer.js?sroovw" defer></script> <script src="/modules/custom/ucsf_adobe_analytics/js/ucsf-mag-marketing-data-layer.js?sroovw" defer></script> <script src="https://assets.adobedtm.com/db5f13cb240b/b1130ce1ceae/launch-db8f55f3e131.min.js" defer></script> </head> <body class="alias-news-2024-05-427521-emergency-department-packed-gills-someday-ai-may-help path-node page-node-type-article loading"> <a href="#main-content" class="visually-hidden focusable skip-link"> Skip to main content </a> <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TSHCJ6" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas> <div class="page"> <header class="combined-header-region "> <section class="universal-header-region"> <div class="universal-header"> <p id="site-name" class="universal-header__title">University of California San Francisco</p> <a href="https://giving.ucsf.edu" class="universal-header__give">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </section> <section class="header-region"> <div class="header "> <figure class="header--logo logo"> <a class="logo__link" href="/" title="Home" rel="home"> <picture class="logo__image"> <img fetchpriority="high" class="logo__img" src="/themes/custom/ucsf/logo.svg" alt="Home" height="41" width="83"> </picture> </a> </figure> <div class="header--search menu-item"><a href="/search" role="button" class="nolink mobile-search-reveal "><span>Search</span></a> <div class="home-search__form "> <form action="/search" accept-charset="utf-8" method="get" class="search__form"> <label for="header-search" class="visually-hidden">Small screen search</label> <input type="text" name="search" id="header-search" size="32" class="home-search__form-input " value="" placeholder="Search people, places, ideas" /> <input type="submit" id="edit-submit-header" name="op" value="Search" class="home-search__form-submit "> <fieldset class="fieldset-reset"> <legend class="visually-hidden">Choose what type of search to perform</legend> <div class="search-filter"> <label for="allucsf"> <input id="allucsf" type="radio" name="filter" class="visually-hidden search-filter__radio" value="All" checked> <div class="search-filter__label"> <span class="search-filter__option"></span> <span>All UCSF</span> </div> </label> <label for="newscenter"> <input id="newscenter" type="radio" name="filter" class="visually-hidden search-filter__radio" value="News"> <div class="search-filter__label"> <span class="search-filter__option"></span> <span>UCSF News Center</span> </div> </label> </div> </fieldset> </form> </div> </div> <div class="slicknav-placeholder"></div> <nav aria-label="Main" id="block-ucsf-main-menu" class="block block-menu navigation menu--main main-menu--mobile main-nav"> <ul block="block-ucsf-main-menu" class="menu-parent-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded menu-top-level__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about" class="nolink" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130301">About</a> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about" title="UCSF Overview" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130301">Overview</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/mission-and-values" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/406481">Mission & Values</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded dropdown-menu__item" > <span class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Our Impact</span> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/achievements" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413636">Achievements</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="/about/community-benefits" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/629">UCSF in the Community</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/history-1" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93484">History</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded dropdown-menu__item" > <span class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Facts & Figures</span> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/ucsf-budget" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/403036">Budget</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/innovation" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413691">Inventions & Entrepreneurship</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="/sites/default/files/2024-12/UCSF-General-Fact-Sheet-December-2024.pdf" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">UCSF Fact Sheet</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded dropdown-menu__item" > <span class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Administration</span> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/leadership/chancellors-cabinet" target="_blank">Campus Leaders</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/chancellor" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Chancellor</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://evcprovost.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="/cgr" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93347">Community & Government Relations</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://diversity.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Diversity & Outreach</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://fas.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Finance & Administrative Services</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://legal.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Legal Affairs</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/office-of-communications" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/423371">Office of Communications</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://giving.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">University Development & Alumni Relations</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/locations" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/96416">Locations</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded menu-top-level__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/patient-care" class="nolink" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130356">Patient Care</a> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/patient-care" title="Patient Care Overview" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130356">Overview</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">UCSF Health</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfdentalcenter.org/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">UCSF Dental Center</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://psych.ucsf.edu/lpphc" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/clinics" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Specialty Clinics</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/patient-care/clinical-trials" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93456">Clinical Trials</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded menu-top-level__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/research" class="nolink" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130351">Research</a> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/research" title="Research Overview" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130351">Overview</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/research/partnerships" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130491">Partnerships</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://research.ucsf.edu" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Office of Research</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://innovation.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Innovation Ventures</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://postdocs.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Postdoctoral Scholars</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded menu-top-level__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/education" class="nolink" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130311">Education</a> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/education" title="Education Overview" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130311">Overview</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/education/admissions" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/409171">Admissions</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded dropdown-menu__item" > <span class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Schools & Programs</span> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="http://dentistry.ucsf.edu/" title="School of Dentistry" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">School of Dentistry</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://medschool.ucsf.edu" title="School of Medicine" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">School of Medicine</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://pharmacy.ucsf.edu" title="School Pharmacy" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">School of Pharmacy</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://nursing.ucsf.edu" title="School of Nursing" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">School of Nursing</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://graduate.ucsf.edu" title="Graduate Education" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Graduate Division</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://globalhealthsciences.ucsf.edu" title="Global Health Sciences" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Global Health Sciences</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded dropdown-menu__item" > <span class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Resources for Students</span> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://registrar.ucsf.edu/academic-calendar" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Academic Calendar</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://career.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Career Center</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://finaid.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Financial Aid</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://catalog.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">General Catalog</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.library.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Library</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://registrar.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Registrar</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://success.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Student Success Guide</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded menu-top-level__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news" class="nolink" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413561">News & Media</a> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413561">UCSF News Center</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://magazine.ucsf.edu/magazine" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/418411">UCSF Magazine</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="/campus-news" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/1006">Campus News</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="/news/media-coverage" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/413496">Media Coverage</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news-media/journalists" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130226">Resources for Journalists</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item search menu-top-level__item" > <a href="/search" class="main-navigation__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="search">Search</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </nav> <nav aria-label="Main" id="block-ucsf-main-menu-desktop" class="block block-menu navigation menu--main main-nav"> <ul block="block-ucsf-main-menu-desktop" class="main-nav__menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded main-nav__submenu-wrapper" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-about-menu" aria-controls="aria-about-menu" aria-expanded=false > About </button> <div id="aria-about-menu" aria-labelledby="aria-label-about-menu" class="main-submenu main-submenu--0" data-level="level-0"> <button class="menu-item-close" aria-controls="aria-about-menu" aria-expanded=false> Close About menu. </button> <div data-section="section-about-menu" class="main-submenu__label main-submenu__label--0"> <span id="aria-label-about-menu" class="main-submenu__label-text">About</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about" title="UCSF Overview" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130301"> <span>Overview</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/mission-and-values" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/406481"> <span>Mission & Values</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded" > <button class="main-submenu__toggle menu-item-our-impact" aria-controls="aria-our-impact" aria-expanded=false > Our Impact </button> <span class="fas fa-angle-right"></span> <div id="aria-our-impact" aria-labelledby="aria-label-our-impact" class="main-submenu main-submenu--1" data-level="level-1"> <div data-section="section-our-impact" class="main-submenu__label"> <span id="aria-label-our-impact" class="main-submenu__label-text">Our Impact</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/achievements" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413636"> <span>Achievements</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="/about/community-benefits" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/629"> <span>UCSF in the Community</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/history-1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93484"> <span>History</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded" > <button class="main-submenu__toggle menu-item-facts--figures" aria-controls="aria-facts--figures" aria-expanded=false > Facts & Figures </button> <span class="fas fa-angle-right"></span> <div id="aria-facts--figures" aria-labelledby="aria-label-facts--figures" class="main-submenu main-submenu--1" data-level="level-1"> <div data-section="section-facts--figures" class="main-submenu__label"> <span id="aria-label-facts--figures" class="main-submenu__label-text">Facts & Figures</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/ucsf-budget" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/403036"> <span>Budget</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/innovation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413691"> <span>Inventions & Entrepreneurship</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="/sites/default/files/2024-12/UCSF-General-Fact-Sheet-December-2024.pdf"> <span>UCSF Fact Sheet</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded" > <button class="main-submenu__toggle menu-item-administration" aria-controls="aria-administration" aria-expanded=false > Administration </button> <span class="fas fa-angle-right"></span> <div id="aria-administration" aria-labelledby="aria-label-administration" class="main-submenu main-submenu--1" data-level="level-1"> <div data-section="section-administration" class="main-submenu__label"> <span id="aria-label-administration" class="main-submenu__label-text">Administration</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/leadership/chancellors-cabinet"> <span>Campus Leaders</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/chancellor"> <span>Chancellor</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://evcprovost.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="/cgr" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93347"> <span>Community & Government Relations</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://diversity.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Diversity & Outreach</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://fas.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Finance & Administrative Services</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://legal.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Legal Affairs</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/office-of-communications" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/423371"> <span>Office of Communications</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://giving.ucsf.edu/"> <span>University Development & Alumni Relations</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/locations" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/96416"> <span>Locations</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded main-nav__submenu-wrapper" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-patient-care" aria-controls="aria-patient-care" aria-expanded=false > Patient Care </button> <div id="aria-patient-care" aria-labelledby="aria-label-patient-care" class="main-submenu main-submenu--0" data-level="level-0"> <button class="menu-item-close" aria-controls="aria-patient-care" aria-expanded=false> Close Patient Care menu. </button> <div data-section="section-patient-care" class="main-submenu__label main-submenu__label--0"> <span id="aria-label-patient-care" class="main-submenu__label-text">Patient Care</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/patient-care" title="Patient Care Overview" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130356"> <span>Overview</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/"> <span>UCSF Health</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/"> <span>UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfdentalcenter.org/"> <span>UCSF Dental Center</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://psych.ucsf.edu/lpphc"> <span>Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/clinics"> <span>Specialty Clinics</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/patient-care/clinical-trials" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93456"> <span>Clinical Trials</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded main-nav__submenu-wrapper" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-research" aria-controls="aria-research" aria-expanded=false > Research </button> <div id="aria-research" aria-labelledby="aria-label-research" class="main-submenu main-submenu--0" data-level="level-0"> <button class="menu-item-close" aria-controls="aria-research" aria-expanded=false> Close Research menu. </button> <div data-section="section-research" class="main-submenu__label main-submenu__label--0"> <span id="aria-label-research" class="main-submenu__label-text">Research</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/research" title="Research Overview" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130351"> <span>Overview</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/research/partnerships" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130491"> <span>Partnerships</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://research.ucsf.edu"> <span>Office of Research</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://innovation.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Innovation Ventures</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://postdocs.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Postdoctoral Scholars</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded main-nav__submenu-wrapper" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-education" aria-controls="aria-education" aria-expanded=false > Education </button> <div id="aria-education" aria-labelledby="aria-label-education" class="main-submenu main-submenu--0" data-level="level-0"> <button class="menu-item-close" aria-controls="aria-education" aria-expanded=false> Close Education menu. </button> <div data-section="section-education" class="main-submenu__label main-submenu__label--0"> <span id="aria-label-education" class="main-submenu__label-text">Education</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/education" title="Education Overview" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130311"> <span>Overview</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/education/admissions" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/409171"> <span>Admissions</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded" > <button class="main-submenu__toggle menu-item-schools--programs" aria-controls="aria-schools--programs" aria-expanded=false > Schools & Programs </button> <span class="fas fa-angle-right"></span> <div id="aria-schools--programs" aria-labelledby="aria-label-schools--programs" class="main-submenu main-submenu--1" data-level="level-1"> <div data-section="section-schools--programs" class="main-submenu__label"> <span id="aria-label-schools--programs" class="main-submenu__label-text">Schools & Programs</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="http://dentistry.ucsf.edu/" title="School of Dentistry"> <span>School of Dentistry</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://medschool.ucsf.edu" title="School of Medicine"> <span>School of Medicine</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://pharmacy.ucsf.edu" title="School Pharmacy"> <span>School of Pharmacy</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://nursing.ucsf.edu" title="School of Nursing"> <span>School of Nursing</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://graduate.ucsf.edu" title="Graduate Education"> <span>Graduate Division</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://globalhealthsciences.ucsf.edu" title="Global Health Sciences"> <span>Global Health Sciences</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded" > <button class="main-submenu__toggle menu-item-resources-for-students" aria-controls="aria-resources-for-students" aria-expanded=false > Resources for Students </button> <span class="fas fa-angle-right"></span> <div id="aria-resources-for-students" aria-labelledby="aria-label-resources-for-students" class="main-submenu main-submenu--1" data-level="level-1"> <div data-section="section-resources-for-students" class="main-submenu__label"> <span id="aria-label-resources-for-students" class="main-submenu__label-text">Resources for Students</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://registrar.ucsf.edu/academic-calendar"> <span>Academic Calendar</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://career.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Career Center</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://finaid.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Financial Aid</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://catalog.ucsf.edu/"> <span>General Catalog</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.library.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Library</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://registrar.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Registrar</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://success.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Student Success Guide</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded main-nav__submenu-wrapper" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-news--media" aria-controls="aria-news--media" aria-expanded=false > News & Media </button> <div id="aria-news--media" aria-labelledby="aria-label-news--media" class="main-submenu main-submenu--0" data-level="level-0"> <button class="menu-item-close" aria-controls="aria-news--media" aria-expanded=false> Close News & Media menu. </button> <div data-section="section-news--media" class="main-submenu__label main-submenu__label--0"> <span id="aria-label-news--media" class="main-submenu__label-text">News & Media</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413561"> <span>UCSF News Center</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://magazine.ucsf.edu/magazine" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/418411"> <span>UCSF Magazine</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="/campus-news" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/1006"> <span>Campus News</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="/news/media-coverage" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/413496"> <span>Media Coverage</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news-media/journalists" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130226"> <span>Resources for Journalists</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item search" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-search-menu" aria-controls="aria-search-menu" aria-expanded=false > Open or Close Search Form </button> <div id="aria-search-menu" class="main-submenu main-nav__search"> <div class="home-search__form"> <form action="/search" accept-charset="utf-8" method="get" class="search__form"> <label for="header-desktop-search" class="visually-hidden">search</label> <input type="text" name="search" id="header-desktop-search" size="32" class="home-search__form-input" value="" placeholder="Search people, places, ideas" /> <fieldset class="fieldset-reset"> <legend class="visually-hidden">Choose what type of search to perform</legend> <div class="search-filter"> <label> <input type="radio" name="filter" class="visually-hidden search-filter__radio" value="All" checked> <div class="search-filter__label"> <span class="search-filter__option"></span> <span>All UCSF</span> </div> </label> <label> <input type="radio" name="filter" class="visually-hidden search-filter__radio" value="News"> <div class="search-filter__label"> <span class="search-filter__option"></span> <span>UCSF News Center</span> </div> </label> </div> </fieldset> <input type="submit" id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Search" class="home-search__form-submit"> </form> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </section> </header> <div class="help"> <div class="region-highlighted"> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> </div> <div class="region-content"> <div id="block-ucsf-content" class="block block-system block-system-main-block"> <main class="main "> <a id="main-content" tabindex="-1"></a> <div data-history-node-id="427521" class="article-medium-banner"> <figure> <picture class="field field-banner-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/article_feature_banner__image/public/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/feature_banner_2x/public/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg 2x" media="all and (min-width: 1280px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1440" height="780"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/feature_banner_large/public/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/feature_banner_2x/public/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg 2x" media="all and (min-width: 1050px) and (max-width: 1280px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1280" height="693"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/feature_banner_medium/public/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/feature_banner_medium_2x/public/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg 2x" media="all and (min-width: 850px) and (max-width: 1049px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1050" height="569"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/feature_banner_narrow/public/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/feature_banner_narrow_2x/public/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg 2x" media="all and (min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 849px)" type="image/jpeg" width="850" height="460"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/feature_banner_small/public/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/feature_banner_small_2x/public/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg 2x" media="all and (max-width: 768px)" type="image/jpeg" width="769" height="417"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/featur_banner_x_small/public/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/featur_banner_x_small_2x/public/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg 2x" media="all and (max-width: 599px)" type="image/jpeg" width="600" height="325"/> <img loading="eager" src="/sites/default/files/styles/article_feature_banner__image/public/2024-05/emergency-ambulances.jpg" width="1440" height="780" alt="An emergency scene with an ambulance and a fire engine." class="element-fade"/> </picture> </figure> </div> <div class="main-content narrow-page"> <header class="article-header article-medium-header"> <ul class="article-header__byline"> <li class="article-header__primary-area" data-primary-area="pa-research">Research</li> <li class="article-header__date"> <div class="field field-date-and-time field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-05-07T15:00:00Z" class="datetime"> May 7, 2024 </time> </div> </li> </ul> <h1><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Emergency Department Packed to the Gills? Someday, AI May Help</span> </h1> <h2 class="field field-sub-title field--type-text field--label-hidden article-header__subheading">UCSF-led study finds artificial intelligence is as good as a physician at prioritizing which patients need to be seen first.</h2> <p class="article-header__author"> By <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/bio/jess-berthold">Jess Berthold</a></p> </header> <ul class="article-meta-share"> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/05/427521/emergency-department-packed-gills-someday-ai-may-help" target="_blank" title="Share on Facebook"><span class="fab fa-facebook-square"></span> <span class="indent-text">Share on Facebook</span></a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.twitter.com/share?text=Emergency Department Packed to the Gills? Someday, AI May Help&url=https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/05/427521/emergency-department-packed-gills-someday-ai-may-help" target="_blank" title="Share on Twitter"><span class="fa-brands fa-square-x-twitter"></span> <span class="indent-text">Share on Twitter</span></a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/05/427521/emergency-department-packed-gills-someday-ai-may-help&title=Emergency Department Packed to the Gills? Someday, AI May Help" target="_blank" title="Share on Reddit"><span class="fab fa-reddit-square"></span> <span class="indent-text">Share on Reddit</span></a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0e317a6133287d7b6c646b6d7a33487c61632e5b4d5d482e406b797d342e4b636b7c696b606d772e4a6b7e6f7c7a636b607a2e5e6f6d656b6a2e7a612e7a666b2e496762627d312e5d61636b6a6f77222e4f472e436f772e466b627e286c616a77334b636b7c696b606d772e4a6b7e6f7c7a636b607a2e5e6f6d656b6a2e7a612e7a666b2e496762627d312e5d61636b6a6f77222e4f472e436f772e466b627e2b3e4a2b3e4f2b3e4a2b3e4f59677a662e687b7c7a666b7c2e786f62676a6f7a6761602e6f606a2e6d626760676d6f622e7a7c676f627d222e7a666b2e7b7d6b2e61682e6f7c7a6768676d676f622e67607a6b626267696b606d6b2e67602e6b636b7c696b606d772e6a6b7e6f7c7a636b607a7d2e6d617b626a2e61606b2e6a6f772e666b627e2e7e7c67617c677a67746b2e7e6f7a676b607a7d2e6c6f7d6b6a2e61602e7a666b2e7b7c696b606d772e61682e7a666b677c2e7a7c6b6f7a636b607a222e6f606a2e666b627e2e79677a662e7a7c676f696b2e67602e6b636b7c696b606d772e6d6f7c6b202e2b3e4a2b3e4f2b3e4a2b3e4f667a7a7e7d342121797979207b6d7d68206b6a7b21606b797d213c3e3c3a213e3b213a3c393b3c3f216b636b7c696b606d77236a6b7e6f7c7a636b607a237e6f6d656b6a23696762627d237d61636b6a6f77236f6723636f7723666b627e" title="Email this article"><span class="fas fa-envelope-square"></span> <span class="indent-text">Email this article</span></a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" onclick="window.print();return false;" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/05/427521/emergency-department-packed-gills-someday-ai-may-help" title="Print this article"><span class="fas fa-print"></span> <span class="indent-text">Print this article</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="page_narrow"><p>Emergency departments nationwide are overcrowded and overtaxed, but a new study suggests artificial intelligence (AI) could one day help prioritize which patients need treatment most urgently.</p> <p>Using anonymized records of 251,000 adult emergency department (ED) visits, researchers at UC San Francisco evaluated how well an AI model was able to extract symptoms from patients’ clinical notes to determine their need to be treated immediately. They then compared the AI analysis with the patients’ scores on the Emergency Severity Index, a 1-5 scale that ED nurses use when patients arrive to allocate care and resources by highest need, a process known as triage.</p> <p>The patients’ data were separated from their actual identities (de-identified) for the study, which publishes May 7, 2024, in <em>JAMA Network Open</em>. The researchers evaluated the data using the ChatGPT-4 large language model (LLM), accessing it via UCSF’s secure generative AI platform, which has broad privacy protections.</p> <blockquote class="blockquote blockquote--half-right"> <p class="blockquote-content__text">It’s great to show that AI can do cool stuff, but it’s most important to consider who is being helped and who is being hindered by this technology.”</p> <footer> <p class="blockquote-content__cite">Christopher Williams, MB, BChir</p> </footer> </blockquote> <p>The researchers tested the LLM’s performance with a sample of 10,000 matched pairs – 20,000 patients in total – that included one patient with a serious condition, such as stroke, and another with a less urgent condition, such as a broken wrist. Given only the patients’ symptoms, the AI was able to identify which ED patient in the pair had a more serious condition 89% of the time.</p> <p>In a sub-sample of 500 pairs that were evaluated by a physician as well as the LLM, the AI was correct 88% of the time, compared to 86% for the physician.</p> <p>Having AI assist in the triage process could free up critical physician time to treat patients with the most serious conditions, while offering backup decision-making tools for clinicians who are juggling multiple urgent requests.</p> <p>“Imagine two patients who need to be transported to the hospital but there is only one ambulance. Or a physician is on call and there are three people paging her at the same time, and she has to determine who to respond to first,” said lead author <a href="https://profiles.ucsf.edu/christopher.williams">Christopher Williams</a>, MB, BChir, a UCSF postdoctoral scholar at the <a href="https://bakarinstitute.ucsf.edu/">Bakar institute</a>.</p> <h2>Not quite ready for prime time</h2> <p>The study is one of only a few to evaluate an LLM using real-world clinical data, rather than simulated scenarios, and is the first to use more than 1,000 clinical cases for this purpose. It’s also the first study to use data from visits to the ED, where there is a wide array of possible medical conditions.</p> <p>Despite its success within this study, Williams cautioned that AI is not ready to use responsibly in the ED without further validation and clinical trials.</p> <p>“It’s great to show that AI can do cool stuff, but it’s most important to consider who is being helped and who is being hindered by this technology,” said Williams. “Is just being able to do something the bar for using AI, or is it being able to do something well, for all types of patients?”</p> <p>One important issue to untangle is how to eliminate bias from the model. Previous research has shown these models may perpetuate racial and gender biases in health care, due to biases within the data used to train them. Williams said that before these models can be used, they will need to be modified to strip out that bias.</p> <p>“First we need to know if it works and understand how it works, and then be careful and deliberate in how it is applied,” Williams said. “Upcoming work will address how best to deploy this technology in a clinical setting.”</p> <p class="small-text"><strong>Funding and additional authors:</strong> Co-authors include Travis Zack, MD, PhD; Brenda Y. Miao, BA; Madhumita Sushil, PhD; Michelle Wang, PharmD, PhD; Aaron E. Kornblith, MD; and Atul J. Butte, MD, PhD, all from UCSF.  The authors’ department affiliations, funding and consulting disclosures can be found in the paper.</p> </div> <div class="tags-menu-region"> <h3 class="tags-menu__title">Topics</h3> <ul class="tags-menu"> <li class="tags-menu__item"><a href="/topics/consumer-health" hreflang="en">Consumer Health</a></li> <li class="tags-menu__item"><a href="/topics/digital-health" hreflang="en">Digital Health</a></li> <li class="tags-menu__item"><a href="/topics/emergency-medicine-and-trauma-care" hreflang="en">Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care</a></li> <li class="tags-menu__item"><a href="/topics/hospital-medicine" hreflang="en">Hospital Medicine</a></li> <li class="tags-menu__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/656" hreflang="en">Internal Medicine</a></li> <li class="tags-menu__item"><a href="/topics/technology-and-ai" hreflang="en">Technology and AI</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </main> <aside class="recommended-articles "> <div class="recommended-articles__banner"> <h2 class="recommended-articles__title">Recommended Reading</h2> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="element-swoosh view view-articles-by-term view-id-articles_by_term view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-f04f6352a43f60b5fab208dcfdb4271fefc4d39b597674f1bbda57a032183a54"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row"> <article data-history-node-id="429436" class="news-card" data-primary-area="pa-patient-care"> <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2025/02/429436/how-artificial-intelligence-fostering-human-connection-health-care" class="news-card__link"> <figure> <picture class="field field-card-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2025-02/paula-price-benioff-childrens.jpg 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2025-02/paula-price-benioff-childrens.jpg 2x" media="all and (max-width: 599px)" type="image/jpeg" width="600" height="338"/> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2025-02/paula-price-benioff-childrens.jpg" width="600" height="338" alt="A mother holds a smiling baby as Dr. Paula Price shakes the baby's hand." class="element-fade"/> </picture> </figure> <header class="news-card__copy"> <ul class="article-header__byline"> <li class="article-header__primary-area" data-primary-area="pa-patient-care">Patient Care</li> <li class="article-header__date"> <div class="field field-date-and-time field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-02-13T20:00:58Z" class="datetime"> Feb. 13, 2025 </time> </div> </li> </ul> <h2><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">How Artificial Intelligence is Fostering Human Connection in Health Care</span> </h2> </header> </a> </article> </div> <div class="views-row"> <article data-history-node-id="429401" class="news-card" data-primary-area="pa-research"> <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2025/01/429401/alarming-rise-rates-advanced-prostate-cancer-california" class="news-card__link"> <figure> <picture class="field field-card-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2025-01/organoid-prostate-cells.jpg 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2025-01/organoid-prostate-cells.jpg 2x" media="all and (max-width: 599px)" type="image/jpeg" width="600" height="338"/> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2025-01/organoid-prostate-cells.jpg" width="600" height="338" alt="A microscopic image showing multicolored prostate cells from an organoid, a human-made construct made to resemble an organ." class="element-fade"/> </picture> </figure> <header class="news-card__copy"> <ul class="article-header__byline"> <li class="article-header__primary-area" data-primary-area="pa-research">Research</li> <li class="article-header__date"> <div class="field field-date-and-time field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-02-04T00:21:51Z" class="datetime"> Feb. 3, 2025 </time> </div> </li> </ul> <h2><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Alarming Rise in Rates of Advanced Prostate Cancer in California</span> </h2> </header> </a> </article> </div> <div class="views-row"> <article data-history-node-id="428696" class="news-card" data-primary-area="pa-research"> <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/10/428696/ask-expert-h5n9-bird-flu-threat-humans" class="news-card__link"> <figure> <picture class="field field-card-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2024-10/cows-and-chickens.jpg 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2024-10/cows-and-chickens.jpg 2x" media="all and (max-width: 599px)" type="image/jpeg" width="600" height="338"/> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2024-10/cows-and-chickens.jpg" width="600" height="338" alt="Cows and chicken at a farm." class="element-fade"/> </picture> </figure> <header class="news-card__copy"> <ul class="article-header__byline"> <li class="article-header__primary-area" data-primary-area="pa-research">Research</li> <li class="article-header__date"> <div class="field field-date-and-time field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-01-31T20:00:00Z" class="datetime"> Jan. 31, 2025 </time> </div> </li> </ul> <h2><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Ask an Expert: Is H5N9 Bird Flu A Threat to Humans?</span> </h2> </header> </a> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-ctas-wrapper"> <div class="field field-ankle-cta field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h2>Stay in touch with the latest updates.</h2> <p><a class="icon-media" data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="cab6a11f-4158-4d04-88f1-d511d9455ca2" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/subscribe-ucsf-news" title="Subscribe to UCSF News">Subscribe to UCSF News</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h2>Are you a member of the news media?</h2> <p><a class="icon-media" data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="389ec7dc-e40f-4077-9e9c-884ccbea0dec" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news-media/journalists" title="Resources for Journalists">Visit the Media Center</a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </aside> </div> </div> <footer class="footer-region"> <div class="footer"> <div class="logo-follow"> <figure class="footer-logo"> <a class="footer-logo__link" href="/"> <div class="footer-logo__image"> <img class="footer-logo__img" src="/themes/custom/ucsf/images/footer-logo.svg" alt="UCSF Footer Logo" width="100" height="100"> </div> </a> </figure> <div class="follow"> <h2>Follow Us:</h2> <ul> <li class="follow-linkedin"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/school/ucsf"><span class="fab fa-linkedin-in"></span> <span class="indent-text">LinkedIn</span></a></li> <li class="follow-youtube"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/ucsf"><span class="fab fa-youtube"></span> <span class="indent-text">YouTube</span></a></li> <li class="follow-instagram"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ucsf"><span class="fab fa-instagram"></span> <span class="indent-text">Instagram</span></a></li> <li class="follow-facebook"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ucsf"><span class="fab fa-facebook-f"></span> <span class="indent-text">Facebook</span></a></li> <li class="follow-twitter"><a href="https://www.twitter.com/ucsf"><span class="fab fa-x-twitter"></span> <span class="indent-text">Twitter</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <nav aria-label="Main" id="block-ucsf-footer" class="block block-menu navigation menu--footer"> <ul block="block-ucsf-footer" class="menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/cgr/advocacy" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/408041">Become a UCSF Advocate</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://ucsfhealth.samaritan.com">Volunteer at UCSF Medical Center</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://together.ucsf.edu/">Start a Fundraiser</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/subscribe-ucsf-news" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/403161">Subscribe to UCSF News</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <nav aria-label="Main" id="block-footer2resources" class="block block-menu navigation menu--footer2"> <ul block="block-footer2resources" class="menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://websites.ucsf.edu/azlist">A to Z Website List</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/accessibility-resources" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/421786">Accessibility Resources</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://policies.ucsf.edu/">Administrative Policies</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://identity.ucsf.edu/">Brand Guidelines</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://campuslifeserviceshome.ucsf.edu/">Campus Life Services</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/locations" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/96416">Campus Maps</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/working-ucsf" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/409191">Careers at UCSF</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/">Chancellor</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://diversity.ucsf.edu/">Diversity & Outreach</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://police.ucsf.edu/emergency-preparedness">Emergency Preparedness</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://hr.ucsf.edu">Human Resources</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.library.ucsf.edu/">Library</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://directory.ucsf.edu/">People Directory</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://police.ucsf.edu/">Police</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/transportation/services/shuttles/">Shuttle Schedule</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://profiles.ucsf.edu">UCSF Profiles</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div id="block-popwiseblock" class="block block-block-content block-block-content6efc2b33-6a3d-487d-8945-4c884ad0df82"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" data-cfasync="false"> (function(W,i,s,e,P,o,p){W['WisePopsObject']=P;W[P]=W[P]||function(){ (W[P].q=W[P].q||[]).push(arguments)},W[P].l=1*new Date();o=i.createElement(s), p=i.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];o.async=1;o.src=e;p.parentNode.insertBefore(o,p) })(window,document,'script','//loader.wisepops.com/get-loader.js?v=1&site=dQ5haeqNrm','wisepops'); </script></div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-bottom"> <p>© 2025 The Regents of The University of California</p> <ul class="text-align: right;"> <li><a href="/sitemap.xml" style="left: -9999px; position:absolute;" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true">Sitemap</a></li> <li><a href="/sitemap">Site Map</a></li> <li><a href="/terms-of-use">Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/feedback">Report an issue with UCSF.edu website</a></li> </ul> </div> </footer> </div> </div> <script>window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; window.dataLayer.push({"drupalLanguage":"en","drupalCountry":"US","siteName":"UC San Francisco","entityCreated":"1715018071","entityLangcode":"en","entityStatus":"1","entityUid":"11011","entityUuid":"702fe984-9868-43ae-8332-ef89e9ccfb93","entityVid":"749541","entityName":"kquintanilla","entityType":"node","entityBundle":"article","entityId":"427521","entityTitle":"Emergency Department Packed to the Gills? Someday, AI May Help","entityTaxonomy":{"areas":{"725":"Patient Care","726":"Research"},"article_type":{"714":"Press Release"},"topics":{"630":"Consumer Health","856":"Digital Health","637":"Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care","651":"Hospital Medicine","656":"Internal Medicine","1096":"Technology and AI"}},"userUid":0});</script>  <link name="polymer_platform" href="/modules/custom/ckeditor_y3ti_plugins/elements/build.html" rel="import" /> <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","pathPrefix":"","currentPath":"node\/427521","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"eJxlkFtywzAIRTekRh9dkAZLxKZBwiOQXXX1UWN30rQ_DHN4XC7xholMaujvRmHlNlNRv-MUJa9SsJi6yKDa_QSKP3lGVZhx1KSiL1IzMH2hS2DA0LH6CRfYSKo6lUjAIQ8hCEzlpv4_utiCGZ0aGKlRVJ9qW4EvT-K0q2E-7mhRrx55zBQLV0h_iGxYGdaQ0DAaSXkt6y6iy8Fmlgn4yL9DgDrUGIPJOlTDcFjHjrAgJCrzr8bTBUUpeuJCQ1iBFaHGQyBAkgkDFOD-MPaEbiPc1T_iBT7g8wVkSY3RdWnWxoIZmLH28943tT4eN98BG5qw5A","theme":"ucsf","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":[],"dataLayer":{"defaultLang":"en","languages":{"en":{"id":"en","name":"English","direction":"ltr","weight":0}}},"statistics":{"data":{"nid":"427521"},"url":"\/core\/modules\/statistics\/statistics.php"},"views":{"ajax_path":"\/views\/ajax","ajaxViews":{"views_dom_id:f04f6352a43f60b5fab208dcfdb4271fefc4d39b597674f1bbda57a032183a54":{"view_name":"articles_by_term","view_display_id":"block_1","view_args":"630+856+637+651+656+1096\/427521","view_path":"\/node\/427521","view_base_path":null,"view_dom_id":"f04f6352a43f60b5fab208dcfdb4271fefc4d39b597674f1bbda57a032183a54","pager_element":0}}},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"0c730a228c7c7fb09ef69cc49872503ed212ec963125de64d7bd9d3929d14bf0"}}</script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_ChBLFJmLnJSY1j9tLrWbRTmJImKSKrgUmJ7S1dxzYdk.js?scope=footer&delta=0&language=en&theme=ucsf&include=eJxlkFFuxDAIRC_krj96IIvYbEIXm8jgpO7p691E2kb9QehpYAbiAxOZ1NA_jcLKbaaifscpSl6lYDF1CQwYOlY_4QIbSVWnEgk45DENgak81P9HN1swo9OuhtlPoOgig2q_9BlVYUZ1USr6IjUD0w-6FvXuZ5YJ2HVp1iYMMzBj7Sf-UOvDaHZqYKRGUX2qbQW-vYnbCHf1r3rLkhrjBcEXfB9eyCNtsXCHhFeiu4guB3uWAHWsZgwm67AII3nFaGFBSM88l2HZsDKsIaENDUn5s-f8GUUpeuJCQ6_AilDj4RkgyTgeCnB_HfmGv-lmsOQ"></script> <script src="https://kit.fontawesome.com/0047baebb3.js" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_DGHzI4C8s2m5srCR8I7slhej7nbVRHo8VPE5sxHlbEQ.js?scope=footer&delta=2&language=en&theme=ucsf&include=eJxlkFFuxDAIRC_krj96IIvYbEIXm8jgpO7p691E2kb9QehpYAbiAxOZ1NA_jcLKbaaifscpSl6lYDF1CQwYOlY_4QIbSVWnEgk45DENgak81P9HN1swo9OuhtlPoOgig2q_9BlVYUZ1USr6IjUD0w-6FvXuZ5YJ2HVp1iYMMzBj7Sf-UOvDaHZqYKRGUX2qbQW-vYnbCHf1r3rLkhrjBcEXfB9eyCNtsXCHhFeiu4guB3uWAHWsZgwm67AII3nFaGFBSM88l2HZsDKsIaENDUn5s-f8GUUpeuJCQ6_AilDj4RkgyTgeCnB_HfmGv-lmsOQ"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ (function() { var sz = document.createElement('script'); sz.type = 'text/javascript'; sz.async = true; sz.src = '//siteimproveanalytics.com/js/siteanalyze_8343.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(sz, s); })(); /*]]>*/ </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Emergency Department Packed to the Gills? Someday, AI May Help | UC San Francisco