ACEP Frontline

Recorded at the Colorado ACEP EM: High Risk – Do Not Miss Conference in Beaver Creek, this episode of ACEP Frontline hosted by Dr. Ryan Stanton features a presentation from Dr. Jesse Pines on the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in emergency medicine. AI is already changing the way emergency physicians document, interpret data, communicate, and make clinical decisions, but where is the technology headed next? Dr. Pines reviews the current state of AI in emergency medicine, separating practical applications from hype while examining the opportunities, limitations, and risks that accompany these powerful tools. He also looks beyond today's capabilities to read some of the tea leaves for the future, discussing how AI is likely to reshape clinical practice, education, operations, and physician leadership over the coming years. Whether you're an AI enthusiast or a skeptic, this session provides a thoughtful, evidence-informed look at how emergency physicians can prepare for a future in which artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly important part of emergency care.
Mentioned in this episode:
ACEP26

Recorded from the right field seats during a Chicago White Sox game, this special short episode of ACEP Frontline features Dr. Ryan Stanton with Illinois ACEP President Dr. Kristen Donaldson. The conversation highlights recent legislative victories that are strengthening emergency medicine and improving patient care across Illinois, while offering insights into the advocacy efforts that made those successes possible. Looking ahead, Dr. Donaldson shares what attendees can expect at ACEP26 as emergency physicians from around the world gather in Chicago for emergency medicine's premier educational event. From advocacy to education, this quick conversation captures the excitement surrounding the specialty and the momentum building for an outstanding Scientific Assembly in one of America's great cities.
Mentioned in this episode:
ACEP26

Recorded at the Colorado ACEP High Risk: Do Not Miss Conference in Beaver Creek, this episode of ACEP Frontline features Dr. Ryan Stanton and a presentation by Dr. Scott Branney on a growing trend in trauma and resuscitation, prehospital whole blood. As more EMS systems adopt whole blood programs, the discussion explores the evidence supporting earlier transfusion, the impact on patients with life-threatening hemorrhage, and why bringing blood to the point of injury has the potential to change outcomes. Dr. Branney shares practical lessons from developing the Colorado Whole Blood Coalition program, addressing common barriers including logistics, storage, regulatory considerations, cost, stakeholder engagement, and maintaining blood supply. The conversation also highlights opportunities for EMS agencies, trauma centers, and healthcare systems to collaborate in expanding access to this lifesaving therapy while ensuring quality and safety. Whether your system is considering its first whole blood program or looking to optimize an existing one, this episode provides practical insights into overcoming obstacles and advancing modern trauma care before the patient ever reaches the emergency department.
Mentioned in this episode:
ACEP26

Recorded at the 2026 Massachusetts ACEP Annual Meeting, this episode of ACEP Frontline features Dr. Ryan Stanton in conversation with Dr. Alice Bukhman on the unique challenges of caring for patients in custody. Emergency physicians frequently care for individuals who arrive under law enforcement supervision, creating situations where patient rights, medical ethics, safety, and legal considerations can intersect in complex ways. Dr. Bukhman discusses the physician's primary obligation to the patient, regardless of custodial status, while exploring practical issues including privacy, informed consent, decision-making capacity, restraints, interactions with law enforcement, and requests for medical clearance or forensic information. The conversation also addresses strategies for navigating difficult encounters, protecting the therapeutic relationship, and ensuring that medical decisions remain grounded in the patient's best interests. Whether you practice in a busy urban trauma center or a rural emergency department, this episode provides practical guidance for managing some of the most nuanced and challenging situations emergency physicians encounter while reinforcing the principles that define patient-centered emergency care.
Mentioned in this episode:
ACEP26

What do you do when a patient arrives with a venomous snakebite? Which bites are truly dangerous, when should antivenom be used, and what are the biggest myths that continue to circulate about snakebite management? On this episode of So What?, host Dr. Howie Mell sits down with one of the nation's leading experts on snake envenomation, Dr. Spencer Greene, for a practical, evidence-based discussion on the diagnosis and management of snakebites. From identifying clinically significant envenomations to avoiding outdated treatments that can do more harm than good, they break down what emergency clinicians need to know when every minute counts. The conversation explores initial assessment, laboratory evaluation, indications for antivenom, management of pit viper bites, patient disposition, and common misconceptions surrounding tourniquets, incision and suction, and other persistent folklore. Dr. Greene also shares clinical pearls from years of treating snakebite victims and discusses how emergency physicians can approach these uncommon but high-stakes cases with confidence. Whether you practice in an area where venomous snakes are common or simply want to be prepared for the unexpected, this episode delivers practical takeaways that can immediately impact patient care.
In this episode:
Initial evaluation of suspected snake envenomation
Pit viper versus nonvenomous bites
When antivenom is indicated—and when it isn't
Laboratory testing and ongoing monitoring
Common myths and management pitfalls
Disposition, observation, and follow-up recommendations
Practical pearls for emergency clinicians

Mentioned in this episode:
ACEP26