Can AI Help Solve ER Overcrowding ? | Dr. Ili Kina

Can artificial intelligence help solve one of healthcare's biggest challenges? In this episode of the Paratus Podcast, Dr. Ili Kina shares her unique journey and explains how data-driven solutions can help address emergency department overcrowding.  She discusses the opportunities and limitations of AI, the importance of combining technology with effective healthcare management, and why human judgment remains essential in clinical decision-making.  The conversation also explores how patient self-assessment tools and innovative digital solutions can improve access to care while supporting both clinicians and patients. A thought-provoking discussion on the future of AI in healthcare and how innovation can help build more resilient health systems. **This Week's Paratus Podcast Guest:**  Dr. Ili Kina is an emergency physician at Sunnybrook in Toronto and a clinician-scientist focused on how artificial intelligence can improve care in emergency medicine.  She has a master’s in applied mathematics from Polytechnique Montréal and is currently a PhD candidate in industrial engineering at Polytechnique Montréal.  Her work tackles practical problems like forecasting ED overcrowding, optimizing patient flow, and building digital decision support that helps teams triage better under pressure. **About Paratus Medical:** Binders. Word documents. Paper printouts. Medical protocols contain critical knowledge that can save lives, yet they are often trapped in formats that are difficult to manage, track, and use in high-pressure situations.  Frontline professionals are frequently expected to remember hundreds of pages of procedures when seconds matter most. Paratus Medical develops digital tools that help organizations manage protocols more effectively while supporting frontline responders in emergency and critical care situations. Our solutions are used across EMS, intensive care units, patient transport services, first responder organizations, maritime operations, and even space medicine through our partnership with the Canadian Space Agency. Learn more 👉https://paratusmedical.com/  **The Paratus Podcast:** Created in 2025, the Paratus Podcast features short, expert-driven conversations on preparedness, healthcare innovation, and real-world emergency response. Each episode delivers practical insights and stories from professionals working on the front lines. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.