Seconds Count: How Pediatric Emergency Medicine Is Evolving - Children's National

Emergency medicine has captured the public's imagination again thanks to shows like The Pitt, which aim to portray the intensity and unpredictability of life inside an emergency department. But for pediatric emergency physicians, the reality is even more complex and constantly evolving.

In this episode of The Lead in Peds, Nathan Kuppermann, MD, MPH, speaks with Joelle Simpson, MD, MPH, chief of Emergency Medicine, and Kenneth McKinley, MD, an emergency physician and researcher focused on artificial intelligence and predictive analytics, all of Children's National Hospital.

Together they explore the realities of pediatric emergency care, from overcrowded emergency departments and declining inpatient capacity to the growing importance of disaster preparedness and community partnerships. The conversation also highlights how research and innovation are improving care for children, including new artificial intelligence tools designed to predict emergency department crowding and help clinicians deploy resources more effectively.

From national pediatric preparedness networks to data-driven forecasting models developed with partners like Virginia Tech, the episode offers an inside look at how pediatric emergency teams are working to deliver safer, faster and more equitable care when every second counts.