Is AI a partner in EMS — or its unpredictable coworker?

As artificial intelligence sweeps across industries, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson are asking the big question: Is EMS ready? In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, the duo gets into the weeds of how AI could reshape the field, from charting and documentation, to predictive deployment and real-time clinical prompts.

They dig into practical use cases, like auto-generating patient care reports from spoken narratives, using smart speakers for on-the-fly drug dosages and deploying AI in dispatch triage. But they’re not AI cheerleaders; both caution against overreliance, false confidence and the risk of replacing critical thinking with shortcuts.

It’s a spirited, funny and forward-looking conversation about how EMS can lead, not lag, in adopting this rapidly evolving tech. Because one thing’s clear: AI isn’t coming — it’s already here.

Memorable quotes

“I think the big issue that people have with AI is that they fear it’s gonna start doing our thinking for us rather than help us with everyday tasks. And to me, that’s a legitimate fear.” —Kelly Grayson

“When we open this door of where AI can touch EMS directly, I think there’s a lot of places this can go.” —Chris Cebollero

“I learned long ago that one of the tricks to the choreography of a smooth call is to think out loud and to talk, talk, talk your way through everything that you do. It’s interesting thinking about narrating that for the purpose ofan AI client to write your chart as you go.” —Kelly Grayson

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