Digital Emergency Medicine Committee

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Committee Overview

The Digital Emergency Medicine (DigEM) Committee aims to:

• Provide a networking environment for CAEP members interested in virtual care/telemedicine, digital technologies, and data science.

• Foster initiatives that advance the practice of emergency medicine.

• Advocate for digital emergency medicine as a key enabler to improve patient care.

Key Achievements & Highlights

• Published the position statement, “Optimizing the Role of Virtual Care in Emergency Medicine,” in CJEM (October 2025): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40889091/

• Engaged with multiple provincial governments (British Columbia, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan) following our position statement publication and through dialogues following the CAEP EM forum, discussing opportunities to support hybrid care initiatives.

• Participated in the 2026 CAEP National Forum on the Future of Emergency Medicine 2.0, highlighting opportunities to leverage digital emergency medicine to address key challenges (e.g., seniors’ care, policy frameworks, and communication strategies).

• Supported the development of the Artificial Intelligence Special Interest Group (AISIG), led effectively by Dr. Hashim Kareemi, with strong and active membership.

• Delivered presentations on virtual care, 811 virtual triage, and artificial intelligence at ICEM 2025, with additional sessions planned for ICEM 2026 and CAEP 2026.

• Organized and co-moderated the ICEM webinar “Artificial Intelligence in Emergency Medicine” (March 13, 2026).

• Initiated discussions on providing advisory support to health policymakers on digital health strategy (DigEM Committee meeting, March 2026).

• Contributed, adjacent to DigEM activities, to the establishment of a national 811 network (as disclosed at the 2025 CAEP EM meeting), presenting an opportunity for alignment with CAEP priorities.

Impact & Outcomes

• Strengthened CAEP’s credibility in digital emergency medicine among provincial governments.

• Expanded opportunities for virtual care, digital health, and AI within emergency medicine practice in Canada and internationally.

• Enabled advocacy, clinical innovation, and research opportunities in digital health.

• Supported the growth and development of AISIG.

  
  

Challenges & Opportunities

• Irregular scheduling of committee meetings and variable attendance.

• Need to review and refresh committee executive membership.

• Opportunity to better engage CAEP members involved in digital health initiatives.

Looking Ahead (Next Year)

• Strengthen engagement within DigEM membership.

• Clarify the role of DigEM in policy advocacy and consultation.

• Continue to support and expand AISIG.

• Renew and optimize executive committee structure.