Qatar’s Sidra Medicine embraces AI to improve pediatric emergency care

Sidra Medicine in Qatar is taking a bold step into the next era of pediatric emergency care. The hospital has begun using artificial intelligence inside its Emergency Department and Diagnostic Imaging Unit to help doctors catch fractures and dislocations in children more quickly. This diagnostic assistant is already part of daily clinical life, built right into the Picture Archiving and Communication System.

In the words of Prof Khalid Al Ansari, Chair of the Emergency Department, physicians at Sidra Medicine have welcomed the technology because it supports rapid, accurate decision-making. Young patients walk in hurt and leave treated faster. Family anxiety eases. Clinicians gain a calm second voice in moments that often hinge on minutes.

How does it work

The tool quietly reviews every X-ray the moment it enters the system. It draws attention to spots that look suspicious. Think of it like another pair of eyes that never blinks. It works alongside physicians rather than instead of them. The software screens images before radiologists even sit down to read them. That early signal speeds up handovers and frees clinicians to focus on judgment and care. Dr Abdusamea Shabani, Chair of Radiology, called it a powerful complement to clinical expertise. He noted that it prioritizes urgent cases and sharpens confidence without lowering diagnostic standards.

What happens next is simple and feels almost natural.

• Doctors receive highlighted images with potential fractures.
• Radiologists get a pre-reviewed queue, so tricky cases rise to the top.
• Treatment happens sooner because answers come quicker.

Not a replacement for experience. More like a collaborator.

Why does it matter

In pediatric care, every minute counts. Children come in scared and in pain. Parents stand waiting for clarity. This AI support reduces wait times and lowers the risk of something subtle slipping through. Medical teams can act more quickly with greater confidence. Families leave the hospital with fewer repeat visits and more peace of mind, knowing machines and humans worked together for their child.

Prof Khalid Al Ansari put it plainly. Rapid decisions lead to better outcomes for young patients. The technology gives physicians both confidence and reassurance in cases where injuries are complex or easy to miss. For parents, this translates to real comfort. For children, it means less pain and more time recovering at home rather than under bright lights in an emergency bay.

Abdulrahman Hasna, Director of IT Applications, highlighted another point worth noting. Integration into the Picture Archiving and Communication System was seamless. No disruption. No extra burden. Just real value for doctors and children. He said it shows how digital transformation can be intuitive, efficient, and deeply supportive.

The context

The rise of diagnostic AI in healthcare has often felt like a distant promise. Sidra Medicine is turning it into a lived reality. The hospital has made digital transformation more than a slogan. It is building a future in which technology slides quietly into workflows rather than rattling them. The radiology and emergency teams are not trading expertise for automation. They are blending it with intelligence that spots what the human eye might miss.

Sidra Medicine sees this as part of a broader movement toward precision and patient-focused care. The AI rollout stands as a milestone, signaling leadership in smart healthcare adoption across Qatar and far beyond. It shows what can happen when innovation is not feared but folded into care with trust and responsibility. This is not the final chapter. It is a glimpse of what the future of pediatric imaging may look like when technology and clinical wisdom walk side by side.