AI-enhanced emergency cardiology induction: a CURACO framework pilot study on critical care competencies and decision-making

Abstract Background/Introduction Emergency cardiac care delivery requires rapid, systematic clinical decision-making, yet frontline doctors often experience uncertainty during critical transitions. Traditional induction methods focus primarily on clinical competencies without addressing patient empowerment, healthcare equity, or systematic integration of safety, understanding, research, authenticity, ethics, and technology. Current approaches lack holistic frameworks ensuring both clinical excellence and patient-centred emergency care delivery. Purpose To conduct a pilot evaluation of whether AI-enhanced emergency cardiology induction programmes incorporating CURACO principles (Clinical safety, Understanding, Research-informed care, Authentic patient-centred approaches, Conscientious ethics, and Optimised technology) improve frontline doctors' acute response capabilities while incorporating patient empowerment and equity considerations. Methods We developed AI-enhanced structured acute cardiology induction programmes at Bradford Royal Infirmary, derived from emergency care protocols and enhanced using CURACO principles to ensure safety-first protocols, patient understanding components, research-informed guidelines, authentic care approaches, ethical considerations, and optimised technology integration. The programmes embedded critical care protocols for time-sensitive conditions including STEMI, NSTEMI, cardiogenic shock, and life-threatening arrhythmias. We surveyed resident doctors (n=15) rotating through cardiology from 2023-2024 using 5-point Likert scales across acute care domains before and after implementation. Paired t-tests analysed competency scores. Results All domains showed significant improvements (p