Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Using AI and Operational Strategy to Transform Care Delivery with Dr. Salim Hayek
Mar 15, 2026
Salim S. Hayek, MD, cardiovascular specialist and transformation leader at UTMB who builds AI-driven operational solutions. He discusses using AI to automate referrals and lift administrative burden. He explains building internal AI teams and partnerships. He outlines strategies to improve access, de-risk growth, and prioritize investments amid financial and regulatory uncertainty.
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AI Delivers Most Value By Automating Back-End Work
- AI's biggest value is automating back-end clinical processes rather than flashy diagnostics.
- Dr. Salim S. Hayek built AI referral triage to lift administrative burden and prioritize urgent, complex patients for right-provider placement.
Low-Value Care Is A Major Driver Of Access Problems
- A large share of US care is low-value and misallocated across specialties.
- Hayek cites examples like specialist visits for simple refills or hypertension that primary care could manage, driving inefficiency.
UTMB's Live AI Referral Triage Pilot
- UTMB launched an automated AI referral triage this year to route referrals by urgency and complexity.
- Launched in January in select areas, it immediately improved access and increased patient complexity seen by specialists.