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Rochester Today
By the People, for the People
Mayo Clinic Develops AI System to Triage Patient Referrals
The new tool flags urgent cases, allowing care teams to reach out to high-risk patients faster.
Published on Feb. 22, 2026
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The Mayo Clinic has created an automated document referral system that uses generative AI to triage patient referrals. Previously, the health system received referrals by fax and had to process them manually. The new AI-powered tool can quickly review referral documents, identify urgent cases, and alert care teams to reach out to high-risk patients more quickly.
Why it matters
Triaging patient referrals efficiently is crucial, especially for those with serious and complex medical conditions. The Mayo Clinic's new AI system aims to reduce delays in the referral process, which can make a significant difference in outcomes for patients with time-sensitive needs.
The details
The Mayo Clinic's automated referral system uses generative AI to analyze incoming referral documents, extract key information, and flag urgent cases that require immediate attention from care teams. This helps the health system process referrals more quickly and ensure high-risk patients are contacted sooner, which can be vital for those with serious or complex conditions.
- The Mayo Clinic previously received patient referrals by fax and processed them manually.
- The new AI-powered referral system was developed and implemented in 2026.
The players
Mayo Clinic
A nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, education, and research. It has campuses in Rochester, Minnesota, as well as in Arizona and Florida.
Erin Layman
Operations manager for Hematology and Medical Oncology at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.
What they’re saying
“That is a crucial time period for patients with serious and complex medical conditions, when every moment truly matters. It's important to have an intelligent system that can pull information from multiple documents, summarize it and allow staff to quickly review for accuracy. That helps move high-risk patients through the process much faster.”
— Erin Layman, Operations manager for Hematology and Medical Oncology (Mayo Clinic news release)
What’s next
The Mayo Clinic plans to continue refining and expanding its AI-powered referral triage system to improve patient care and outcomes.
The takeaway
The Mayo Clinic's new AI-driven referral system demonstrates how healthcare providers can leverage advanced technologies to streamline administrative processes and ensure timely care for patients with urgent or complex medical needs.
