AutoGeri-Assist kicks off collaboration with DOKH Friesach

On October 21, 2026, the AutoGeri-Assist research project held its clinical kick-off meeting with the Deutsch Ordens Krankenhaus Friesach (DOKH). The meeting marked an important milestone in the collaboration between the University of Klagenfurt, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, and the hospital’s clinical experts in geriatric care.

AutoGeri-Assist investigates how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can support healthcare professionals in processing and analyzing complex patient records. The project aims to develop a research prototype of an AI-based assistance system that automatically generates structured, clinically relevant summaries of geriatric patient histories. By integrating information from various sources, including medical reports, medication records, laboratory results, vital signs, and nursing documentation, the system will help physicians and nursing staff quickly identify relevant information and better understand a patient’s medical history. The project also explores the integration of data from extramural and home-care settings to provide a more comprehensive view of patient health.

A central research objective is to investigate whether AI-generated patient summaries can reduce the time and effort required to review medical records, improve the traceability of clinical decisions, and support more efficient treatment planning. Particular emphasis is placed on trustworthy and explainable AI, data privacy, and the evaluation of information quality, usability, and acceptance among healthcare professionals. The system is intended to assist clinical decision-making, not replace the expertise and responsibility of medical staff.

The project is also closely aligned with the objectives of the European Health Data Space (EHDS), which will require the cross-border exchange of electronic patient summaries across EU Member States starting in March 2029.

AutoGeri-Assist is led by Assoc. Prof. Klaus Schöffmann, together with Prof. Heather Foran, Prof. Ralf Terlutter, and Assoc. Prof. Agnes Turner. The research team also includes Lorenzo Bazzana and Lukas Kofler. The project is conducted in collaboration with Prof. Johannes Oberzaucher from Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CU), combining expertise in AI, digital health, healthcare research, and clinical practice.

The project officially started on June 15, 2026 at AAU, and will run until December 31, 2028. It is funded by the Carinthian Economic Promotion Fund (KWF) and the IBW/EFRE & JTF programme (https://www.efre.gv.at) under grant KWF-2700-3585.

More information: https://autogeri.itec.aau.at/