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The "Friends of the Eye Clinic" Support Association funds a high-performance computer for an AI model / Support for research studies and quality control / Processing of sensitive data exclusively on-site

The Eye Center at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg has recently begun using a locally operated AI language model to analyze medical documents. This was made possible by a donation from the “Friends of the Eye Clinic” support association, which funded a high-performance computer. The AI language model automatically searches medical documents, such as doctors’ letters, for relevant information. This reduces the time required for manual review. Patients can be identified more quickly for studies, and treatment outcomes can be systematically evaluated.

“We are very grateful to the Friends of the Eye Center for this generous support,” says Prof. Dr. Thomas Reinhard, Medical Director of the Eye Center at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg.

“The donation enables us to implement new technologies directly in our daily clinical practice. It helps our team save valuable time and opens up additional opportunities for research and quality assurance,” says Prof. Dr. Daniel Böhringer, senior physician at the Eye Center at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg and project lead.

AI supports study recruitment and quality control

The language model continuously analyzes medical reports and other clinical documents. In doing so, the system automatically identifies patients who might meet the criteria for ongoing clinical trials. Physicians then review these findings and specifically approach suitable patients.

The system is also used for quality assurance. After treatments are completed, the model analyzes medical reports and detects possible indications of complications. These evaluations help systematically review treatment outcomes and further improve the quality of care.

A key aspect of the application is data protection. The high-performance computer is located directly within the hospital. Data processing takes place entirely on-site. Sensitive medical information never leaves the Medical Center – University of Freiburg.

“The new infrastructure has established itself within a short time. The computer is now running continuously,” says Böhringer. Other departments at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg also use the service to analyze medical documents. The donation from the “Friends of the Eye Clinic” support association thus supports research, quality assurance, and the use of clinical data in everyday clinical practice.