LinkCompanion
PROJECT DURATION:
10/2026
—
09/2028
The Project
Psychosocial and social concerns such as loneliness, poverty, or limited social participation play an important role in primary care. Estimates suggest that around one in five consultations has a psychosocial or emotional background. Social prescribing offers a way to address such concerns systematically. Professionals in a link working role support patients in this process and connect them with suitable non-medical services in their local area, such as counselling centres, associations, or social initiatives. Professionals in a link working function support patients in this process and connect them with suitable non-medical services in their local area, such as counselling centres, associations, or social initiatives.
The project LinkCompanion is developing, testing, and evaluating a digital companion platform for social prescribing. It is designed to support professionals in a link working role in their work processes, make information on regional services more accessible, and facilitate collaboration with patients and other health professionals. The personal support provided by professionals in a link working role remains a central component of social prescribing.
Our Role in the Project
JOANNEUM RESEARCH is responsible for overall project lead and poject management. We coordinate the scientific, technical and organisational work within the project. Key tasks include the joint conception and development of LinkCompanion, the implementation and supervision of the pilot phase, and the integration of the project results. In addition, JOANNEUM RESEARCH is responsible for overall technical integration and coordination with the participating partners.
Research groups
Downloads
Customer/Funding Organization
Gesundheit Österreich GmbH
Project Partner
Universität Wien
Akademie für Altersforschung am Haus der Barmherzigkeit
Project Details
Initial Situation
Social prescribing is also gaining importance in Austria. In practice, however, existing services and processes vary considerably between individual institutions and regions. A digitally supported model that can be integrated into existing primary care structures and transferred to different locations does not yet exist.
Problem and Motivation
A significant part of the work of professionals in a link working role is taken up by building and maintaining regional networks, searching for suitable services, and documentation and coordination. Particularly in the set-up phase, these administrative tasks can take up to 75 percent of available working time. At the same time, social prescribing relies on trust, personal support, and continuous contact. Digital support should therefore primarily provide relief where information, processes, and collaboration can be better organized.
Objectives and Innovative Aspects of LinkCompanion
The aim of LinkCompanion is to work with practice partners to develop a digitally supported social prescribing model for Austrian primary care, to test it in practice, and to evaluate it scientifically. The project will also establish a research and knowledge transfer network that strengthens exchange between practice, research, and other relevant stakeholders and contributes to the sustainable embedding of social prescribing.
The platform comprises three interconnected areas: a social prescribing service catalogue, a workspace for professionals in a link working role, and patient-centred functions. Together, they are intended to make information more accessible, support workflows, and facilitate support within social prescribing.
Development follows a participatory approach. Professionals in a link working role, health professionals, patients, relatives, and providers of regional support services will be involved in development and testing. The pilot phase is planned in five primary care facilities. Qualitative methods such as workshops and interviews will be combined with quantitative methods such as usage data, questionnaires, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).
A particular focus is on the accessibility of digitally supported social prescribing. Potential access barriers and risks of digital exclusion will be examined. The perspectives of multiply marginalized groups will be deliberately included in co-design, development, and evaluation.
The project is scientifically supported by the Academy for Ageing Research at Haus der Barmherzigkeit and the University of Vienna, Department of Political Science. In addition, an interdisciplinary project advisory board accompanies the project and contributes perspectives from research, practice, and relevant specialist fields.
Intended Results and Insights
By the end of the project, a digital companion platform for social prescribing that has been tested in practice should be available. In addition, an implementation guide will be produced and a research and knowledge transfer network established.
The evaluation will examine, among other things, how LinkCompanion can be integrated into existing workflows, how the platform is used by the groups involved, and what effects emerge on patient participation, accessibility, collaboration, and workload. A further focus is on which components of the model can be transferred to other regions and facilities in Austrian primary care, and where adaptations are required.
