Managing Covid-19 crisis: the Locarno hospital "La Carità" as a relevant case in the Ticino’s hospital system response to the pandemic

Journal title MECOSAN
Author/s Laura G. González-Ortiz, Angela Greco, Cecilia Luini, Stefano Calciolari, Marco Meneguzzo
Publishing Year 2021 Issue 2021/118
Language Italian Pages 25 P. 71-95 File size 412 KB
DOI 10.3280/MESA2021-118004
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In Switzerland, Ticino was one of the Cantons most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the reconfiguration of its hospital system relied on the creation of Covid-centers. This paper analyzes how the hospital "La Carita" in Locarno (ODL), appointed as reference Covid-center at the cantonal level in mid- March, has reorganized itself, playing a central active role in the response of the Ticino hospital system. The analysis, based on semi-structured interviews administered to six key actors of the hospital management, shed light on the main success factors of the response to the emergency. In particular, case study indicates some important drivers: the EOC multisite hospital model, an agile and coordinated structure at the institutional and operational level (fostering both unity of command and flexibility), the importance of public-private cooperation in a context of network governance, the management according to a logic of learning by doing and the orientation toward managerial and operational innovation.

Keywords: Covid-19, pandemic, in-depth case study, crisis management, network governance, Switzerland.

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Laura G. González-Ortiz, Angela Greco, Cecilia Luini, Stefano Calciolari, Marco Meneguzzo, Gestire la crisi Covid-19: il caso dell’Ospedale "La Carità" di Locarno nell’ambito della risposta del sistema ospedaliero ticinese alla pandemia in "MECOSAN" 118/2021, pp 71-95, DOI: 10.3280/MESA2021-118004