78838 - Health Systems Organization

Learning outcomes

The student acquires the main notions that revolve around the theme of the sociology of health and organization. At the end of the course the student: possesses sociological competence in the analysis of health, illness and the patient; knows the main factors that influence health inequalities; develops a knowledge of the architecture of the Italian healthcare system and hospital organisation.

Course contents

Following the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus starting in February 2020, social and health protection systems around the world have been severely tested.

For this reason, we need to ask ourselves deeply about what the fate of these systems will be in the coming years and what measures will need to be taken to ensure that the organization and management models adopted so far can adapt to a healthcare landscape that promises to be increasingly uncertain and complex.

In light of this, the Course has a dual objective: on the one hand, to provide students with a general overview of the most important organizational models of the health system; on the other hand, analyze the various factors that influence the concrete achievement of health objectives and the strategies to achieve them.

Particular attention will be paid to the architecture of the Italian healthcare system, to which some sectoral insights will also be dedicated on the currently most debated issues regarding the protection of the person and their dignity (from mandatory healthcare treatments to health inequalities, from telemedicine to Artificial Intelligence).

Readings/Bibliography

To prepare for the exam, the following texts are suggested, in addition to the teaching material that will be distributed during the lessons:

- M. CARDANO, G. GIARELLI, G. VICARELLI, Sociology of health and medicine, il Mulino, 2020, limited to chapters VIII, IX, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV;

- C. BOTTARI, Health protection: work in progress, Giappichelli, 2020;

- L. DIMASI, S. MARZOT (eds.), Welfare state: future scenarios and unresolved critical issues of social and socio-health policies in Italy, Bologna University Press, 2024.

The course also includes a specific in-depth study on taking care of the psychiatric patient, for which we recommend reading the following text: L. DIMASI, The law of the psyche, Aracne, 2018.

Teaching methods

Teaching will be carried out mainly through frontal lessons, with the aid of slides.

Part of the time will be dedicated to dialogue and debate with the Students, who will have the opportunity to actively intervene, with their own interventions and reflections, throughout the entire course.

Practical simulations and in-depth seminars complete the teaching methodology used.

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of an oral interview, aimed at verifying the student's preparation on the topics covered during the lessons.

In particular, each examinee will be asked to answer three questions.

The evaluation will be based on the following criteria:

- knowledge of institutional profiles;

- ability to analyze and elaborate on the acquired knowledge;

- ability to make connections between the different parts of the program;

- ability to develop critical arguments;

- articulation of the presentation;

- use of technical language.

By way of example, the final grade will be based on the following criteria:

- a grade from 18 to 21 will be awarded for sufficient or slightly more than sufficient preparation on the topics covered, poor critical thinking, and difficulty using technical legal language;

- a grade from 22 to 25 will be awarded for fair or fairly good preparation on the topics covered, adequate critical thinking, and correct use of technical legal language;

- a grade from 26 to 29 will be awarded for good preparation, strong critical thinking, and mastery of technical legal language;

- a grade from 30 to 30 with honors will be awarded for substantially comprehensive preparation, excellent critical thinking, and full mastery of technical legal language.

Thesis

Thesis assignment will be made upon formal request from the student (for example, by email), followed by an exploratory interview with the instructor, who will evaluate the originality of the chosen topic and its relevance to the course topics.

Teaching tools

During the course, in-depth seminars will be held, the dates of which will be communicated in class.

Students with DSA or disabilities: it is recommended to contact the responsible University office in good time (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it). It will be the responsibility of the University Service to propose any adaptations to interested students, which must in any case be submitted, 15 days in advance, for the approval of the Teacher, who will evaluate the opportunity in relation to the educational objectives of the Course.

Office hours

See the website of Luca Dimasi