[Rationale for the building of a new hospital]

The "Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo" has completed the preliminary planning of the building of a new, great hospital, after a long and deep debate about the role and the significance of a modern hospital, thought to support, during the next century, the activity of a "hospital of national relevance and high specialization". The main aspects about the number of beds in the new hospital are debated and considered in the new conditions following the new programming acts of health planning in Italy and Lombardy and the needs of demography and emerging health demands The choice between new building or restructuring the existing hospital is discussed and the debate is referred to international scientific bibliography. Risk management is also considered as a must in a new hospital building.