The Role of the Facility Medical Directorate for the Governance of Change: Operational Management Within the Rimini Hospital, Facility of the Local Health Authority “AUSL Della Romagna”

Background/Objectives: The 2020 health emergency accelerated a shift in healthcare management, highlighting the need to redefine the role of the Hospital Medical Directorate (HMD) for a “new normal” focused on improved patient outcomes and services. The objective of this study was to enhance the role of the Rimini Hospital Medical Management team from a business management perspective, identifying key competencies and training priorities for HMD physicians. Methods: The project involved three phases: 1) recognizing areas of responsibility and activities; 2) developing content descriptions and assigning them to HMD physicians; 3) identifying key competencies for each area. The approach was carried out through in-person workshops with active participation from the Medical Management Team. Results: The project successfully defined HMD responsibilities within the healthcare system, identified key competencies, and established training priorities. It also highlighted the need for standardizing operational approaches, particularly in on-call duties, to ensure consistent responses to both patient and professional needs. Conclusions: The project represented an initial step in developing competencies within AUSL Romagna, with potential for further expansion to other teams. Long-term structured training programs will be necessary, including those from scientific societies, to adapt to ongoing changes in healthcare management.