Ismett 2

Palermo / Italy

The new hospital will expand access to specialized services for the region. It will be integrated with the Ri.MED Foundation’s Biomedical Research and Biotechnology Center (BRBC), currently under construction on the same site. Together, these facilities are expected to drive biomedical advances and spin off companies that will transform the delivery of care to patients while boosting the economy of Sicily. Funded by the regional and national governments of Italy, the new hospital (currently dubbed “ISMETT 2”) and the BRBC will be managed by UPMC, which has operated the ISMETT transplant and high-specialty hospital in nearby Palermo for more than 20 years.

an artist 's impression of a building with stairs leading up to it

A new regional facility with a long term vision on serving the people of Sicily

Designed to eventually replace the original hospital, ISMETT 2 will continue the extensive transplantation programs and highly specialized therapies that served more than 2,600 patients in 2020. It will add advanced programs in oncology, orthopaedics, and neuroscience, expanding the range of treatments available to patients in Sicily. Like ISMETT, the new hospital will be included in the regional network that treats cardiovascular emergencies, such as heart attacks and strokes.

Based on the health care system’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, ISMETT 2 is designed to rapidly allow the conversion of ordinary inpatient beds into intensive and sub-intensive beds, while ensuring best practices in infection control and the seamless and separate care of patients with both chronic and infectious diseases.

The hospital design guarantees access to daylight and views to nature promoting healing for the patients and well-being for the medical staff

A man is riding a bike down a street in front of a large building

An architectural model of a house on a hillside

An artist 's impression of a large building surrounded by trees

Advanced technology to support operations and research

As with the current ISMETT and other UPMC facilities in Italy, technological innovation will play a key role in the new structure, including an electronic medical record and digital administrative and accounting systems across all departments. Backed by UPMC’s expertise in Pittsburgh, clinical decision support systems that harness artificial intelligence and machine learning will help clinicians ensure delivery of the right care at the right time, with a focus on information security and privacy. The information technology infrastructure will also support the integration of research into patient care.