Disentangling the Link between Telemedicine and Organization: Evidence from Case Studies

In the last decade, healthcare systems have undergone rapid transformations mainly enabled by technological innovations under the Industry 4.0 paradigm. Telemedicine is considered one of the key technological innovations to cope with contemporary health challenges, such as the accessibility of care pathways and related global health inclusion. However, despite its potential benefits and the acceleration of its use in the Covid-19 pandemic, the diffusion of telemedicine services is jeopardized across Europe, yet. Adopting a multiple case study approach, this paper explores how healthcare organizations have implemented telemedicine projects. This research focuses on Southern Italy, where the diffusion of telemedicine appears to be limited compared to other European and Italian regions. The paper aims to shed light on the implemented managerial actions for change and the role of the actors involved in telemedicine services in a disadvantaged territorial context.