The Ospedale Maggiore "Carlo Alberto Pizzardi" belongs to the Azienda Sanitaria Locale (local health authority) of Bologna, together with Ospedale Bellaria "C. A.Pizzardi".

The hospital has about forty Operative Units, between them: four Emergencies Departements (General; Orthopedic; Obstetric; Pediatric) and the "Trauma Center" for regional emergencies system (called "118") known for the largest number of critical case nationwide.

[1] On 30 April 1994, Formula One driver Roland Ratzenberger was transferred in critical condition to the Maggiore ED, after an accident during qualifying for the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari.

The next day, Ayrton Senna, three-time Formula One world champion, had an accident during the Grand Prix; he was airlifted to Maggiore.

At 6:40 PM, the head of the hospital's emergency department, Dr. Fiandri, made the announcement that Senna had died, but said the official time of death under Italian law was 2:17 PM, which is when he impacted the wall, one of the wheels from his car impacted his head and his brain stopped working.