WORKING WITH THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
developing forms of integration between public and private healthcare services.
WORKING IN SOCIAL AND HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
providing social and healthcare services in hospitals, Residenze Sanitarie Assistenziali (RSA) extended care facilities, seniors’ residences, shelters, etc.
IN PEOPLE’S HOMES
taking care of people in their own homes on the basis of new models of integrated home-based social and healthcare services.


Cooperativa Sociale e di Lavoro O.S.A. - Operatori Sanitari Associati – is a healthcare and social workers' cooperative which was established in Rome in 1985 by a group of doctors, psychologists and social workers. The Cooperative's purpose is social and healthcare research, education, prevention and assistance primarily for people who are not self-sufficient, taking into account all forms of social marginalisation.
The Cooperative’s statute and documents report its inspiration and purposes:

"...the Cooperative is inspired by the principles underlying the cooperative movement all over the world and acts on the basis of them (...): mutual aid, democracy, commitment, balance between responsibilities and roles, community spirit, ties with the local context, a balanced relationship with the State and with public institutions. (...).

The Cooperative's aim is to provide organised non-profit services for human, moral and cultural progress, professional education, prevention and treatment of disabilities and hardships and integration in society and the workplace for socially disadvantaged individuals (...).

The Cooperative attempts to achieve its aims by providing social, healthcare and educational services (...) oriented primarily but not exclusively towards meeting the needs of people with psycho-physical or psychological disabilities, and promoting actions and situations in favour of socially disadvantaged underage individuals (...)".

The cooperative began its work with an experimental programme in Integrated Home Service for people with AIDS, started in the late '80s in the Municipality of Rome.
With this first important experience, OSA began to grow both in quality and quantity, gradually adding new activities and serving more and more people.
OSA now works all over Italy, offering healthcare services in partnership with numerous local public health units and hospitals.
In more than 20 years the cooperative has continued to grow and add new services, providing employment for more and more cooperative members.