Reto Bernasconi: an emergency physician
- sureVIVE
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
The world of pre-hospital emergency care requires speed, composure and the ability to integrate into dynamic teams working in constantly changing environments. The story of Reto Bernasconi, an emergency physician with the Mendrisiotto Ambulance Service (SAM), illustrates what it means to operate in the field every day, balancing complex interventions, emotional management and a training path built with determination.
A physician rooted in the region
Reto Bernasconi is deeply connected to his region:
“My name is Reto Bernasconi, I am from the Mendrisiotto, I was born and raised here and I currently work as an emergency physician here at SAM.”
He has been working on ambulances for three years and, in parallel, has also served as an emergency physician with Rega for four years. This dual role enriches his experience and enhances his ability to operate in very different scenarios.
How an emergency response begins
A physician’s involvement depends on the type of alert received from the dispatch center. In the cantonal system, the color code determines severity and therefore whether an ambulance alone is dispatched or if a physician is also required.
“In green, only the ambulance is dispatched… in orange, the ambulance goes and we physicians must be ready… in red and blue, we also respond.”
Once the mission appears on the onboard computer, the severity is assessed, the call is accepted and the team heads to the garage to depart. Time is critical:
“For emergency responses, we normally have two minutes to leave.”
This phase follows strict protocols applied by dispatch through standardized questions. The assigned color activates lights, alarms and messages, guiding the operational response.
On scene: not only the patient, but the entire surrounding context
At the scene, the challenge goes beyond clinical care. Reto Bernasconi emphasizes that managing the people present is often more complex than the medical treatment itself:
“The most delicate aspect is often not managing the patient as such, but managing the people around them… caring also for the relative, the child, the spouse.”
Entering people’s homes during moments of vulnerability is never taken lightly. Every situation requires sensitivity, communication skills and respect.
Missions that leave a mark
hen asked about particularly impactful missions, Reto Bernasconi does not single out one specific event. Not because intense moments were lacking, but because every mission leaves something behind:
“You always take something home from every mission.”
Technical complexity, doubts that arise afterward or emotions shared with patients’ families all contribute to personal and professional growth.
A path driven by passion
His choice took shape early on:
“The world of emergency medicine has always fascinated me.”
After high school, he studied medicine, first for two years in Fribourg and then in Basel. There, he discovered an opportunity that would shape his career: during specialization in anesthesiology, from the second year onward, residents could already respond with ambulances as emergency physicians. For him, this became a natural path.
“I started there and I have always continued.”
After returning to Ticino, he joined Rega and later SAM, while maintaining hospital-based clinical work to preserve skills and hands-on experience.
Between sky and road: a profession that evolves every day
Today, Reto Bernasconi divides his time between ambulance work, air rescue and hospital practice. This balance allows him to remain constantly up to date both clinically and operationally, while dealing with a wide range of cases.
His story offers an authentic insight into the work of an emergency physician: a profession where technical expertise and experience intertwine with sensitivity, communication and the ability to understand the human environment beyond the clinical setting.
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