Impact of Outsourcing Healthcare Services Management on the Quality of these Services

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Outsourcing healthcare and the associated services has proven as an effective strategy for enhancing hospital performance and improving quality of services. Despite, the concept is relatively new in Iran, calling for studies investigating different aspects of the issue and its potential benefits. Thus, this study was conducted to explore the impact of outsourcing management of healthcare services on quality of these services in a number of teaching hospitals in Iran. Methods: A sample of 113 managers from six teaching hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) was surveyed. A 14-item researcher-made questionnaire was used to record the perception of hospital managers towards the quality of healthcare services before and after signing management contract. Paired t-test was used to compare the mean values. Findings: The quality of healthcare services after outsourcing was found to be significantly higher (P < 0.05) as perceived by the hospital managers, compared with the period before outsourcing. Conclusions: Our results provide further support for the notion that outsourcing management of healthcare services can lead to an improved quality of these services, thereby higher patient satisfaction and enhanced hospital performance.