Outsourcing in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences; a before and after study

BACKGROUND: Outsourcing is a kind of participation between public and private sector. This should be monitored and supervised to enhance the quality of outsourced services and to prevent new problems in this area. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) hospitals increasingly use outsourcing in recent years. OBJECTIVES: The present research aimed at comparing outsourced departments of SUMS from economic view, accessibility of services, and service quality during the years 2010–2012. METHODS: A before and after descriptive and analytical design was applied in outsourced departments of SUMS in 2014. First, 17 indicators were extracted by Delphi technique. Then, all outsourced units were assessed using economic, access to services, and quality indicators during 2010 to 2012. RESULTS: After outsourcing, in all pharmacies and dentistry units, except one, loss decreased and benefit increased from public sector viewpoint. The number of personnel for one pharmacy and two laboratories was decreased, while it remained unchanged for dentistry units. The total number of clients was increased for all pharmacies and laboratories and decreased for one dentistry unit. Patient satisfaction for pharmacies, laboratories, and dentistry units was 73.4%, 80.3%, and 78.5%, respectively. Also, employer’s satisfaction from contraction was 60%, 68%, and 93.3% for pharmacies, laboratories, and dentistry units, respectively. CONCLUSION: Outsourcing as an effective strategy resulted in increase in the personnel, client, and stakeholder satisfaction. Also, it increased benefit and decreased cost for public sector. It is recommended that rules for the implementation of this strategy and monitoring the private sector should be defined.