Identifying and Prioritizing Hospital's Units for Outsourcing Based on Related Indicators: a Qualitative Study

In order to improve accountability and efficiency of health services'' delivery، Ministry of Heath has allowed outsourcing of health services'' provision. This study aimed to identify and prioritize hospitals'' units for outsourcing based on required indicators through experts'' prospective and to implement outsourcing strategy. The present qualitative and applied study was conducted in three phases. The first phase included a review of fundamental concepts. At the second phase three focus group discussions were held with experts to identify outsourceable units of hospitals and required indicators to implement the outsourcing strategy. In the third phase، Delphi''s questionnaire was prepared based on Likert''s scale and the indicators and hospital units were prioritized. In total 9 indicators and 29 hospital units were identified by focus group discussions and entered into Delphi survey. Consensus was achieved on 9 indicators and 26 hospital units during three stages of Delphi. The most and least important indicators were identified as quality (consensus=100%) and workload (consensus=71. 4%)، respectively. The supportive and paraclinical units have the greatest potential for outsourcing. Chairmanship، management and financial units were not qualified for outsourcing based on the experts'' prospective. Outsourcing is applied to achieve efficient management of resources، quality improvement، and satisfaction of stakeholders. Considering outsourcing capability of several hospital unites، it can be used in administration of hospitals and the success rate can be measured based on clearly defined indicators.