Outsourcing in University Hospitals to Provide a Policy Formation Model: A Meta-Synthesis

Introduction: Every organization needs to develop and use the opportunities and mechanisms to resolve its issues and problems, improve conditions, and take advantage of new opportunities and mechanisms. The health sector, particularly educational and health centers, is not an exception and is more important in terms of its role in enhancing people's health. Thus, the objective of this study was to provide a model for the formation of outsourcing policies in educational centersMethods: This study used an integrative meta-synthesis approach based on the model presented by Sandelowski and Barroso. For data collection, national and international scientific databases were searched to find researches conducted from January 2010 to August 2019 using the following keywords: outsourcing, hospital outsourcing, outsourcing policy formation, outsourcing policy-making in hospitals of internal and external were used. Finally, 37 articles were selected.Results: A total of 10 main categories and 34 subcategories were identified by reviewing selected articles including outsourcing causes and objectives (five subcategories), outsourcing challenges (five subcategories), outsourcing disadvantages (five subcategories), outsourcing advantages (four subcategories), selection options (two subcategories), opportunities (three subcategories), risks (four subcategories), direct stakeholders (two subcategories), indirect stakeholders (two subcategories), and decision-makers (actors) (two subcategories). Finally, an outsourcing policy formation model was presented.Conclusion: The results of this study indicated the influence of different components and dimensions on the formation of outsourcing policy in the University Hospitals. Therefore, if the policy-makers have a comprehensive and realistic viewpoint, they can play a significant role in the success of the policies formulated.