Challenges and solutions in the outsourcing process of healthcare units: A thematic analysis of findings from a scoping review

IntroductionDue to high volatility in the healthcare market and financing of healthcare services, outsourcing has been developed as an efficient method to facilitate financing and providing quality services to clients. The purpose of this paper was to determine the challenges and issues healthcare centers confront during the process of outsourcing while proposing some solutions to overcome the challenges to optimally facilitate the process of outsourcing.MethodsWe reviewed papers in multiple databases including PubMed, Scopus and ProQuest, and carried out a qualitative thematic analysis to obtain the major challenges and solutions regarding the process of outsourcing in the healthcare units.ResultsSeveral inter-organizational and intra-organizational challenges exist within the process of outsourcing, while organizational reforms and adopting new initiatives and resources are considered major solutions to resolve challenges within the process of outsourcing in healthcare centers.Main conclusionsA successful experience of outsourcing depends on precise strategic situational analysis before the implementation of such policy. Meanwhile, early assessment and feedback after the implementation of outsourcing in healthcare centers contribute to the successful implementation of such policy in healthcare centers.