Pilot study on health outsourcing in Tasmanian rural hospitals and health services (Staff)

Project commencement date:

Project completion date:

Chief Investigator/Contact: Quynh Lê
Members: Rosa McManamey

This pilot study on health outsourcing was undertaken as part of the internal research activities conducted by the UDRH.

Outsourcing has become a common practice across business, industry, education and health services in Australia. The study was prompted by the lack of literature and enquiry into what, why and how outsourcing is conducted in rural health services in Tasmania. It examined the views, principles and rationales on which outsourcing is based, focused on three rural health services within the state.

Research findings revealed that hospital administrations and the reasons for outsourcing in hospitals in larger rural centres appear heterogeneous. However, outsourcing discussed in the smaller rural centre hospitals addressed workforce issues, challenges attached to shortages of professional staff, and service provision.