AN EVALUATION OF THE PERCEIVED IMPACT OF IN-PATIENT CATERING OUTSOURCING ON PATIENT CARE IN KUNENE REGIONAL HEALTH DIRECTORATE, NAMIBIA

Abstract

Outsourcing is a method that enables transferring activities or tasks that are traditionally performed in-house, to a specialist provider. The findings from the literature on in-patient catering outsourcing are for the most part inconclusive. The purpose of this research is to
evaluate the perceived impact of outsourced in-patient catering services in Kunene Regional Health Directorate on patient care, and to identify specific risks and benefits of in-patient catering outsourcing. The research further examines the outsourcing provider’s level of
compliance with food safety regulations and environmental laws, and enables recommendations to be made on how to improve the delivery of outsourced in-patient catering services in Kunene Regional Health Directorate. In this cross-sectional descriptive survey, a quantitative research method was mainly utilized. Self-administered structured questionnaires were filled by 229 staff members in all three district hospitals of Kunene Regional Health Directorate, Namibia. The response to the questionnaire reached 87.7% and revealed the following: top four benefits or advantages of outsourcing are improved quantity and quality of in-patient meals, improved in-patient catering services, enhanced in-patient food safety, and improved focus on core activities (patient healthcare or service). Top four risks or disadvantages of outsourcing are bad publicity (poor catering services taint MoHSS’ name), quality problems, loss of MoHSS’ managerial control to outsourcing provider over how catering services are provided, and financial risks. Majority of the respondents perceived the in-patient catering outsourcing in their district hospitals as successful; with top four critical success factors for outsourcing being good relationships with in-patient catering outsourcing provider, effective communication throughout the process of outsourcing, regular site visits to the in-patient catering services, and strict control and supervision of in-patient catering staff by the outsourcing provider. Majority of the respondents had the opinion that in-patient outsourcing provider complied with food safety regulations and environmental laws; although some improvements still need to be implemented. Kuwait Chapter of Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review Vol. 4, No.2; October. 2014 24
The impact of in-patient catering outsourcing on patient care is seen through provision of healthy meals to patients to meet their dietary needs, aid the speed of recovery, minimise susceptibility to infections, and promote physical and mental wellbeing. Successful in-patient catering outsourcing requires that outsourcing providers closely collaborate with all other stakeholders such as in-patients themselves and their relatives, dieticians’, doctors, nurses, and Administration personnel. Furthermore, in-patient catering outsourcing relationship needs to be optimally supervised at all times in order to positively impact on patient care. This research exposes, for the first time, the scope of in-patient catering outsourcing in district hospitals in Kunene Regional Health Directorate in Namibia, and presents end-user perceptions in promoting quality in-patient meals and enhanced patient care.