Detroit Medical Center (DMC) is considering outsourcing its housekeeping services, a move that is part of a trend by hospital systems in Southeast Michigan and elsewhere, according to an article on the Detroit Crain's Business website.

Facilities including Henry Ford Health System, St. John Providence Health System and Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute have outsourced either all or part of their housekeeping services.

DMC is studying the implications of hiring a third-party company to replace its 565-employee housekeeping workforce.

In early September, some DMC union housekeeping employees staged a protest in front of the downtown Detroit hospitals over the possibility they may be laid off and rehired by a private contractor at lower hourly rates. 

Scott Rice, president and COO of Detroit-based Powerlink Facilities Management Services, said hospitals evaluate outsourcing services based on cost, customer service and quality factors. Typical outsourced services include housekeeping, patient transport, equipment management and food service, he said in the article.

Read the article.