Does Your Doctor Work for a Private Equity Group?

When it comes to choosing a doctor, many people focus on factors like location, insurance coverage, and specialty. However, it’s important to also consider the ownership structure of the hospital or clinic where your doctor practices. In recent years, more and more hospitals have been acquired by private equity firms, which can have negative consequences for patient care.
Private equity firms are for-profit entities that invest in companies with the goal of maximizing returns for their investors. When a private equity firm acquires a hospital, their primary goal is to increase revenue and profits. This can lead to cost-cutting measures that prioritize financial gain over patient care. They can accomplish this through reductions in staffing and services: Private equity firms may look for ways to reduce costs by cutting staff or services. As a patient you will then be subjected to longer wait times, reduced quality of care, and limited access to specialized treatments.
Private equity-owned hospitals also prioritize procedures that generate the most revenue, rather than those that are most medically necessary. This can lead to overuse of certain procedures and treatments, and underuse of others.
Private equity firms may pressure physicians to increase billing by ordering unnecessary tests or procedures. This can lead to higher healthcare costs for patients, and potentially harmful over-diagnosis and over-treatment.
Private equity ownership can lead to a lack of transparency in hospital operations, making it difficult for patients to understand the quality of care they are receiving.
If you are concerned about private equity ownership of hospitals, there are steps you can take to find a doctor who is not affiliated with a private equity-owned hospital.
If you have a doctor you trust, ask if they are affiliated with a private equity-owned hospital. If they are, ask if they know of any non-affiliated physicians they can recommend.
Before choosing a hospital or doctor, do some research to find out who owns the hospital. You can often find this information on the hospital’s website or by searching online.
Most importantly look for independent practices. Many doctors operate independent practices that are not affiliated with any particular hospital. These doctors may be more focused on patient care and less beholden to profit-driven motives. Myers Plastic Surgery is an independent practice and not affiliated with any private equity groups or publicly traded hospitals.
Choosing a doctor not affiliated with a hospital run by private equity is an important step in ensuring you receive the highest quality care. By understanding the potential pitfalls of private equity ownership and taking steps to find a doctor who is not affiliated with such a hospital, you can make sure that your healthcare needs are being met with the attention and care they deserve.