The Rise of Private Equity in Medicine: A Welcoming or Worrisome Partner?
Richard Shi
Abstract
Private equity firms have become increasingly involved in physician practice acquisition, recently focusing on procedural and surgical specialties such as orthopedics, urology, and vascular surgery. These companies leverage business and marketing expertise to create operational efficiencies and maximize profitability. However, their involvement in medicine may compromise physician autonomy and lead to increases in health care expenditure without commensurate quality improvement. Trainees and medical students should familiarize themselves with this private sector involvement in medicine, to subsequently avoid business partnerships that may hinder high-quality, patient-centered care.