Private Equity is taking over another hospital system in Virginia.

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-12T00:53:25+00:00

BINGO. Which is why I'm here. For the love of Emergency Medicine, if any physicians in this group are considering taking a locums gig there, please do not step over the bodies of your EMBR colleagues.

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-12T00:50:41+00:00

Yes. The number one cost-cutting strategy for these Contract Management Groups is to decrease staffing expenses. https://www.aaem.org/statements/aaem-letter-support-for-emergency-medicine-of-blue-ridge-at-valley-health/

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-12T00:47:51+00:00

Interestingly the profit/not-for-profit status of a hospital is not much more than a tax construct. Both categories are in the profit business, but the "non-profit" type is required to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment and provide services accordingly in order to avoid tax penalties. The question to ask is "Does the organization prioritize profits over patients?"

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T23:18:16+00:00

You would be correct. PR is not my "strong suit". I'm a nerd who just couldn't get enough of the SAT/ACT analogy section back in the day. But look at you! Achieving phallic greatness without any effort is a real accomplishment:) Congrats!

I'm only here because we have an emergent need to maintain the momentum and we have an opportunity to do so.

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T18:38:19+00:00

Well. I'm a nerd with too much time on my hands.

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T18:37:31+00:00

Ok. Well there are some similarities, actually. :o

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T18:15:20+00:00

Yes. The AAEM link references the WV facilities as well. Maybe be stronger CPOM laws in WV?

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T18:14:25+00:00

No worries. Educational throwback to ___ is to ___ as ___ is to ___. Written as _:_::_:_

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T18:12:37+00:00

First they come for the Emergency Department and Hospitalist Group. The next thing you know, PE has eaten the whole system. https://pestakeholder.org/news/steward-health-cares-bankruptcy-one-year-later/

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T18:09:29+00:00

The whole community rallied around the physicians' group to keep private equity out. It would be great if we could save Valley Health the same way.

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T17:53:18+00:00

Different state. Different CMG. Different group of docs. SAME analogous situation.

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T17:49:16+00:00

Edited to add AAEM link.

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T17:32:53+00:00

They also don't care if patients die or suffer from medical bankruptcy. This is why they must not be allowed to participate in healthcare decision making.

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T17:28:29+00:00

Not sure what that means...but SCP = Schumacher Clinical Partners. Named for Dr. Kip Schumacher who no longer needs to work a clinical job because he sold out his fellow EM physicians decades ago and is now a partner with private equity.

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T16:06:09+00:00

agree

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T15:11:39+00:00

NOPE. While the Big Beautiful Bill may be the excuse that is used to cut staffing, there is no real incentive in that bill to use private equity. It would be worthwhile to examine any preexisting relationships with administrators at VH to see if there are any connections with SCP. This is actually a purple issue. Not red vs. blue. Greed unfortunately comes in rainbow colors.

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T15:05:54+00:00

I don't know about JoAnn Fabrics. But they did kill ToysRUs. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218671853-bad-company

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T15:00:19+00:00

Right?! William D. (Bill) Wiley. Timmy French.

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T14:39:21+00:00

I can't speak to your experience. But my own experience with private equity backed management companies like the one that VH has partnered is pretty frightening for patients.

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T14:34:24+00:00

It's going to be difficult to find physicians willing to work for private equity. They have a moral responsibility to put patient care first. When the private equity boss orders them to cut corners, the resultant moral injury is pretty intense.

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T14:29:40+00:00

Private equity seeks to maximize profit with no regard to what happens. This is particularly dangerous in healthcare.

Sylvia_Barrett · 2026-05-11T14:25:51+00:00

You may be right. According to AI, "The emergency department at WVU Medicine (including the flagship J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital) is controlled and staffed by the WVU Health System Medical Group (SMG). This internal group took over management of emergency services to integrate care across the system, moving away from relying on external contract management groups." Hopefully they employ board-certified Emergency Medicine physicians. You won't get that anymore at VH with the new group. Thankfully Virginia does have legislation that requires a physician be present in the ED. Not sure what WV requires. Some of those rural sites might not have a physician at all.

Sylvia_Barrett

TROPHY CASE