Transitioning from a standalone practice to a private equity-partnered practice and impact on clinical operations

Private equity has made significant inroads into the specialty of ophthalmology. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the effect of private equity on clinical operations in an ophthalmic practice.

Private equity had become an important source of capital and management expertise that has resulted in the consolidation of many ophthalmic practices as an alternative to working for a hospital system, insurance carrier, or independent private practice.

The recent growth of private equity presence in ophthalmology has resulted in significant changes in clinical operations. These changes in clinical operations include the increased importance of data management and data analytics, economies of scale, synergies, and introduction of patient-shared billing opportunities. Although physician input into clinical operations is decreased, provisional care decision-making can be maintained.