Thread

1. NegativeK · 1789944184 · focus · HN ↗

   Can someone steelman private equity, please? I'm honestly looking for the upsides (for non-investors) of when PE moves into an industry like medicine and begins buying up businesses that traditionally aren't already large chains.

   I already hear the downsides frequently from someone whose work is directly affected.

   1. Panzer04 · 1789947752 · focus · HN ↗

      Easy to imagine practices where the primary owner is going to retire and looking for an out.

      Maybe they find a buyer in a doctor, maybe they don't, but PE provides them an exit that keeps the practice operating in the community.

      Many people don't really run businesses efficiently. There was an interesting video I saw recently where a sole doctor practice made a few changes to their workflow that allowed them to hire more doctors and handle 2x as many people - I would expect a PE firm would pursue similar changes that help increase the number of people they can service, increasing competitiveness and lowering prices in the long run.

      I don't know how these tradeoffs interact with patient care, but I wouldn't inherently expect PE to be worse at this than any other operating model.

      1. what · 1789952206 · focus · HN ↗

         Why do you need to sell a private practice? There’s no brand to sell, it’s just you and that will be gone.

         PE is scourge in this space. They’ve probably taken over every dental office already and now they push unnecessary procedures and whatever your insurance will bear just because.

         1. caminante · 1789954206 · focus · HN ↗

            It is a brand and a book of customers someone has built up with surprising stickiness.

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