Worse Outcomes After Esophagectomy at Private Equity-Owned Hospitals (MedPage Today)

A study in JAMA Surgery reveals that esophagectomy outcomes, including 30-day mortality, serious complications, and failure to rescue, were significantly worse at private equity-acquired hospitals compared to non-acquired centers. Private equity hospitals, which comprised only 5.5% of cases, had lower procedural volumes, lower nurse-to-patient ratios, and were less likely to be teaching institutions. These disparities highlight structural issues beyond case volume, suggesting that intensive care organization and multidisciplinary team dynamics may contribute. The findings urge further investigations into quality disparities and the impact of private equity ownership on complex surgical care—raising critical questions about the balance between profit motives and patient safety.