Private equity is under scrutiny after several federal agencies launched an inquiry into its role in healthcare.
James Chen, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at DISC Sports & Spine Center in Newport Beach, Calif., connected with Becker's to discuss his thoughts on private equity's role in orthopedics.
Editor's note: This response has been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Dr. James Chen: Private equity in orthopedics has the potential to be very beneficial to improve patient care. However, it is important to keep in mind that not all partners are created equal, which also applies to partnerships with hospitals and other entities throughout healthcare.
At DISC, we have had nothing but a positive relationship with Chicago Pacific Founders. DISC has always been a leader in minimally invasive spine procedures, and the strategic partnership with Chicago Pacific Founders allowed us to expand and develop a total joint replacement program and provide leading-edge technologies for our procedure-specific approach. Patient care remains in the control of physicians, and we have the shared goal to maximize the experience and outcomes for our patients to build successful programs.