Provides physician staffing and management services for hospital emergency departments.
Acquired by KKR2011-05-15
Leading emergency medicine physician staffing company with national scale
Staffing reductions, with fewer registered nurses (RNs) replaced by less-skilled licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or nursing aides in hospital emergency departments
Aggressive billing practices, such as 'upcoding' to higher-reimbursement procedures and diagnoses
Elimination of unprofitable but essential services like psychiatric care or rural emergency services
Extraction of large management and consulting fees, reducing resources available for direct patient care
Announcement of 'optimization' programs, leadership changes, and cost-cutting measures
Staffing reductions begin, with fewer RNs and more LPNs/aides in emergency departments
Longer wait times, poorer quality of care, and patient dissatisfaction as service cuts take effect
Potential closure of emergency departments or entire hospitals, especially in rural or underserved areas, due to quality issues and financial pressures
Potential bankruptcy or fire sale of EmCare to another operator, further disrupting emergency services
Other companies that followed a similar path after PE acquisition
Monitor any changes in the number and qualifications of emergency department staff, as well as wait times and quality of care
Be aware of any service reductions or closures of emergency departments, especially in rural or underserved areas
Advocate for transparency and accountability from EmCare and local hospitals regarding the impact of private equity ownership
Community-focused healthcare
Integrated managed care consortium