Private equity firms have increasingly acquired hospitals, aiming to boost profits for investors. However, this trend poses significant risks to patients, communities, and healthcare providers.

For over twenty years, my experience in Chicago’s emergency departments has shown the consequences when hospitals vanish from neighborhoods. The closure of a hospital results in ambulances traveling longer distances, overcrowded waiting rooms, and patients arriving in worse condition due to delayed access to necessary care.

Typically, one might think a hospital closes because the community cannot sustain it. Surprisingly, closures now occur because the hospital’s assets may hold greater value when liquidated rather than serving the community.

This shift reflects a troubling reality where the financial aspects outweigh the health needs of the population. Hospitals should prioritize the well-being of the communities they serve rather than maximizing investor profits.