2021: private equity and ophthalmology in the era of COVID-19

Purpose/Relevance: Private equity firms, hospitals and other companies are buying ophthalmology practices in large numbers these days. Pediatric ophthalmology practices are being sought for varying reasons. This workshop will review the state of private equity purchasing in ophthalmology and outline key trends in acquisitions and details practices should consider in making the decision to sell to another firm while taking into consideration changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Target Audience: Ophthalmologists, medical directors, office administrators and managers. Current Practice: This wave of private equity purchases has many pediatric ophthalmologists wondering if they should sell and what the pros and cons of such a practice sale are for the practice, the physicians (partners and associates), and their staff. Best Practice: Strategies for negotiation and how to critically evaluate an offer will be discussed. Pre and post-acquisition issues will be discussed so the attendee can have proper expectations for the transition. Trends related to successful and unsuccessful purchases will be reviewed. Timing of acquisition and the effects of Covid-19 on the market will be discussed. Expected Outcomes: This workshop will teach the attendees about the state of private equity and will educate the attendees how to critically evaluate a purchase offer. The workshop will discuss evaluation of the purchasing company, specifics of the negotiation process, expectations pre- and post-merger and preparations for change to the practice. Format: Didactic lecture moderated by panelists;typical question and answer period will be replaced by the moderators asking expected questions in a pre-recorded video-chat format given the virtual, pre-recorded nature of workshops for 2021. Summary: Sales to private equity companies, hospital systems, and other large physician services entities continue to be strong. Understanding how to evaluate these companies and the changes these companies bring can help practices decide if such a sale will be worthwhile. The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on market forces in private equity acquisitions will be reviewed. This workshop will cover these details and more to help the attendee be able to critically evaluate a purchase offer.