Private Investment in Cardiology: A Growing Trend With Promises and Risks
Private Investment in Cardiology: A Growing Trend With Promises and Risks
In the United States, many cardiology clinics and outpatient centers are no longer owned by doctors or hospitals. Instead, they are being acquired by private investors — a trend that started in fields like dermatology and dentistry and expanded into cardiology after 2020.
These investors often bring money, technology, and business efficiency. Their aim is to improve operations — but also to sell the clinics again within 3 to 5 years for profit. This short-term mindset can raise concerns about cost-cutting and the impact on patient care.
Case Study: CVAUSA & HybridChart
A clear example is the Cardiovascular Associates of America (CVAUSA) — a large cardiology group backed by private investors. In June 2025, CVAUSA partnered with HybridChart, a mobile platform created by cardiologist Dr. Gregory Sanders.
HybridChart gives doctors real-time access to patient data, allowing faster hospital rounds, better documentation, and improved clinic performance.
The tool is now the official digital rounding system across all CVAUSA locations.
CVAUSA CEO Tim Attebery, former ACC president, said this step supports value-based care and informed decision-making.
Expert Concerns from Harvard and JAMA
Not all outcomes of private investment are positive:
• A JAMA study (Jan 2025) by Harvard’s Dr. Rishi Wadhera found:
• Lower patient satisfaction after investor takeovers.
• A 20% rise in complications (e.g., infections, patient falls) in investor-owned hospitals.
• In other specialties, prices and billing went up — but without clear improvement in patient outcomes.
• The number of independent cardiologists dropped from 90% to 10% in just ten years. Most now work for investor-backed groups or hospitals.
Wadhera warns that some firms aim to improve care, while others focus purely on profits. But because transparency is limited, it’s hard to measure the full impact.
Why This Matters to Arab Countries
In many Arab countries, cardiology is still run by hospitals or physicians. But rising healthcare costs and the spread of digital health tools may attract similar investor interest soon.
That’s why the U.S. experience is important to watch.
Innovation is valuable — but it must not come at the cost of ethical practice or patient-centered care.
Bottom Line
CVAUSA’s use of HybridChart shows how private investors are helping to modernize cardiology through digital tools. But as this model grows, experts recommend cautious oversight to protect patient safety, service quality, and long-term outcomes.
(Based on Harvard expert opinions, JAMA in 2025, and the CVAUSA–HybridChart announcement in June 2025)