title: Issues surrounding the ownership of private psychiatric hospitals by investor-owned hospital chains.
abstract: Investor-owned multihospital chains now operate many of the nation's private psychiatric hospitals. This paper provides data showing the extent of the chains' involvement in these hospitals; it also provides specific information about those firms that own and operate the great majority of the chain-affiliated psychiatric facilities. The substantial growth of the chains during the past 20 years is discussed, particularly from an economic perspective. Several controversial issues concerning investor-owned multihospital chains have arisen, some of which relate to the general concept of hospitals as for-profit enterprises. Other issues relate more specifically to the chains' impact on hospital operations. Finally, the author discusses why the chains will continue to expand in size and in influence.
mesh_terms: D003155:Community Mental Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006777:Hospitals, Proprietary / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007449:Investments; D009096:Multi-Institutional Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States