U.S. Dermatology Partners And The Corporate Practice Of Medicine
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dallas, Texas
July 23, 2021
One of America’s largest dermatology companies, U.S. Dermatology Partners, stands accused in two separate Texas lawsuits of putting “profits above patient safety,” and imposing a “toxic culture on its physicians,” which has triggered an exodus of physicians from a number of the 96 clinics the company operates in eight states.
In a lawsuit filed in Dallas County, Texas, former USDP physician Dr. Shanna Meads alleged that USDP retaliated against her when she complained that the private equity firm running the multi-million-dollar medical practice was interfering with the practice of medicine.
“Because Dr. Meads wouldn’t play ball, USDP would make her pay,” the lawsuit reads. “USDP’S message is clear – ‘Shut up Little Lady.’”
In addition to her complaints about the corporate interference with patient care, Dr. Meads had also complained that one USDP doctor had received $100,000 in payments from controversial pharmaceutical company, Abbvie, Inc. When USDP tried to seal the petition in the Meads case, several other doctors jumped into the lawsuit and alleged that the dermatology giant had been investigated for violations of federal law and putting patients at risk.
In one of the lawsuits, it is alleged that one patient suffered permanent ear damage in effect because USDP refused to tell the patient where their surgeon had gone after leaving USDP. The doctors also claim that their patients did not get their biopsy results after their doctors left USDP because USDP did not take any steps to ensure that the patients were followed up with.
More than five million skin cancers are diagnosed every year in the United States, fueling a major need for dermatological care.
In September, the Texas Medical Board will hear the complaints of Dr. Mark Ray—a dermatologist who claims that he was finally fired from the Carrolton, Texas practice he founded after he tried to offer COVID vaccines to his patients. USDP reportedly refused Dr. Ray’s request to offer the COVID vaccines and then terminated Dr. Ray.
Dr. Ray had sold his practice to USDP—as many doctors across the country have done—to allow him to spend more time on medicine. Unfortunately, Dr. Ray then saw USDP interfere with the practice of medicine.
USDP patients heard Dr. Ray discuss the lawsuit in an interview that was broadcast by Houston-based investigative media firm, Dolcefino Consulting.
That broadcast can be viewed here:
“This may be the most hated corporation in America right now from what they’ve done to the doctors, the patients, and the staff,” said Dr. Ray.
The doctors say they are being replaced by medical personnel with little or no formal training.
The private equity firm Golub Capital operates US Dermatology through a Texas based management company called Oliver Street 5.01(A), Inc. USDP operates medical facilities in eight states.
“Bloomberg recently published an article suggesting private equity is ruining health care in America,” says Wayne Dolcefino, President of Dolcefino Consulting. “The USDP investigation is exposing allegations that your doctor may no longer be free to provide the best medical care because some hedge fund guy is playing doctor.”
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LOCAL TEXAS U.S. Dermatology Partners List:
Find a specialty dermatologist near you in Texas today! (usdermatologypartners.com)
Nationwide U.S. Dermatology Partners List:
Find a specialty dermatologist near you in Arizona today! (usdermatologypartners.com)
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