I think the private-equity backed CMG's have a not-so-hidden purpose in expanding these residency programs:
- Cheap labor by using residents instead of adding additional attendings,
- Less liability (residents under the hospital shifts some of the liability to the hospital instead of the CMG),
- Future decreased salaries (if somebody isn't compliant, fire them and replace them with a new grad who's desperate for a job).
If a ton of EP's don't get out of the field from COVID PTSD, retire, etc., then it's with 100% certainty that we will see the oversupply drive down demand enough that salaries will almost be on par with nurses/APP's.
North Alabama Medical Center is owned by RCCH, a privately held for-profit corporation if I'm not mistaken.