Joint ventures revisited: we're all in this together.

Healthcare organizations are finding it advantageous, and in some cases necessary, to join together to offer new services, seek economies of scale, or just stay in business. These partnerships can take various forms including joint ventures, shared service agreements, or multiprovider arrangements. together, they represent new approaches to operating more efficiently and effectively in a changing healthcare industry. This article marks the beginning of a three-part series on the joint venture in health care. The series explores possible joint venture models, explains the legal implications in setting up a joint venture, and shows how to evaluate a potential deal. Together they provide a background and a starting point for the financial manager considering the possibility of a joint venture.