A year of more and less. Number of hospital deals drops, but more facilities change hands. 1998 hospital mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, long-term leases and other partnerships.

1998 wasn't quite as busy a year for hospital dealmakers as 1997, but those who went shopping bought in volume. Although the number of deals decreased by almost 9%, 687 hospitals changed hands last year, according to our fifth annual tally of merger and acquisition activity.