A sampling of joint venture opportunities for hospitals and physicians

The fact that the term "joint venture" has become a buzz word in the hospital industry should not be allowed to obscure two basic facts. First, the concept is quite complex, involving tax and securities law issues as well as a number of important operational, financial, and governance issues. Second, the concept is an important one for the future of many hospitals. This article examines the misconceptions surrounding joint ventures and presents examples of actual joint ventures that hospitals have participated in, from physicians office building to home health agencies.