A profile of hospital acquisitions

The number of hospitals acquired by hospital systems has declined from 99 facilities in 1996 to less than 63 facilities between 1999 and 2000. We evaluated the market, operating and organizational factors, and their relationship to these hospital acquisitions that occurred during this period of decline. We found that acquired hospitals, on average, operated at a loss, incurred higher debt levels, and were more likely to be located in markets with a large number of health maintenance organizations. Older, for-profit hospitals with fewer occupied beds were also likely targets for hospital acquisitions.