Book excerpt: Based on the experience of communicating critical healthcare mergers, this book is a practical guide to building a strategic communications plan to share the news of a healthcare organization's merger, acquisition, affiliation, or joint venture. Tried-and-true advice from experts who participated in 20% of hospital partnerships in 2012, this book will help you: * Develop practical steps to use while in the trenches of planning partnership communications * Build a communications plan that brings together all those involved in the announcement of a partnership, from C-suite insiders to outside counsel to communications * Differentiate your communication strategy as one that is unified, positive, and devoid of rumors * Identify what needs to be done when the deal is signed-or when it falls through