Book excerpt: Physicians and other medical professionals today must acquire far more business knowledge than they did even a generation ago. Whether you are directly involved in a medical practice acquisition, sale or merger, or you are a consultant or hospital executive needing to know more about the acquisition process, you must understand how to arrive at a fair valuation, negotiate a sales price and complete a successful deal. To gain this knowledge, you need a comprehensive reference book that explains situations, provides helpful case studies and answers your questions. In Buying, Selling & Merging a Medical Practice, successful medical management consultant Kenneth Hekman has compiled an all encompassing sourcebook that contains the explanation, techniques and proficiencies necessary to send you to the negotiating table well-equipped to complete a successful deal. Hekman covers the entire subject of buying, selling and merging medical practices by presenting its component parts in clear, concise language.