title: Using derivatives to hedge against the unexpected.
abstract: Derivatives--financial instruments with a rate of return derived from an underlying asset--have been used as investment instruments for decades. Many derivative products originally were created explicitly for the purpose of reducing financial risks and have become more widely used and more complex in recent years. Healthcare financial managers should have a basic understanding of derivatives as well as the ability to apply general guidelines for their appropriate use in healthcare financial management.
authors.affiliation: South Trust Securities, Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aderholt
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D005377:Financial Management, Hospital / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D017721:Hospital Costs; D007449:Investments / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics; D012308:Risk Management / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States