SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT


Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  
October 4, 1994

HEALTHTRUST, INC. - THE HOSPITAL COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


1-10915	                 62-1234332
(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer 
                         Identification No.)

4525 Harding Road, Nashville, Tennessee	37205
(Address of principal executive office)	(Zip code)


Registrant's telephone number, 
including area code:  (615) 383-4444

None                                   
(Former name or former address, if 
changed since last report)
Item 5.  Other Events.

On October 4, 1994, Healthtrust, Inc. - The 
Hospital Company ("Registrant"), Columbia/HCA 
Healthcare Corporation ("Columbia") and COL 
Acquisition Corporation, a wholly owned 
subsidiary of Columbia ("Merger Sub"), 
entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger 
dated as of October 4, 1994 (the "Merger 
Agreement") pursuant to which Merger Sub will 
merge with and into the Registrant, and the 
Registrant will survive as a wholly owned 
subsidiary of Columbia (the "Merger").  		

Upon the effectiveness of the Merger, each 
share of outstanding common stock of the 
Registrant will be converted into the 
right to receive 0.88 of a share of the 
common stock of Columbia.  Consummation 
of the Merger is subject to certain 
conditions, including, among others, 
approval by the shareholders of the 
Registrant and Columbia and the expiration 
or termination of the applicable waiting 
period under the Hart- Scott-Rodino 
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.  A 
copy of the joint press release of the 
Registrant and Columbia, dated 
October 4, 1994, relating to the 
execution of the Merger Agreement is 
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is 
incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

99.1	  Joint press release of the 
       Registrant and Columbia, dated 
	      October 4, 1994.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the 
Registrant has duly caused this report 
to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


HEALTHTRUST, INC. - THE HOSPITAL COMPANY



By     /s/ Philip D. Wheeler                 
Name:  Philip D. Wheeler
Title: Senior Vice President


Date:  October 12, 1994

EXHIBIT INDEX


No.				Description

99.1				Joint press release 
        of the Registrant and Columbia, dated  
        October 4, 1994.


COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE          HEALTHTRUST, INC.: 
CORPORATION:		                   


Investor Contact:                Investor Contact: 		 
Victor L. Campbell               Merilyn H. Herbert
502/572-2111		                   615/298-6261
615/320-2053

Media Contact:		                 Media Contact:
Lindy B. Richardson	             Paula Lovell
502/572-2153		                   615/297-7766

	COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
	AND HEALTHTRUST, INC.
	ANNOUNCE PLANNED MERGER TO CREATE 
		$15 BILLION COMPANY

LOUISVILLE, Ky., and NASHVILLE, Tenn., 
Oct. 4, 1994 - In a merger creating a 
$15 billion healthcare provider, Columbia/HCA 
Healthcare Corporation (NYSE:COL) and 
HealthTrust, Inc. - The Hospital Company 
(NYSE:HTI) today jointly announced the 
signing of a definitive agreement to merge 
in a tax-free, stock-for- stock transaction.

Under the terms of the merger agreement 
approved today by the boards of both 
companies, HTI shareholders would receive 
0.88 of a share of Columbia common stock 
in exchange for each HTI share held.  
Following the merger, there will be 
approximately 452 million shares of 
Columbia common stock outstanding.  It 
is anticipated that the proposed merger 
will be tax-free to HTI shareholders and 
accounted for as a pooling- of-interests.

After the merger, Columbia will own and 
operate 311 hospitals with approximately 
60,000 licensed beds and 125 outpatient 
centers in 37 states and 2 foreign countries.  
The combined companies have approximately 
170,000 employees and total assets and 
annual revenues of over $15 billion.

The companies anticipate annual savings 
of approximately $125 million from cost 
reductions and improved efficiencies 
resulting from this consolidation.  By 
leveraging their economies of scale and 
collective strengths and efficiencies, 
the companies believe they can greatly 
control healthcare costs while maintaining 
quality patient care.

"We have heard the nation's call to reform, 
and we are responding to improve the 
system for patients, physicians and 
purchasers.  Our continued growth is 
generating dramatic changes in the delivery 
of healthcare services in this country, and 
they are changes for the better,"  said 
Richard L. Scott, President and Chief Executive 
Officer of Columbia.  "Healthcare historically 
has been a fragmented industry, lacking 
accountability and quality standards.  As 
we bring providers together into an 
integrated system, we can improve quality 
and efficiency and realize within this 
industry the benefits that size has 
created within other American industries,"  
Scott added.

R. Clayton McWhorter, HealthTrust's Chairman, 
President and Chief Executive Officer said, 
"The combination of these two companies 
represents a marketplace response to 
the rapidly changing healthcare 
environment.  This consolidation will 
enhance our efforts with physicians 
and managed care organizations as we 
together seek cost- efficient, quality 
results."

When the merger is consummated, 
R. Clayton McWhorter will be Chairman 
of the Board, Thomas F. Frist, Jr., M.D. 
will be Vice Chairman, Richard L. Scott 
will be President and Chief Executive 
Officer, David T. Vandewater will be 
Chief Operating Officer and David C. 
Colby will be Chief Financial Officer.  
Subject to stockholder approval, the 
combined entity's board of directors 
will consist of 15 current Columbia 
directors and 3 of the current HealthTrust 
directors.  It is anticipated that 
Columbia will continue its existing 
dividend policy of $0.03 per share 
per quarter.

The transaction is conditioned upon 
confirmation that the transaction 
qualifies as a pooling-of-interests, 
approval by shareholders of both 
companies, approval under the Hart-Scott-
Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and 
other customary conditions.  Shareholders 
meetings to vote on the proposed merger 
transaction are anticipated during the 
first quarter of 1995.

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated is 
serving as financial advisor to Columbia 
and has rendered a fairness opinion to the
Columbia board of directors.  Merrill Lynch & Co. 
is serving in the same capacity to 
HealthTrust and has rendered a fairness 
opinion to HealthTrust's board of directors 
with respect to the proposed combination.

Columbia currently operates 195 
hospitals with 44,000 beds and 125 
outpatient centers.  Columbia provided 
$700 million in uncompensated patient 
care and paid $711 million in federal, 
state and local taxes in 1993.  
HealthTrust currently operates 116 
hospitals with 16,000 beds through 
which it provides a variety of inpatient 
and outpatient services.  HealthTrust 
provided $240 million in uncompensated 
patient care and paid $230 million in 
taxes in 1993.

		# # #

    Columbia/HCA and HealthTrust

        Hospitals by State

State    Columbia/HCA HealthTrust Combined

Alabama        5          3          8
Alaska         1          0          1
Arizona        2          2          4
Arkansas       1          2          3
California     6          5         11
Colorado       3          0          3
Delaware       1          0          1
Florida       46         10         56
Georgia       15          3         18
Idaho          0          2          2
Illinois       6          0          6
Indiana        1          1          2
Kansas         3          0          3
Kentucky       7          6         13
Louisiana     12          8         20
Mississippi    0          2          2
Missouri       2          1          3
Nevada         1          0          1
New Hampshire  3          0          3
New Mexico     3          0          3
North Carolina 3          3          6
Oklahoma       2          5          7
Oregon         0          2          2
South Carolina 4          3          7
Tennessee     13         13         26
Texas         35         32         67
Utah           2          8         10
Virginia      10          3         13
Washington     0          1          1
West Virginia  5          0          5
Wyoming        0          1          1

London, England 2         0          2
Geneva, Switz.  1         0          1

Totals       195         116        311