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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 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)       May 17, 2001
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                          HCA - THE HEALTHCARE COMPANY

               (Exact Name of Company as Specified in Its Charter)

           DELAWARE                    001-11239                 75-2497104
(State or other Jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)                                      Identification No.)

                                 ONE PARK PLAZA
                           NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37203

              (Address and Zip Code of Principal Executive Offices)

                                 (615) 344-9551

              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.

         In connection with the issuance and sale, pursuant to the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, of an aggregate of $500,000,000 principal amount of the
Registrant's 7.125% Notes due 2006, the Registrant files herewith those Exhibits
listed in Item 7(c) below.

ITEM 7(c). EXHIBITS.

         The following Exhibits are furnished in accordance with Item 601 of
Regulation S-K:

         Exhibit 1.1  Underwriting Agreement Standard Provisions (Debt
                      Securities) dated January 23, 2001 (filed as Exhibit 1.1
                      to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
                      January 23, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).

         Exhibit 1.2  Underwriting Agreement (Terms) dated May 17, 2001, by and
                      among HCA - The Healthcare Company and the several
                      Underwriters named therein.

         Exhibit 4.1  7.125% Note in the principal amount of $400,000,000 due
                      2006.

         Exhibit 4.2  7.125% Note in the principal amount of $100,000,000 due
                      2006.




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                                    SIGNATURE

         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.


                                    HCA - THE HEALTHCARE COMPANY


                                    /s/ John M. Franck II
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                                    John M. Franck II
                                    Vice President and Corporate Secretary

                                    May 22, 2001