EXHIBIT (a)(5)(K)



(HCA INC. LOGO)

                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INVESTOR CONTACT:                                               MEDIA CONTACT:
Mark Kimbrough                                                  Jeff Prescott
(615) 344-2688                                                  (615) 344-5708

                               HCA INC. ANNOUNCES
                  FINAL RESULTS OF ITS SUCCESSFUL TENDER OFFER

         NASHVILLE, Tenn., November 17, 2004 -- HCA Inc. (NYSE: HCA) announced
today the final results of its modified "Dutch" auction tender offer to purchase
up to 61,000,000 shares of the company's common stock, which expired at 5:00
p.m., New York City time, on November 11, 2004.

         Based on the final count by National City Bank, the depositary for the
tender offer, approximately 62,025,889 shares of common stock were properly
tendered and not withdrawn at a price at or below $39.75 per share, including
shares that were tendered through notice of guaranteed delivery. As previously
disclosed, HCA intends to exercise its right to purchase additional shares of
common stock without extending the tender offer in accordance with applicable
securities laws. Accordingly, HCA has accepted for payment an aggregate of
approximately 62,025,889 shares at a purchase price of $39.75 per share. Because
HCA has accepted all of the shares tendered at or below the $39.75 per share
purchase price, there will not be any proration of shares accepted for payment.
The shares accepted for purchase by the Company represent approximately 13% of
the Company's outstanding shares of common stock. Payment for the shares
accepted for purchase, and return of all other shares tendered, will be done
promptly by the depositary. As a result of completing the tender offer, HCA has
approximately 421,219,411 shares of common stock outstanding and approximately
$35.5 million remaining under its $2,501,000,000 share repurchase authorization.
Accordingly, HCA may purchase up to $35.5 million of additional shares of its
common stock in open market or other transactions. However, consistent with
applicable securities laws, HCA will not purchase its shares, other than
pursuant to the tender offer, until at least 10 business days after the
expiration date of the tender offer.

         HCA will finance the tender offer by borrowing approximately $1.25
billion under its revolving credit and term loan facilities and by borrowing
$1.25 billion under its short-term loan facility. We anticipate that the amounts
borrowed under the revolving credit facility will initially bear interest at a
floating rate equal to 1-month LIBOR plus 0.800% (or approximately 2.93% as of
the date hereof). The amounts previously borrowed under the related term loan
facility currently bear interest at a floating rate equal to 1-month LIBOR plus
1.000% (or approximately 3.13% as of the date hereof). The amounts anticipated
to be borrowed under the short-term loan facility are expected to be repaid on
November 19, 2004 with the net proceeds of a public debt offering of
$500,000,000 principal amount of 5.500% notes due in 2009, $750,000,000
principal amount of 6.375% notes due in 2015 and with cash on hand.

         Jack O. Bovender, Jr., HCA Chairman and CEO, commented, "I am very
pleased with the success of the tender offer. The tender offer provided the
Company with an opportunity to deliver value to participating shareholders while
increasing the proportional ownership of our non-tendering shareholders."

         The lead dealer manager for the tender offer was Merrill Lynch & Co.
and the dealer manager for the tender offer was JPMorgan. The information agent
for the tender offer was Georgeson Shareholder Communications, Inc.

         This does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale.





              CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

         This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current
management expectations. Those forward-looking statements include all statements
other than those made solely with respect to historical fact. Numerous risks,
uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. These factors include,
but are not limited to (i) the increased leverage resulting from the financing
of the tender offer, (ii) increases in the amount and risk of collectability of
uninsured accounts and deductibles and copay amounts for insured accounts, (iii)
the ability to achieve operating and financial targets, achieve expected levels
of patient volumes and control the costs of providing services, (iv) the highly
competitive nature of the health care business, (v) the efforts of insurers,
health care providers and others to contain health care costs, (vi) possible
changes in the Medicare and Medicaid programs that may impact reimbursements to
health care providers and insurers, (vii) the ability to attract and retain
qualified management and other personnel, including affiliated physicians,
nurses and medical support personnel, (viii) potential liabilities and other
claims that may be asserted against the Company, (ix) fluctuations in the market
value of the Company's common stock, (x) the impact of the Company's charity
care and self-pay discounting policy changes, (xi) changes in accounting
practices, (xii) changes in general economic conditions, (xiii) future
divestitures which may result in charges, (xiv) changes in revenue mix and the
ability to enter into and renew managed care provider arrangements on acceptable
terms, (xv) the availability and terms of capital to fund the expansion of the
Company's business, (xvi) changes in business strategy or development plans,
(xvii) delays in receiving payments for services provided, (xviii) the possible
enactment of Federal or state health care reform, (xix) the outcome of pending
and any future tax audits, appeals and litigation associated with the Company's
tax positions, (xx) the outcome of the Company's continuing efforts to monitor,
maintain and comply with appropriate laws, regulations, policies and procedures
and the Company's corporate integrity agreement with the government, (xxi)
changes in Federal, state or local regulations affecting the health care
industry, (xxii) the ability to successfully integrate the operations of Health
Midwest, (xxiii) the ability to develop and implement the payroll and human
resources information systems within the expected time and cost projections and,
upon implementation, to realize the expected benefits and efficiencies, (xxiv)
the continuing impact of the recent hurricanes on the Company's Florida
facilities and the ability to obtain recoveries under the Company's insurance
policies, and (xxv) other risk factors detailed in the Company's filings with
the SEC. Many of the factors that will determine the Company's future results
are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict. In light of the
significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements contained
herein, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements,
which reflect management's views only as of the date hereof. The Company
undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or
to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. Notwithstanding any statement in this
press release, the safe harbor protections of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 do not apply to statements made in connection with a tender
offer.

         All references to "Company" and "HCA" as used throughout this document
refer to HCA Inc. and its affiliates.