EXHIBIT 23.1




                         Independent Auditors' Consent

The Board of Directors
Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement on
Form S-3 of Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (the "Company") filed pursuant
to Rule 462(b)(3) under the Securities Act of 1933 of our reports dated July
14, 2004, with respect to the Combined Historical Summary of Gross Income and
Direct Operating Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2003 for Ascension
Detroit Properties and for Baylor Health Care System Properties, which reports
appear in the Form 8-K of the Company dated July 19, 2004 and to the reference
of our firm under the heading "Experts" in the Form 8-K/A of the Company dated
July 20, 2004 which is incorporated into the Registration Statement.


/s/ KPMG LLP


Nashville, Tennessee
July 22, 2004