<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000826490 <NAME> HEALTHTRUST, INC. - THE HOSPITAL COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1995 <PERIOD-END> FEB-28-1995 <CASH> 52272 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 790873 <ALLOWANCES> 180188 <INVENTORY> 90190 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 852870 <PP&E> 3109859 <DEPRECIATION> 828254 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4019497 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 556447 <BONDS> 1691221 <COMMON> 91 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 1146400 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4019497 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1984946 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1476558 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 113309 <LOSS-PROVISION> 128574 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 80604 <INCOME-PRETAX> 194890 <INCOME-TAX> 79271 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 111284 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 111284 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.20 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.20