Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors


     We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this Annual  Report (Form
10-K) of Healthcare  Realty Trust  Incorporated  of our report dated January 29,
1999 (except for Note 14 as to which the date is February 17, 1999)  included in
the 1998 Annual Report to Shareholders of Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated.

     Our audits also  included the  financial  statement schedules of Healthcare
Realty  Trust   Incorporated   listed  in  Item  14(a).  This  schedule  is  the
responsibility of the Company's management.  Our responsibility is to express an
opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, the financial  statement  schedules
referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements
taken as a whole,  presents fairly in all material  respects the information set
forth therein.

     We also  consent to the  incorporation  by  reference  in the  Registration
Statement  (Form S-8 No.  33-97240)  pertaining to the  Healthcare  Realty Trust
Incorporated 1993 Employees Stock Incentive Plan, 1995 Restricted Stock Plan for
Non-Employee   Directors,   and  1995  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan;  in  the
Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 33-97888) pertaining to the registration of
$250,000,000 of debt  securities,  preferred stock,  common stock warrants,  and
common  stock;  and  in the  Registration  Statement  (Form  S-3  No.  33-79452)
pertaining to the Healthcare  Realty Trust  Incorporated  Dividend  Reinvestment
Plan of our report  dated  January 29, 1999  (except for Note 14 as to which the
date  is  February  17,  1999),  with  respect  to  the  consolidated  financial
statements  incorporated  herein by  reference,  and our report  included in the
preceding  paragraph with respect to the financial  statement schedules included
in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated.


                                   ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Nashville, Tennessee
March 26, 1999