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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

                        PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                                            
            DATE OF REPORT                              MARCH 18, 1994
   (Date of Earliest Event Reported)


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                      COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    DELAWARE
                             State of Incorporation


                                            
               001-11239                                  75-2497104
              (Commission                              (I.R.S. Employer
             File Number)                             Identification No.)


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ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

    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.

        1.  Shelf  Underwriting Agreement,  dated March  17, 1994,  by and among
    Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation and Salomon Brothers Inc, J.P. Morgan
    Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Prudential Securities
    Incorporated, as Underwriters.

        4.1 Form of 7.15% Note Due         2004.


                                   SIGNATURES

    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 thereunto duly authorized.

                                          COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
                                          (Registrant)

                                          By:        /s/ STEPHEN T. BRAUN
                                             -----------------------------------
                                              Stephen T. Braun,
                                              Senior Vice President and
                                              General Counsel

Date: March 18, 1994


                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS



 EXHIBIT                                                                                              SEQUENTIALLY
   NO.                                             EXHIBIT                                           NUMBERED PAGES
- ---------  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------------
                                                                                               
   1.      Shelf Underwriting Agreement, dated March 17, 1994, by and among Columbia/ HCA Healthcare
           Corporation   and  Salomon Brothers  Inc. J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co.
           Incorporated and Prudential Securities Incorporated, as Underwriters.

   4.1     Form of 7.15% Note Due March 30, 2004.