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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                       Consent of Independent Auditors


We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Current Report (Form 8-K)
of Healthtrust, Inc. - The Hospital Company ("Healthtrust") of our reports
dated December 3, 1993 with respect to the consolidated financial statements of
EPIC Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries and EPIC Healthcare Group, Inc. and
subsidiaries included in the U.S. Prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b),
dated April 28, 1994, related to the Registration Statement (No. 33-52401) on
Form S-3 filed by Healthtrust for the registration of 6,220,404 shares of its
common stock.




                                                      Ernst & Young

Dallas, Texas
May 12, 1994