<PAGE>
   
   
                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                       Washington, D.C.  20549
   
   
                               FORM 8-K
   
                            CURRENT REPORT
   
                   Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
   
   
   Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 9, 1994
   
   
                HEALTHTRUST, INC. - THE HOSPITAL COMPANY  
        (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
   
   
   
   DELAWARE                   1-10915         62-1234332       
   (State or other          (Commission      (IRS Employer
   jurisdiction of           File No.)      Identification No.)
    incorporation)
   
   
     4525 Harding Road, Nashville, Tennessee           37205     
       (Address of principal executive offices)      (Zip Code)
   
   
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (615) 383-4444
   
   
                                 None                            
    (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)<PAGE>
   Item 5.  Other Events
   
          The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference
   the description of the proposed transaction between
   Registrant, Odyssey Acquisition Corp., a Delaware
   corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Registrant
   ("Odyssey") and EPIC Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation
   ("EPIC"), which is described in (1) the Agreement and Plan
   of Merger among Registrant, Odyssey and EPIC dated as of
   January 9, 1994 (such agreement being Exhibit 2.1 attached
   hereto), (2) the press release of the Registrant dated
   January 10, 1994 announcing the proposed transaction (such 
   press release being Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto) and (3)
   the press release of the Registrant dated January 10, 1994
   in connection with the proposed transaction (such press
   release being Exhibit 99.2 attached hereto).
   
   Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
   
          (c)  Exhibits.
   
               2.1  Agreement and Plan of Merger among
                    Registrant, Odyssey and EPIC, dated as
                    of January 9, 1994.
   
               99.1 Registrant's press release, dated
                    January 10, 1994, announcing the
                    proposed transaction.
   
               99.2 Registrant's press release, dated 
                    January 10, 1994, in connection with
                    the proposed transaction.
   
                            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
   hereunto duly authorized.
   
   
                HEALTHTRUST, INC. - THE HOSPITAL
                COMPANY 
   
   
   
                By/s/Michael A. Koban, Jr.  
                  Michael A. Koban, Jr.
                  Senior Vice President
   
   
   Date:  January 10, 1994
      <PAGE>
<TABLE>
   <CAPTION>
                            EXHIBIT INDEX
   </CAPTION>
   
   <C>              <C>                  
   Number           Subject Matter       
                                         
   
   2.1              Agreement and Plan of Merger
                    among Registrant, Odyssey and EPIC,
                    dated as of January 9, 1994 
   
   99.1             Registrant's press release, dated
                    January 10, 1994, announcing
                    the proposed transaction
     
   99.2             Registrant's press release, dated
                    January 10, 1994, in connection with
                    the proposed transaction
   
   
   
      /TABLE
<PAGE>
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3737}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HEALTHTRUST INC THE HOSPITAL CO", "cik": "0000826490", "assigned-sic": "8062", "irs-number": "621234332", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0831"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-10915", "film-number": "94500856"}, "business-address": {"street1": "4525 HARDING RD", "city": "NASHVILLE", "state": "TN", "zip": "37205", "phone": "6153834444"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                       Washington, D.C.  20549
   
   
                               FORM 8-K
   
                            CURRENT REPORT
   
                   Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
   
   
   Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 9, 1994
   
   
                HEALTHTRUST, INC. - THE HOSPITAL COMPANY  
        (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
   
   
   
   DELAWARE                   1-10915         62-1234332       
   (State or other          (Commission      (IRS Employer
   jurisdiction of           File No.)      Identification No.)
    incorporation)
   
   
     4525 Harding Road, Nashville, Tennessee           37205     
       (Address of principal executive offices)      (Zip Code)
   
   
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (615) 383-4444
   
   
                                 None                            
    (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5.  Other Events
   
          The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference
   the description of the proposed transaction between
   Registrant, Odyssey Acquisition Corp., a Delaware
   corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Registrant
   ("Odyssey") and EPIC Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation
   ("EPIC"), which is described in (1) the Agreement and Plan
   of Merger among Registrant, Odyssey and EPIC dated as of
   January 9, 1994 (such agreement being Exhibit 2.1 attached
   hereto), (2) the press release of the Registrant dated
   January 10, 1994 announcing the proposed transaction (such 
   press release being Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto) and (3)
   the press release of the Registrant dated January 10, 1994
   in connection with the proposed transaction (such press
   release being Exhibit 99.2 attached hereto).
   
   Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
   
          (c)  Exhibits.
   
               2.1  Agreement and Plan of Merger among
                    Registrant, Odyssey and EPIC, dated as
                    of January 9, 1994.
   
               99.1 Registrant's press release, dated
                    January 10, 1994, announcing the
                    proposed transaction.
   
               99.2 Registrant's press release, dated 
                    January 10, 1994, in connection with
                    the proposed transaction.
   
                            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
   hereunto duly authorized.
   
   
                HEALTHTRUST, INC. - THE HOSPITAL
                COMPANY 
   
   
   
                By/s/Michael A. Koban, Jr.  
                  Michael A. Koban, Jr.
                  Senior Vice President
   
   
   Date:  January 10, 1994
Number           Subject Matter       
                                         
   
   2.1              Agreement and Plan of Merger
                    among Registrant, Odyssey and EPIC,
                    dated as of January 9, 1994 
   
   99.1             Registrant's press release, dated
                    January 10, 1994, announcing
                    the proposed transaction
     
   99.2             Registrant's press release, dated
                    January 10, 1994, in connection with
                    the proposed transaction
   
   
   
      /TABLE
EXHIBIT INDEX