content: 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 3, 1996   
  
  ORNDA HEALTHCORP                
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  DELAWARE                         
  (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
  1-11591                         75-1776092               
  (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
  3401 West End Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee     37203      
  (Address of principal executive office)        (Zip Code)
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (615) 383-8599<PAGE>
  Item 5.   Other Events.
  
       The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference the description of
  the matters set forth in its news release dated January 3, 1996 (such news
  release being Exhibit 99(a) attached hereto) and in  the first two pages
  of its news release dated January 4, 1996 (such pages of the news release
  being Exhibit 99(b) attached hereto).
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and      
            Exhibits.
  
       (c)  Exhibits.
  
       99(a) Registrant's news release dated January 3, 1996.
       99(b) The first two pages of Registrant's news release dated
             January 4, 1996.
  
  
  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.
  
  ORNDA HEALTHCORP
  
  (Signature)
  Ronald P. Soltman
  Senior Vice President and General Counsel
  
  Date:     January 4, 1996<PAGE>
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  No.       Subject Matter
  
  99(a)     Registrant's new release dated January 3, 1996
  99(b)     The first two pages of Registrant's news release dated
            January 4, 1996<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 99(a)<PAGE>
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
  
  Contact:  Keith B. Pitts
            Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
            or
            Trip Pilgrim
            Director of Investor Relations
            OrNda HealthCorp
            (615) 383-8599
  
  
                  ORNDA COMPLETES HOUSTON NORTHWEST ACQUISITION
  
      NASHVILLE, Tennessee (January 3, 1996) OrNda HealthCorp  (NYSE:ORN)
  today announced it has completed its acquisition of the controlling equity
  interests in Houston Northwest Medical Center, Inc. (HNMC) from the
  hospital's Employee Stock Ownership Plan on terms previously disclosed. 
  HNMC's principal asset is Houston Northwest Medical Center, a 498-bed
  tertiary care hospital in Houston, Texas.  As a result of completion of
  the transaction, HNMC is now a wholly owned subsidiary of OrNda.
  
      OrNda HealthCorp is the third largest investor-owned hospital
  management company in the United States.  It is a leading provider of
  health care services, delivering a broad range of inpatient and outpatient
  health care services principally through the operation of 48 hospitals
  located in urban and suburban communities in 14 states.
  
                                       # # #<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 99(b)<PAGE>
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
  
  Contact:  Keith B. Pitts
            Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
            or
            Trip Pilgrim
            Director of Investor Relations
            OrNda HealthCorp
            (615) 383-8599
  
  
                 ORNDA HEALTHCORP REPORTS FIRST QUARTER EPS OF $0.40
  
      NASHVILLE, Tennessee (January 4, 1996) -- OrNda HealthCorp (NYSE:ORN)
  today reported earnings per share rose to $0.40 on 49.5 million weighted
  average common and common equivalent shares for the first quarter ended
  November 30, 1995, compared to $0.29 on 44.8 million weighted average
  common and common equivalent shares for the same period last year.  The
  increase in weighted average common and common equivalent shares reflects
  the issuance of 11.5 million common shares and the conversion of 1.4
  million shares of convertible preferred stock to common shares in November
  1995.  For the three months ended November 30, 1995, the Company had
  earnings per share on a fully diluted basis of $0.39.  Fully diluted
  earnings per share were anti-dilutive in last year's first quarter.
  
      Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 1996 was $493.6 million
  compared to $418.0 million in last year's first quarter.  OrNda's EBITDA
  increased to $71.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 1996 compared
  to $59.4 million for the same period last year.  Same-hospital admissions,
  adjusted admissions and revenues in the first quarter rose 2.8%, 7.1% and
  7.6%, respectively, fueled by volume increases in each significant OrNda
  market. 
  
      Charles N. Martin, Jr., Chairman, President and Chief Executive
  Officer of OrNda HealthCorp, said, "Our first quarter results indicate the
  ongoing success of the growth and operating strategies which were
  implemented during fiscal 1995.  We are continuing to aggressively develop
  integrated delivery systems in our key markets, as evidenced by our
  same-hospital volume increases. In addition, focusing on controlling costs
  in salaries and benefits, supplies, purchased services and bad debts has
  improved our margins.  Our EBITDA margin of 14.5% for the first quarter
  compares favorably to the 13.5% EBITDA margin for the fourth quarter of
  1995."<PAGE>
  ORND Reports First Quarter Results
  Page 2
  January 4, 1996
  
  
      In closing, Martin added, "Our financial results have also been
  positively impacted by our increase in managed care contracts, the
  development of strategic alliances with other healthcare providers and our
  linkages with physicians."
  
      The Company announced yesterday the closing of the transaction to
  acquire Houston Northwest Medical Center in Houston, Texas.  OrNda's
  acquisition of this hospital gives the company a leading  provider in the
  northwest Houston market.
  
      OrNda HealthCorp is the third largest investor-owned hospital
  management company in the United States.  It is a leading provider of
  health care services, delivering a broad range of inpatient and outpatient
  health care services principally through the operation of 48 hospitals
  located in urban and suburban communities in 14 states.
  
                                        # # #
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text: 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 3, 1996   
  
  ORNDA HEALTHCORP                
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  DELAWARE                         
  (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
  1-11591                         75-1776092               
  (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
  3401 West End Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee     37203      
  (Address of principal executive office)        (Zip Code)
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (615) 383-8599
  Item 5.   Other Events.
  
       The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference the description of
  the matters set forth in its news release dated January 3, 1996 (such news
  release being Exhibit 99(a) attached hereto) and in  the first two pages
  of its news release dated January 4, 1996 (such pages of the news release
  being Exhibit 99(b) attached hereto).
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and      
            Exhibits.
  
       (c)  Exhibits.
  
       99(a) Registrant's news release dated January 3, 1996.
       99(b) The first two pages of Registrant's news release dated
             January 4, 1996.
  
  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.
  
  ORNDA HEALTHCORP
  
  (Signature)
  Ronald P. Soltman
  Senior Vice President and General Counsel
  
  Date:     January 4, 1996
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  No.       Subject Matter
  
  99(a)     Registrant's new release dated January 3, 1996
  99(b)     The first two pages of Registrant's news release dated
            January 4, 1996
  Exhibit 99(a)
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
  
  Contact:  Keith B. Pitts
            Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
            or
            Trip Pilgrim
            Director of Investor Relations
            OrNda HealthCorp
            (615) 383-8599
  
                  ORNDA COMPLETES HOUSTON NORTHWEST ACQUISITION
  
      NASHVILLE, Tennessee (January 3, 1996) OrNda HealthCorp  (NYSE:ORN)
  today announced it has completed its acquisition of the controlling equity
  interests in Houston Northwest Medical Center, Inc. (HNMC) from the
  hospital's Employee Stock Ownership Plan on terms previously disclosed. 
  HNMC's principal asset is Houston Northwest Medical Center, a 498-bed
  tertiary care hospital in Houston, Texas.  As a result of completion of
  the transaction, HNMC is now a wholly owned subsidiary of OrNda.
  
      OrNda HealthCorp is the third largest investor-owned hospital
  management company in the United States.  It is a leading provider of
  health care services, delivering a broad range of inpatient and outpatient
  health care services principally through the operation of 48 hospitals
  located in urban and suburban communities in 14 states.
  
                                       # # #
  Exhibit 99(b)
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
  
  Contact:  Keith B. Pitts
            Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
            or
            Trip Pilgrim
            Director of Investor Relations
            OrNda HealthCorp
            (615) 383-8599
  
                 ORNDA HEALTHCORP REPORTS FIRST QUARTER EPS OF $0.40
  
      NASHVILLE, Tennessee (January 4, 1996) -- OrNda HealthCorp (NYSE:ORN)
  today reported earnings per share rose to $0.40 on 49.5 million weighted
  average common and common equivalent shares for the first quarter ended
  November 30, 1995, compared to $0.29 on 44.8 million weighted average
  common and common equivalent shares for the same period last year.  The
  increase in weighted average common and common equivalent shares reflects
  the issuance of 11.5 million common shares and the conversion of 1.4
  million shares of convertible preferred stock to common shares in November
  1995.  For the three months ended November 30, 1995, the Company had
  earnings per share on a fully diluted basis of $0.39.  Fully diluted
  earnings per share were anti-dilutive in last year's first quarter.
  
      Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 1996 was $493.6 million
  compared to $418.0 million in last year's first quarter.  OrNda's EBITDA
  increased to $71.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 1996 compared
  to $59.4 million for the same period last year.  Same-hospital admissions,
  adjusted admissions and revenues in the first quarter rose 2.8%, 7.1% and
  7.6%, respectively, fueled by volume increases in each significant OrNda
  market. 
  
      Charles N. Martin, Jr., Chairman, President and Chief Executive
  Officer of OrNda HealthCorp, said, "Our first quarter results indicate the
  ongoing success of the growth and operating strategies which were
  implemented during fiscal 1995.  We are continuing to aggressively develop
  integrated delivery systems in our key markets, as evidenced by our
  same-hospital volume increases. In addition, focusing on controlling costs
  in salaries and benefits, supplies, purchased services and bad debts has
  improved our margins.  Our EBITDA margin of 14.5% for the first quarter
  compares favorably to the 13.5% EBITDA margin for the fourth quarter of
  1995."
  ORND Reports First Quarter Results
  Page 2
  January 4, 1996
  
      In closing, Martin added, "Our financial results have also been
  positively impacted by our increase in managed care contracts, the
  development of strategic alliances with other healthcare providers and our
  linkages with physicians."
  
      The Company announced yesterday the closing of the transaction to
  acquire Houston Northwest Medical Center in Houston, Texas.  OrNda's
  acquisition of this hospital gives the company a leading  provider in the
  northwest Houston market.
  
      OrNda HealthCorp is the third largest investor-owned hospital
  management company in the United States.  It is a leading provider of
  health care services, delivering a broad range of inpatient and outpatient
  health care services principally through the operation of 48 hospitals
  located in urban and suburban communities in 14 states.
  
                                        # # #