-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Vt2SU/r78YApf/z4zSPtAyFt8SfSGpNs0gOirrh/lZgNtJBx1rkuge8FDp4P9nuA
 V0T2yuh/hZm0HCu7YYb76A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000860730-04-000026.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0000860730-04-000026.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105214144
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000860730-04-000026
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEELE JOHN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001269276

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11239
		FILM NUMBER:		04507693

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE PARK PLAZA
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37203

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HCA INC/TN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000860730
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-GENERAL MEDICAL & SURGICAL HOSPITALS, NEC [8062]
		IRS NUMBER:				752497104
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE PARK PLZ
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37203
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6153449551

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE PARK PLAZA
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37203

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HCA THE HEALTHCARE CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20010419

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COLUMBIA HCA HEALTHCARE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000502

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COLUMBIA HCA HEALTHCARE CORP/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940314
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>ste579.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000860730</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HCA INC/TN</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>(HCA)</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001269276</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEELE JOHN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE PARK PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NASHVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>SVP - Human Resources</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2004-01-01</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>800</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>13995</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2004-01-01</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>188</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>42.9600</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>13807</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-12-31</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>3</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>516</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>I</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value>By 401(k)</value>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the HCA 1995 Management Stock Purchase Plan, which includes tax withholding rights, shares acquired at a 25% discount ($28.20) and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">Pursuant to the HCA 401(k) Plan, plan share amounts reflected are an estimate based on unit accounting and a 12/31/2003 value of $42.96 per share.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: /s/ Dora A. Blackwood, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----