Here are the 15 leading for-profit hospital operators in the country, as of May 2012, including specialty/surgical hospital operators.
Note: Companies are listed in order of the number of hospitals, based on the company's website.
Hospital Corporation of America (Nashville, Tenn.).
Number of hospitals: 164
CEO: Richard Bracken
2011 revenue: $29.7 billion
Community Health Systems (Brentwood, Tenn.).
Number of hospitals: 134
CEO: Wayne Smith
2011 revenue: $113.6 billion
Health Management Associates (Naples, Fla.).
Number of hospitals: 71
CEO: Gary D. Newsome
2011 revenue: $5.8 billion
LifePoint Hospitals (Brentwood, Tenn.).
Number of hospitals: 53
CEO: William F. Carpenter III
2011 revenue: $3.03 billion
Tenet Healthcare Corp. (Dallas).
Number of hospitals: 50
CEO: Trevor Fettor
2011 revenue: $9.58 billion
Vanguard Health System (Nashville, Tenn.).
Number of hospitals: 28
CEO: Charles N. Martin, Jr.
2011 revenue: $4.89 billion
Universal Health Services (King of Prussia, Penn.).
Number of hospitals: 23 (acute care)
CEO: Alan B. Miller
2011 revenue: $7.5 billion
IASIS Healthcare (Franklin, Tenn.).
Number of hospitals: 18 (acute care)
CEO: W. Carl Whitmer
2011 revenue: $2.8 billion
Prime Healthcare Services (Ontario, Calif.).
Number of hospitals: 16
CEO: Prem Reddy, MD
2011 revenue: Not available
National Surgical Hospitals (Chicago).
Number of hospitals: 14 (Specialty/surgical)
CEO: John G. Rex-Waller
2011 revenue: Not available
Capella Healthcare (Brentwood, Tenn.).
Number of hospitals: 13
CEO: Daniel S. Slipkovich
2011 revenue: $683.9 million
Ardent Health Services (Nashville, Tenn.)
Number of hospitals: 10
CEO: David T. Vandewater
2011 revenue: Not available
Steward Health Care System (Boston).
Number of hospitals: 10
CEO: Ralph de la Torre, MD
2011 revenue: Not available
SunLink Health Systems (Atlanta).
Number of hospitals: 7
CEO: Robert M. Thornton, Jr.
2011 revenue: $181.2 million
Foundation Surgical Hospital Affiliates (Oklahoma City).
Number of hospitals: 4 (Specialty/surgical)
CEO: Thomas A. Michaud
2011 revenue: Not available
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Note: Companies are listed in order of the number of hospitals, based on the company's website.
Hospital Corporation of America (Nashville, Tenn.).
Number of hospitals: 164
CEO: Richard Bracken
2011 revenue: $29.7 billion
Community Health Systems (Brentwood, Tenn.).
Number of hospitals: 134
CEO: Wayne Smith
2011 revenue: $113.6 billion
Health Management Associates (Naples, Fla.).
Number of hospitals: 71
CEO: Gary D. Newsome
2011 revenue: $5.8 billion
LifePoint Hospitals (Brentwood, Tenn.).
Number of hospitals: 53
CEO: William F. Carpenter III
2011 revenue: $3.03 billion
Tenet Healthcare Corp. (Dallas).
Number of hospitals: 50
CEO: Trevor Fettor
2011 revenue: $9.58 billion
Vanguard Health System (Nashville, Tenn.).
Number of hospitals: 28
CEO: Charles N. Martin, Jr.
2011 revenue: $4.89 billion
Universal Health Services (King of Prussia, Penn.).
Number of hospitals: 23 (acute care)
CEO: Alan B. Miller
2011 revenue: $7.5 billion
IASIS Healthcare (Franklin, Tenn.).
Number of hospitals: 18 (acute care)
CEO: W. Carl Whitmer
2011 revenue: $2.8 billion
Prime Healthcare Services (Ontario, Calif.).
Number of hospitals: 16
CEO: Prem Reddy, MD
2011 revenue: Not available
National Surgical Hospitals (Chicago).
Number of hospitals: 14 (Specialty/surgical)
CEO: John G. Rex-Waller
2011 revenue: Not available
Capella Healthcare (Brentwood, Tenn.).
Number of hospitals: 13
CEO: Daniel S. Slipkovich
2011 revenue: $683.9 million
Ardent Health Services (Nashville, Tenn.)
Number of hospitals: 10
CEO: David T. Vandewater
2011 revenue: Not available
Steward Health Care System (Boston).
Number of hospitals: 10
CEO: Ralph de la Torre, MD
2011 revenue: Not available
SunLink Health Systems (Atlanta).
Number of hospitals: 7
CEO: Robert M. Thornton, Jr.
2011 revenue: $181.2 million
Foundation Surgical Hospital Affiliates (Oklahoma City).
Number of hospitals: 4 (Specialty/surgical)
CEO: Thomas A. Michaud
2011 revenue: Not available
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