Who Is HCA Healthcare?
What Patients Need to Know
HCA Healthcare is one of the largest for-profit hospital systems in the United States and operates dozens of facilities across Texas under familiar names like Medical City Healthcare, St. David’s HealthCare, and HCA Houston Healthcare. With more than 45 hospitals and 600+ outpatient sites in the state, HCA’s presence touches millions of lives — from Dallas and Austin to Houston and the Rio Grande Valley.
But bigger doesn’t always mean better. HCA has faced ongoing criticism nationwide and in Texas for prioritizing profits over patients, with reports of understaffing, preventable harm, and questionable billing practices.
At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, we carefully track hospital systems like HCA because when corporate healthcare fails, it’s patients who suffer. We are committed to holding HCA accountable when their practices lead to serious, avoidable injury.
A History of HCA Healthcare
HCA Healthcare was founded in 1968 in Nashville, Tennessee, by two physicians and an entrepreneur. Over the decades, it rapidly expanded and became the first hospital company to go public. In 1994, HCA merged with Columbia Hospital Corporation, forming Columbia/HCA, which became the largest healthcare company in the U.S.
However, growth brought legal scrutiny. In the late 1990s, the company faced one of the largest Medicare fraud investigations in American history — ultimately paying over $1.7 billion in civil and criminal penalties. After rebranding as HCA Inc., the organization worked to regain public trust and re-entered the public markets in 2011 through a record-setting IPO.
Today, HCA is a dominant healthcare provider with a strong foothold in Texas.
Fast Facts About HCA Healthcare
- Founded: 1968
- Headquarters: Nashville, Tennessee
- Texas Employees: 37,000+
- Texas Hospitals: 45+
- Texas Outpatient Sites: 600+
- Annual U.S. Patient Encounters: 35 million
- Annual Revenue: $60+ billion
- Ownership: Publicly traded (NYSE: HCA)
Major HCA Healthcare Divisions in Texas
HCA operates through three main regional brands in Texas:
Medical City Healthcare – DFW area: 16 hospitals and specialty centers including Medical City Dallas
HCA Houston Healthcare – Includes The Woman’s Hospital of Texas and Clear Lake, Northwest, and West campuses
St. David’s HealthCare – Serves Austin and Central Texas, in partnership with the University of Texas
Other Texas facilities include:
Rio Grande Regional Hospital – McAllen
Valley Regional Medical Center – Brownsville
Las Palmas Del Sol – El Paso
Legal Issues & Patient Safety Concerns
Although HCA does not disclose settlements, the system has faced multiple lawsuits and media investigations involving:
Birth injuries due to labor mismanagement
Misdiagnosis of strokes or heart attacks in emergency settings
Sepsis-related deaths after premature discharge
Surgical complications, including retained sponges and infections
Allegations of reduced nurse staffing impacting patient safety
A 2023 investigative report revealed that HCA may have pushed for lower nurse-to-patient ratios across multiple Texas hospitals, allegedly compromising patient outcomes.
These incidents are not isolated — and they highlight the very real risks that can arise when a hospital system prioritizes efficiency over safety.
If You’ve Suffered Harm at an HCA Facility in Texas
Medical errors are never just numbers — they represent real families and life-altering outcomes. If you believe you or a loved one experienced negligent care at an HCA hospital, we encourage you to seek legal counsel. You may be entitled to compensation, and you absolutely deserve answers.
Free, Confidential Case Review
At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, we’ve successfully taken on major hospital systems — and we’re ready to do it again. We will review your records, help determine what went wrong, and guide you toward the next steps. Contact our Texas-based legal team today for a no-cost, no-obligation case evaluation.
