HEALTH

Hospital Chain’s Profit Leaps: Fourth-quarter earnings for Columbia-HCA Healthcare Corp. jumped by 28% as the nation’s No. 1 for-profit hospital chain said admissions grew while costs stayed under control. Columbia, which has been growing rapidly through acquisitions, said it earned $227 million, or 62 cents a share, for the quarter, compared to $176 million, or 52 cents a share, in 1993’s fourth quarter. Revenue was $2.9 billion, up 14% from $2.6 billion a year earlier. For the full year, net profit was $630 million, or $1.80 a share, up 24% from $507 million, or $1.50 a share, in 1993. The full-year figures include one-time expenses of $217 million related to Columbia’s purchase of HCA-Hospital Corp. Nashville, Tenn.-based Columbia-HCA operates 200 hospitals and more than 100 outpatient surgery centers in 33 states and two foreign countries.