8/25/2003. Tenet Healthcare Inc., in a continuing move to establish profitability, has agreed to sell five hospitals to Health Management, Inc. for $550 million dollars, it was announced Monday.

HMA, located in Naples, Florida, will acquire 137-bed Harton Regional Medical Center, Tullahoma, Tenn.; 128-bed Seven Rivers Community Hospital, Crystal River, Fla.; 294-bed Three Rivers Healthcare, Poplar Bluff, Mo.; 116-bed Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center, Kennett, Mo.; and 258-bed University Medical Center, Lebanon, Tenn.

The sale is expected to close by December 31st and will be subject to regulatory approval. HMA operates an additional 46 hospitals and Tenet, the number two operator of US hospitals, has 114. More sales are expected. ---Conrad Lopez