HEALTH

Columbia/HCA, Sharp Healthcare in Partnership: Nashville, Tenn.-based Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. formed a partnership with Sharp Healthcare, one of the biggest hospital operators in San Diego County. The alliance is a 50-50 partnership of the fast-growing hospital giant and closely held Sharp, which controls about a third of the San Diego County market. The partnership is “important because Sharp has an outstanding reputation both for quality of care and research,” said analyst Todd Richter of Dean Witter Reynolds. Columbia/HCA shares closed down 12.5 cents at $51.875 in New York Stock Exchange trading. Four of San Diego-based Sharp’s hospitals--Chula Vista, Memorial, Cabrillo and Murrieta--will be contributed to the venture and are estimated to be worth $377 million to $440 million.