HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA), one of the nation's leading healthcare providers, announced the completion of the purchase of a majority stake in Brookdale Health Care Services ("BHS") from Brookdale Senior Living Inc. ("Brookdale") (NYSE: BKD). The joint venture expands post-acute care services within the HCA Healthcare continuum with a goal of improving quality and patient experience, as well as promoting access to care.

"We view partnerships as foundational to our efforts to provide quality care to our patients, and we believe this joint venture will lead to improved care coordination," said Sam Hazen, chief executive officer of HCA Healthcare. "Our objective is to be the healthcare system of choice, and the addition of these services to our network of care improves our ability to meet the care needs of our patients."

Already one of the nation's leading providers of healthcare services, HCA Healthcare is comprised of 186 hospitals and approximately 2,000 ambulatory sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding ERs, urgent care centers, and physician clinics, in 20 states and the United Kingdom. This joint venture adds approximately 80 sites of care and more than 4,000 colleagues to HCA Healthcare.

HCA Healthcare purchased 80 percent equity of Brookdale Health Care Services for $400 million. Brookdale retained a 20 percent equity interest in the venture.