HCA signed a definitive agreement to acquire the 164-bed Northern Virginia Community Hospital in Arlington. The hospital is currently owned by Ventas Realty and operated by Kindred Hospitals East LLC. HCA expects to complete the acquisition by the end of June. HCA also plans to build a general hospital in under-served and rapidly growing Loudoun County, one of the nation's fastest growing counties. If approved, the new hospital would replace Northern Virginia Community Hospital and 100-bed, Dominion Psychiatric Hospital in Falls Church. As part of the plan, these hospitals would remain open until the replacement hospital opens in 2005 or 2006. HCA submitted a letter of intent to the Virginia Office of Health Facilities Regulation seeking a certificate of need to build the replacement facility. Founded in 1968 and based in Nashville, HCA is the nation's leading provider of healthcare services. It is composed of locally managed facilities that include 200 hospitals and 70 outpatient surgery centers in 24 states, England and Switzerland.