Frist sees growth opportunities in Chinese hospitals

A company launched by Nashville's Frist family to pursue opportunities in China has tweaked its name and is in talks to acquire three more hospitals in that fast-changing country. If finalized, those deals would make Chinaco Healthcare Corp. majority owner of hospitals in Qingdao, Xiamen and Jingzhou, said Dr. Tommy Frist Jr., co-founder of the company, with his son-in-law, Chuck Elcan, its president. China now allows full private ownership of hospitals, but Chinaco, formerly China Healthcare Corp., would jointly own those hospitals with the local governments. Plans also call for building replacement facilities, Frist said.