<PAGE>

     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15, 2001.
                                                      Registration No. 333-54238
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                ----------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                ----------------

                              TRIAD HOSPITALS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             Delaware                                     75-2816101
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)

                           13455 Noel Road, 20th Floor
                               Dallas, Texas 75240
                                  972-789-2700
    (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code
               of each registrant's principal executive offices)

                                ----------------

               TRIAD HOSPITALS, INC. EXECUTIVE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                               Donald P. Fay, Esq.
             Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
                              Triad Hospitals, Inc.
                           13455 Noel Road, 20th Floor
                               Dallas, Texas 75240
                                  972-789-2700
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code of agent for services)

                                ----------------

                                    Copy to:
                             Morton A. Pierce, Esq.
                             Michelle B. Rutta, Esq.
                              Dewey Ballantine LLP
                           1301 Avenue of the Americas
                          New York, New York 10019-6092

                                ----------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================
<S>                          <C>              <C>                 <C>                  <C>
                                              Proposed Maximum     Proposed Maximum      Amount of
  Title of Securities        Amount to be      Offering Price     Aggregate Offering   Registration
   to be Registered          Registered(1)      Per Unit(2)            Price (2)          Fee(2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share (3)         970,000 shares        $24.625             $23,886,250        $5,971.63
====================================================================================================
</TABLE>
 (1) Consists of shares of common stock which have been issued under the Triad
     Hospitals, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan and are being registered for
     resale. This Registration Statement also covers any additional shares of
     common stock which become issuable in connection with the shares registered
     for sale hereby by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
     recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization of or by the
     Registrant which results in an increase in the number of shares of our
     common stock.
(2)  Estimated solely for purposes of determining the registration fee pursuant
     to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and based upon
     the average high $25.65 and low $23.60 prices reported in the consolidated
     reporting system on May 9, 2001.
(3)  Includes the Series A Preferred Stock purchase rights associated with the
     common stock.

================================================================================
<PAGE>



                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

                                EXPLANATORY NOTE

                                ----------------

         We have prepared this Registration Statement in accordance with the
requirements of Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to
register shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, issued pursuant
to our Executive Stock Purchase Plan.

         Filed as part of this Registration Statement on this Form S-8 is a
reoffer Prospectus that we have prepared in accordance with Part I of Form S-3
under the Securities Act. The reoffer Prospectus may be utilized for reofferings
and resales of up to 970,000 shares of common stock which have been issued to
the selling security holders under the plan.

                                       2

<PAGE>

                               REOFFER PROSPECTUS

                              Triad Hospitals, Inc.

                         970,000 Shares of Common Stock

This Prospectus relates to 970,000 shares of Triad Hospitals, Inc. common stock
acquired by the individuals listed under the "Selling Security Holders" section
of this reoffer Prospectus. The selling security holders acquired the shares
pursuant to our Executive Stock Purchase Plan. The shares covered by this
Prospectus may be offered for sale by the selling security holders from time to
time in ordinary brokerage transactions on the New York Stock Exchange at market
prices prevailing at the time of the sale or in one or more negotiated
transactions at prices acceptable to the respective selling stockholder.

The shares covered by this reoffer Prospectus are "restricted securities" under
the Securities Act before their sale under the reoffer Prospectus. The reoffer
Prospectus has been prepared for the purpose of registering the Shares under the
Securities Act to allow for future sales by the selling stockholders to the
public without restriction. To our knowledge, the selling stockholders have no
arrangement with any brokerage firm for the sale of the shares covered by this
reoffer Prospectus. The selling stockholders may be deemed to be "underwriters"
within the meaning of the Securities Act. Any commissions received by a broker
or dealer in connection with resales of the shares may be deemed to be
underwriting commissions or discounts under the 1933 Act.

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"TRI." On May 11, 2001, the last sale price for our common stock as quoted on
the New York Stock Exchange was $27.15 per share.

Investing in our common stock involves risks. For information concerning factors
that should be considered by prospective investors see "Risk Factors" on page 2.

                                ----------------

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the
adequacy or accuracy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.

                                ----------------

               The date of this reoffer Prospectus is May 15, 2001



                                       3
<PAGE>

                                Table Of Contents

ABOUT THE COMPANY .........................................................    1
RISK FACTORS ..............................................................    2
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ................................................   15
SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS ..................................................   16
EXPERTS ...................................................................   18
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION .......................................   20

                                ----------------

You should rely only on the information contained in this document or to which
we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you other
information that is different. This document may only be used where it is legal
to sell these securities. The information in this document may only be accurate
on the date of this document.

                                       4

<PAGE>


                                ABOUT THE COMPANY

         We are the third-largest publicly owned hospital company in the United
States and provide health care services through hospitals and ambulatory surgery
centers located in small cities and selected urban markets primarily in the
southern and midwestern United States. Our hospital facilities include 49
general, acute care hospitals and 14 ambulatory surgery centers located in the
states of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South
Carolina, Texas and West Virginia. One hospital included among these facilities
is operated through a 50/50 joint venture that is not consolidated for financial
reporting purposes. We are also a minority investor in three joint ventures that
own seven general, acute care hospitals in Georgia and Nevada. On April 27,
2001, we completed our acquisition of Quorum Health Group, Inc.

         Our general, acute care hospitals typically provide a full range of
services commonly available in hospitals, such as internal medicine, general
surgery, cardiology, oncology, neurosurgery, orthopedics and obstetrics,
diagnostic and emergency services. These hospitals also generally provide
outpatient and ancillary health care services such as outpatient surgery,
laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, cardiology and physical therapy.
Outpatient services also are provided by ambulatory surgery centers operated by
us. In addition, some of our general, acute care hospitals have a limited number
of licensed psychiatric beds and provide psychiatric skilled nursing services.

         In addition to providing capital resources, we make available a variety
of management services to our health care facilities. These services include
ethics and compliance programs, national supply and equipment purchasing and
leasing contracts, accounting, financial and clinical systems, governmental
reimbursement assistance, information systems, legal support, personnel
management and internal audit, access to regional managed care networks, and
resource management.

         Our principal executive office is located at 13455 Noel Road, 20th
Floor, Dallas, Texas, 75240. Our telephone number is (972) 789-2700.

                                       1

<PAGE>

                                  RISK FACTORS

         In evaluating an investment in our common stock, you should carefully
consider the following factors in addition to the other information included in
or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.

We have a limited operating history as an independent company, a history of
losses and may experience additional losses in the future.

         Triad had net income of $4.4 million in 2000 and net losses of $95.6
million in 1999 and $87.1 million in 1998 and may experience net losses in the
future. On a pro forma basis after giving effect to the merger of Quorum with
and into Triad, we experienced a net loss of $35.1 million in 2000. Until May
1999, when our company was spun off from HCA-The Healthcare Company, we operated
as the Pacific Group division of HCA and, therefore, we do not have a long
operating history as an independent, publicly owned company. In addition, we may
not be able to accurately predict our working capital and other cash needs
because we have a limited independent operating history. If we fail to maintain
adequate working capital and experience a resultant lack of liquidity, we may
default on our required debt service obligations.

         Prior to the spin-off from HCA, we relied on HCA for various financial,
administrative and managerial expertise relevant to the conduct of our business.
We maintain our own lines of credit and banking relationships, employ our own
senior executives and perform our own administrative functions; however, HCA
continues to provide various support services to us on a contractual basis. Our
business depends significantly on effective information systems to process
clinical and financial information. We still rely on HCA for our information
systems. Under a contract with an initial term that expires in May 2006, HCA
provides financial, clinical, patient accounting and network information
services to us. If our access to these systems is limited or if we fail to
develop independent systems in the future, our operations could suffer.
Moreover, as new information systems are developed, we must integrate them into
our existing system. Our inability to successfully integrate new information
systems could cause our operations to suffer.

Increased leverage could have a significant affect on our operations.

         To finance the merger with Quorum, we borrowed approximately $1.6
billion to pay the cash portion of the merger consideration and to refinance
approximately $1.0 billion of existing debt (as of December 31, 2000) of both
companies. This debt will create increased demands upon our cash available to
pay principal and interest. We also may draw upon revolving credit loans in an
aggregate principal amount of up to $250.0 million, and as of April 30, 2001, we
have drawn down $42.0 million under this revolving facility. We also have the
ability to incur additional debt, subject to the conditions imposed by the terms
of our credit facility and the indenture governing our notes. Although we
believe that our future operating cash flow, together with available financing
arrangements, will be sufficient to fund our operating requirements, our
leverage and debt service obligations could have important consequences to you,
including the following:

     o    The terms of our debt obligations contain numerous financial and other
          restrictive covenants which, among other things, restrict our ability
          to pay dividends, incur additional debt and sell assets. If we do not
          comply with these obligations, it may cause an event of default,
          which, if not cured or waived, could require us to repay the
          indebtedness immediately.

                                       2

<PAGE>

     o    We may be more vulnerable in the event of downturns in our businesses,
          in our industries, or in the economy generally, or if the government
          implements further limitations on reimbursement under Medicare and
          Medicaid.

     o    We may have difficulty obtaining additional financing at favorable
          interest rates to meet our requirements for working capital, capital
          expenditures, acquisitions, general corporate purposes or other
          purposes.

     o    We may be required to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow
          to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness, which
          could reduce the amount of funds available for operations.

     o    Any borrowings we may make at variable interest rates make us
          vulnerable to increases in interest rates generally.

We may be unable to successfully or efficiently integrate our operations and
realize the full cost savings we anticipate to result from the merger of Quorum
with and into Triad.

         The merger involves the integration of two companies that have
previously operated independently. The difficulties of combining the companies'
operations include the necessity of coordinating geographically disparate
organizations with facilities in 17 states and integrating personnel. Triad and
Quorum also have a number of dissimilar information systems. Many of Quorum's
systems will have to be integrated with Triad's systems or replaced.

         The process of integrating operations could cause an interruption of,
or loss of momentum in, the activities of one or more of our businesses after
the merger and the loss of key personnel. The diversion of management's
attention and any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with the
merger and the integration of the two companies' operations could have an
adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or
prospects.

         We cannot give any assurance that the potential for cost savings and
efficiencies that could result from the merger will be realized within the time
periods initially contemplated or even if they will be realized at all.

We will incur significant expenses and restructuring charges in connection with
the merger of Quorum with and into Triad.

         We expect to incur pre-tax charges to operations, currently estimated
to be approximately $5.0 million, to reflect costs associated with combining the
operations of Quorum with those of Triad. In addition, we have incurred
approximately $80.0 million of capitalized costs, consisting of transaction fees
related to the merger. Triad also expects to record a charge of approximately
$20 million to $30 million associated with coordinating Quorum's accounting
policies, practices and estimation processes with those of Triad. The majority
of these fees and costs will be recorded after the consummation of the merger.
Additional unanticipated costs may be incurred in the integration of the
businesses of Triad and Quorum. Triad will continue to evaluate the Quorum qui
tam lawsuits and other items, including receipt of fixed asset appraisals,
associated with the merger and appropriately reflect the amounts in accordance
with applicable purchase accounting or other accounting principles, which may
result in additional charges. See "--We may become subject to liabilities
because of litigation and investigations involving HCA, us and Quorum that could
have a material adverse effect on our operations--Quorum Litigation and

                                       3

<PAGE>

Investigations." If the benefits of the merger do not exceed the costs
associated with the merger, including any dilution to stockholders resulting
from the issuance of shares in connection with the merger, our financial results
could be adversely affected.

Our future success depends on our ability to maintain good relationships with
the physicians at our hospitals.

         Because physicians generally direct the majority of hospital
admissions, our success has been, in part, dependent upon the number and quality
of physicians on our hospitals' medical staffs, the admissions practices of the
physicians at our hospitals and our ability to maintain good relations with our
physicians. Physicians are generally not employees of the hospitals at which
they practice and, in many of the markets that we serve, most physicians have
admitting privileges at hospitals in addition to our hospitals. If we are unable
to successfully maintain good relationships with physicians, our hospitals'
admissions may decrease and our operating performance may decline.

We depend heavily on our senior and local management personnel, and the loss of
the services of one or more of our key senior or local management personnel
could weaken our management team and our ability to deliver health care services
efficiently.

         We are dependent upon the continued services and management experience
of James D. Shelton and other of our executive officers. If Mr. Shelton or any
of our other executive officers were to resign their positions or otherwise be
unable to serve, our management could be weakened and operating results could be
adversely affected. In addition, our success depends on our ability to attract
and retain local managers at our hospitals and related facilities, on the
ability of our officers and key employees to manage growth successfully and on
our ability to attract and retain skilled employees. If we are unable to locate
and retain local management, our operating performance could decline.

Our success depends on our ability to attract and retain qualified health care
professionals, and a shortage of qualified health care professionals in certain
markets could weaken our ability to deliver health care services efficiently.

         In addition to the physicians and management personnel whom we employ,
our operations are dependent on the efforts, ability and experience of other
health care professionals, such as nurses, pharmacists and lab technicians.
Nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians and other health care professionals at
hospitals are generally employees of Triad. Our future success will be
influenced by our ability to attract and retain these skilled employees. A
shortage of health care professionals in certain markets, the loss of some or
all of our key employees, or the inability to attract or retain sufficient
numbers of qualified health care professionals could cause our operating
performance to decline.

A significant portion of our revenue is dependent on Medicare and Medicaid
payments, and possible reductions in Medicare or Medicaid payments or the
implementation of other measures to reduce reimbursements may reduce our
revenue.

         A significant portion of our revenues are derived from the Medicare and
Medicaid programs, which are highly regulated and subject to frequent and
substantial changes. We derived approximately 36.0% of our revenues from the
Medicare and Medicaid programs for 2000. Recent legislative changes, including
those enacted as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, have resulted in
limitations on, and reduced levels of payment and reimbursement for, a
substantial portion of hospital procedures and costs.

         The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 included significant reductions in
spending levels for the Medicare and Medicaid programs by:

                                       4

<PAGE>

     o    adopting rate reductions for inpatient and outpatient hospital
          services;

     o    establishing a prospective payment system, or PPS, for hospital
          outpatient services, skilled nursing facilities and home health
          agencies under Medicare; and

     o    repealing the Federal payment standard (the so-called "Boren
          Amendment") for hospitals and nursing facilities under Medicaid.

         Certain rate reductions resulting from the Balanced Budget Act of 1997
are being mitigated by the Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 and the
Benefits Improvement Protection Act of 2000. Nonetheless, the Balanced Budget
Act of 1997 significantly changed the method and amounts of payment under the
Medicare and Medicaid programs. A number of states have adopted or are
considering legislation designed to reduce their Medicaid expenditures and to
provide universal coverage and additional care, including enrolling Medicaid
recipients in managed care programs and imposing additional taxes on hospitals
to help finance or expand the states' Medicaid systems. We believe that hospital
operating margins have been, and may continue to be, under significant pressure
because of deterioration in pricing flexibility and payer mix, and growth in
operating expenses in excess of the increase in prospective payments under the
Medicare program.

         Future health care legislation or other changes in the administration
or interpretation of governmental health care programs may have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or
prospects.

If we are unable to contain costs, our future revenue and profitability may be
constrained by future cost containment initiatives undertaken by purchasers of
health care services.

         The competitive position of our hospitals is also affected by the
increasing number of initiatives undertaken during the past several years by
major purchasers of health care, including Federal and state governments,
insurance companies and employers, to revise payment methodologies and monitor
health care expenditures in order to contain health care costs. As a result of
these initiatives, managed care organizations offering prepaid and discounted
medical services packages represent an increasing portion of our admissions,
resulting in reduced hospital revenue growth nationwide. In addition, private
payers increasingly are attempting to control health care costs through direct
contracting with hospitals to provide services on a discounted basis, increased
utilization review and greater enrollment in managed care programs such as
health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations, referred
to as PPOs. If we are unable to contain costs through increased operational
efficiencies and the trend toward declining reimbursements and payments
continues, the results of our operations and cash flow will be adversely
affected.

Our revenues are heavily concentrated in Texas, Alabama and Indiana, which makes
us particularly sensitive to economic and other changes in these states.

         On a pro forma basis after giving effect to the merger of Quorum with
and into Triad, our:

     o    Texas hospitals generated approximately 21.4% of revenues and 16.9% of
          EBITDA for 2000;

     o    Alabama hospitals generated approximately 11.9% of revenues and 15.3%
          of EBITDA for 2000; and


                                       5

<PAGE>

     o    Indiana hospitals generated approximately 13.3% of revenues and 19.2%
          of EBITDA for 2000.

         Accordingly, any change in the current demographic, economic,
competitive or regulatory conditions in Texas, Alabama or Indiana could have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of
operations or prospects.

We face intense competition from other hospitals and health care providers which
may result in a decline in our revenues, profitability and market share.

         The health care business is highly competitive and competition among
hospitals and other health care providers for patients has intensified in recent
years. Approximately 75% of our hospitals operate in geographic areas where they
compete with at least one other hospital that provides services comparable to
those offered by our hospitals. Some of these competing facilities offer
services, including extensive medical research and medical education programs,
which are not offered by our facilities. Some of the hospitals that compete with
us are owned or operated by tax-supported governmental bodies or by private
not-for-profit entities supported by endowments and charitable contributions
which can finance capital expenditures on a tax-exempt basis and are exempt from
sales, property and income taxes. In some of these markets, we also face
competition from other providers such as outpatient surgery and diagnostic
centers.

         Approximately 25% of our hospitals operate in geographic areas where
they are currently the sole provider of general, acute care hospital services in
their communities. While these hospitals face less direct competition in their
immediate service areas than would be expected in larger communities, they do
face competition from other hospitals, including larger tertiary care centers.
Although these competing hospitals may be as far as 30 to 50 miles away,
patients in these markets increasingly may migrate to these competing facilities
as a result of local physician referrals, managed care plan incentives or
personal choice.

         Our health care consulting business competes in a fragmented industry
for the small percentage of hospitals managed by hospital management companies.
Competitors include large, national firms such as the national accounting firms,
specialized health care firms, and numerous independent practitioners.
Furthermore, some hospitals choose to obtain management services from the many
large, tertiary care facilities that create referral networks with smaller
surrounding hospitals. As a result, hospitals have various alternatives to the
management services currently offered by us.

         The intense competition we face from other health care providers and
other firms may result in a decline in our revenues, profitability and market
share.

We may have difficulty implementing our business strategy of growth through
acquisitions and we may have difficulty effectively integrating future
acquisitions into our ongoing operations. We may also have difficulty acquiring
hospitals from non-profit entities due to increased regulatory scrutiny.

         One element of our business strategy is expansion through the selective
acquisition of acute care hospitals in selected markets. The competition to
acquire hospitals in the markets that we target is significant, and we may not
be able to make suitable acquisitions on terms favorable to us if other health
care companies, including those with greater financial resources than ours, are
competing for the same target businesses. In order to consummate future
acquisitions, we may be required to incur or assume additional indebtedness. We
may not be able to obtain financing, if necessary, for any acquisitions that we
might make or we may be required to borrow at higher rates and on less favorable
terms.

                                       6

<PAGE>

Additionally, we may not be able to effectively integrate the facilities that we
acquire with our ongoing operations. In addition, in order to ensure the
tax-free treatment of the distribution of our stock in connection with our
spin-off from HCA, our ability to issue stock as consideration for acquisitions
is limited.

         Acquired businesses may have unknown or contingent liabilities,
including liabilities for failure to comply with health care laws and
regulations. Although we have policies to conform the practices of acquired
facilities to our standards, and generally we will seek indemnification from
prospective sellers covering these matters, we may become liable for past
activities of acquired businesses.

         Many states have enacted or are considering enacting laws affecting the
sales, leases or other transactions in which control of not-for-profit hospitals
is acquired by for-profit entities. These laws, in general, include provisions
relating to state attorney general approval, advance notification and community
involvement. In addition, state attorneys general in states without specific
legislation governing these transactions may exercise authority based upon
charitable trust and other existing law. The increased legal and regulatory
review of these transactions involving the change of control of not-for-profit
entities may increase the costs required, or limit our ability, to acquire
not-for-profit hospitals.

We conduct business in a heavily regulated industry; changes in regulations or
violations of regulations may result in increased costs or sanctions that could
reduce our revenue and profitability.

         The health care industry is subject to extensive Federal, state and
local laws and regulations relating to:

     o    licensure;

     o    conduct of operations;

     o    ownership of facilities;

     o    addition of facilities and services;

     o    confidentiality, maintenance and security issues associated with
          medical records;

     o    billing for services; and

     o    prices for services.

         These laws and regulations are extremely complex. In many instances,
the industry does not have the benefit of significant regulatory or judicial
interpretation of these laws and regulations, in particular, Medicare and
Medicaid antifraud and abuse amendments, codified under Section 1128B(b) of the
Social Security Act and known as the "anti-kickback statute." This law prohibits
providers and others from soliciting, receiving, offering or paying, directly or
indirectly, any remuneration with the intent to generate referrals of orders for
services or items reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid and other Federal health
care programs.

         As authorized by Congress, the United States Department of Health and
Human Services, or HHS, has issued regulations which describe some of the
conduct and business relationships immune from prosecution under the
anti-kickback statute. The fact that a given business arrangement does not fall

                                       7

<PAGE>

within one of these "safe harbor" provisions does not render the arrangement
illegal. However, business arrangements of health care service providers that
fail to satisfy the applicable safe harbor criteria risk increased scrutiny by
enforcement authorities.

         We have a variety of financial relationships with physicians who refer
patients to our hospitals. We have contracts with physicians providing services
under a variety of financial arrangements such as employment contracts, leases,
and professional service agreements. We also provide financial incentives,
including loans and minimum revenue guarantees, to recruit physicians into the
communities served by our hospitals. Several of the freestanding surgery centers
affiliated with us have physician investors. In four of our locations,
physicians have acquired ownership interests in hospitals and other health care
providers in which we own a majority interest; physicians also are part owners
of the hospital we are building in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Some of our arrangements
with physicians do not expressly meet the requirements for safe harbor
protection. We cannot assure you that regulatory authorities that enforce the
anti-kickback statute will not determine that any of these arrangements violate
the anti-kickback statute or other Federal or state laws. A determination that
we have violated the anti-kickback laws or other Federal laws could subject us
to liability under the Social Security Act, including:

     o    criminal penalties;

     o    civil sanctions, including civil monetary penalties; and

     o    exclusion from participation in government programs such as Medicare
          and Medicaid or other Federal health care programs.

         The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
broadens the scope of the fraud and abuse laws to include all health care
services, whether or not they are reimbursed under a Federal program, and
creates new enforcement mechanisms to combat fraud and abuse, including an
incentive program under which individuals can receive up to $1,000 for providing
information on Medicare fraud and abuse that leads to the recovery of at least
$100 of Medicare funds.

         In addition, the portion of the Social Security Act commonly known as
the "Stark Law," prohibits physicians from referring Medicare and Medicaid
patients to providers of designated health services if the physician or a member
of his or her immediate family has an ownership interest in or compensation
arrangements with that provider. There are exceptions to the Stark Law for
physicians maintaining an ownership interest in an entire hospital or surgery
center, employment agreements, leases, physician recruitment and certain other
physician arrangements. On January 4, 2001, the Health Care Financing
Administration issued final regulations subject to comment intended to clarify
parts of the Stark Law and some of the exceptions to it. These regulations are
considered Phase I of a two-phase process, with the remaining regulations to be
published at an unknown future date. Phase I of the regulations becomes
effective January 4, 2002, or in the case of some of the provisions relating to
home health agencies, becomes effective February 5, 2001. The Health Care
Financing Administration accepted comments on Phase I of the regulations until
April 4, 2001, which may lead to further changes. Upon taking office, the Bush
Administration temporarily postponed the effective date of regulations that had
been published at the end of the Clinton Administration but which had not become
effective. This action might affect these regulations. Consequently, we cannot
predict the final form that these regulations will take or the effect that the
final regulations will have on us. Therefore, our physician arrangements may
ultimately be found to be not in compliance with the Stark Law.

         Another set of laws that may impact our operations concern the
Administrative Simplification Provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996, which require the use of uniform electronic data
transmission standards for health care claims and payment transactions submitted

                                       8

<PAGE>

or received electronically. On August 7, 2000, the Health Care Financing
Administration published final regulations establishing electronic data
transmission standards that all health care providers must use when submitting
or receiving certain health care transactions electronically. Compliance with
these regulations is required by October 2002. We cannot predict the impact that
final regulations, when effective, will have on us.

         The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 also
requires the Health Care Financing Administration to adopt standards to protect
the security and privacy of health-related information. Regulations were
proposed on August 12, 1998, but have not yet been finalized. As proposed, the
regulations would require health care providers to implement organizational and
technical practices to protect the security of electronically maintained or
transmitted health-related information. In addition, the Health Care Financing
Administration released final regulations containing privacy standards in
December 2000 which require compliance by April 2003. The privacy regulations
will extensively regulate the use and disclosure of individually identifiable
health-related information. The security regulations, as proposed, and the
privacy regulations, if they become effective, could impose significant costs on
our facilities in order to comply with these standards. Violations of the
Administration Simplification Provisions could result in civil penalties of up
to $25,000 per type of violation in each calendar year and criminal penalties of
up to $250,000 per violation.

         In addition, our facilities will continue to remain subject to any
state laws that are more restrictive than the regulations issued under the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which vary by state
and could impose additional penalties.

         Many of the states in which we operate have adopted or are considering
similar anti-kickback and physician self-referral legislation, some of which
extends beyond the scope of the Federal law to prohibit the payment or receipt
of remuneration for the referral of patients and physician self-referrals,
regardless of the source of the payment for the care. Little precedent exists
for the interpretation or enforcement of these laws. Both Federal and state
government agencies have announced heightened and coordinated civil and criminal
enforcement efforts. In addition, the Office of the Inspector General of HHS and
the Department of Justice regularly identify suspected areas of abuse for
enforcement focus.

         Government officials responsible for enforcing health care laws could
assert that we, or any of the transactions in which we are involved, are in
violation of these laws. It is also possible that these laws ultimately could be
interpreted by the courts in a manner that is different than our
interpretations. A determination that we have violated these laws, or the public
announcement that we are being investigated for possible violations of these
laws, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition,
results of operations or prospects and our business reputation could suffer
significantly.

         Some states require prior approval for the purchase of major medical
equipment or the purchase, construction, expansion, sale or closure of health
care facilities, based upon a determination of need for additional or expanded
health care facilities or services. The governmental determinations, embodied in
Certificates of Need, known as CONs, may be required for capital expenditures
exceeding a prescribed amount, changes in bed capacity or services and certain
other matters. Five states in which we currently owns hospitals, Alabama,
Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia, have CON laws affecting
acute care hospital services. We cannot predict whether we will be able to
obtain required CONs in the future. Any failure to obtain any required CONs may
impair our ability to operate profitably.

         The laws, rules and regulations described above are complex and subject
to interpretation. In the event of a determination that we are in violation of
any of these laws, rules or regulations, or if further changes in the regulatory
framework occur, our results of operations could be significantly harmed.

                                       9

<PAGE>

We may be subject to liabilities because of litigation and investigations
involving HCA, us and Quorum that could have a material adverse effect on our
operations.

HCA Litigation and Investigations

         HCA is currently the subject of several Federal investigations into
certain of its business practices, as well as governmental investigations by
various states. HCA is cooperating in these investigations and understands,
through written notice and other means, that it is a target in these
investigations. Given the breadth of the ongoing investigations, HCA expects
additional subpoenas and other investigative and prosecutorial activity to occur
in these and other jurisdictions in the future. HCA is the subject of a formal
order of investigation by the SEC. HCA understands that the SEC's investigation
includes the anti-fraud, insider trading, periodic reporting and internal
accounting control provisions of the Federal securities laws.

         HCA is a defendant in several qui tam actions, or actions brought by
private parties, known as relators, on behalf of the United States of America,
which have been unsealed and served on HCA. The actions allege, in general, that
HCA and certain subsidiaries and/or affiliated partnerships violated the False
Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. ss. 3729 et seq., by submitting improper claims to the
government for reimbursement. The lawsuits seek three times the amount of
damages caused to the United States by the submission of any Medicare or
Medicaid false claims presented by the defendants to the Federal government,
civil penalties of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 for each such
Medicare or Medicaid claim, attorneys' fees and costs. HCA has disclosed that,
on March 15, 2001, the Department of Justice filed a status report setting forth
the government's decisions regarding intervention in existing qui tam actions
against HCA and filed formal complaints in those suits in which the government
has intervened. Of the original 30 qui tam actions, the Department of Justice
remains active in and has elected to intervene in 8 actions. HCA has also
disclosed that it is aware of additional qui tam actions that remain under seal
and believes that there may be other sealed qui tam cases of which it is
unaware.

         The investigations, actions and claims affecting HCA relate to HCA and
its subsidiaries, including subsidiaries that, prior to our spin-off from HCA,
owned facilities now owned by us. On May 5, 2000, we were advised that one of
the qui tam cases which had been unsealed listed three of our hospitals as
defendants. This qui tam action alleges various violations arising out of the
relationship between Curative Health Services and the other defendants,
including allegations of false claims relating to contracts with Curative Health
Services for the management of certain wound care centers and excessive and
unreasonable management fees paid to Curative Health Services and submitted for
reimbursement. Two of the three Triad hospitals named as defendants terminated
their relationship with Curative Health Services prior to our spin-off from HCA
and the third hospital continues to maintain an ongoing relationship with
Curative Health Services.

         In July 1999, Olsten Corporation and its subsidiary, Kimberly Home
Health (neither of which is affiliated with HCA), announced that they would pay
$61 million to settle allegations that both companies defrauded the Medicare
program. Kimberly pled guilty to three separate felony charges (conspiracy, mail
fraud and violating the Medicare anti-kickback statute) filed by the U.S.
attorneys in the Middle and Southern District of Florida and the Northern
District of Georgia. While HCA was not specifically named in these guilty pleas,
the guilty pleas refer to the involvement of a "Company A" or a "company not
named as a defendant." HCA has disclosed that it believes these references refer
to HCA or its subsidiaries.

         HCA is a defendant in a number of other suits, which allege, in
general, improper and fraudulent billing, overcharging, coding and physician
referrals, as well as other violations of law. Certain of the suits have been
conditionally certified as class actions. Since April 1997, numerous securities
class action

                                       10

<PAGE>

and derivative lawsuits have been filed in the United States District Court for
the Middle District of Tennessee against HCA and a number of its current and
former directors, officers and/or employees. Several derivative actions have
been filed in state court by certain purported stockholders of HCA against
certain of its current and former officers and directors alleging breach of
fiduciary duty, and failure to take reasonable steps to ensure that HCA did not
engage in illegal practices thereby exposing it to significant damages.

         On May 18, 2000, HCA announced that it had reached an understanding
with attorneys of the Civil Division of the Department of Justice to recommend
an agreement to settle, subject to certain conditions, the civil claims actions
against HCA relating to diagnosis related group coding, outpatient laboratory
billing and home health issues. The understanding with the Department of Justice
attorneys would require HCA to pay $745 million in compensation to the
government, with interest accruing at a fixed rate of 6.5% per annum (beginning
May 18, 2000), and would reduce HCA's existing letter of credit agreement with
the government from $1 billion to $250 million at the time of the payment of the
settlement. On December 14, 2000, HCA announced that it had entered into a
settlement agreement with the Civil Division of the Department of Justice and
that payment of the amounts required by the settlement agreement would be made
upon court approval of the settlement, which HCA expects will occur in the
second quarter of 2001. HCA also entered into a corporate integrity agreement
with the Office of Inspector General of HHS. HCA is in continuing discussions
with the government regarding civil issues relating to cost reporting and
physician relations.

         On December 14, 2000, HCA also announced that it had signed an
agreement with the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice to resolve
pending Federal criminal actions against HCA. HCA received a full release from
criminal liability for conduct arising from or relating to billing and
reimbursement for services provided pursuant to Federal health care benefit
programs regarding: Medicare cost reports; violations of the anti-kickback
statute or prohibitions against physician self-referrals, and any other conduct
involving relations with referral sources and those in a position to influence
referral sources; diagnosis related group billing; laboratory billing; the
acquisition of home health agencies; and the provision of services by home
health agencies. In addition, the government agreed not to prosecute HCA for
other possible criminal offenses which are or have been under investigation by
the Department of Justice arising from or relating to billing and reimbursement
for services provided pursuant to Federal health care benefit programs. As part
of the criminal agreement, HCA paid the government $95 million and entered
certain pleas in respect of the criminal actions. HCA also stated that
representatives of state attorneys general have agreed to recommend to state
officials that HCA be released from corresponding criminal liability in all
states in which it conducts business.

         The agreements announced on December 14, 2000 relate only to conduct
that was the subject of the Federal investigations resolved in the agreements,
and HCA has stated publicly that it continues to discuss civil claims relating
to cost reporting and physician relations with the government. These agreements
with the government do not resolve various qui tam actions filed by private
parties against HCA, or any pending state actions. In addition to other claims
not covered by these agreements, the government also reserved its rights under
these agreements to pursue any claims it may have for:

     o    any civil, criminal or administrative liability under the Internal
          Revenue Code;

     o    any other criminal liability;

     o    any administrative liability, including mandatory exclusion from
          Federal health care programs;


                                       11

<PAGE>

     o    any liability to the United States (or its agencies) for any conduct
          other than the conduct covered in the government's investigation;

     o    any express or implied warranty claims or other claims for defective
          or deficient products or services, including quality of goods and
          services, provided by HCA;

     o    any claims for personal injury or property damage or for other similar
          consequential damages arising from the conduct subject to the
          investigation; and

     o    any civil or administrative claims of the United States against
          individuals.

         In addition, 14 of our current and former hospitals received notices in
early 2001 from the Health Care Financing Administration, a United States
government agency that runs the Medicare and Medicaid programs, that it was
re-opening for examination cost reports for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement
filed by these hospitals for periods between 1993 and 1998, which pre-dates our
spin-off from HCA. Furthermore, 2 of Quorum's current owned hospitals have
received such notices. HCA or its predecessors owned these Quorum hospitals
during the period covered by the notices. HCA is obligated to indemnify Quorum
for liabilities arising out of cost reports filed during these periods.

         We are unable to predict the effect or outcome of any of the ongoing
investigations or qui tam and other actions, or whether any additional
investigations or litigation will be commenced. In connection with our spin-off
from HCA on May 11, 1999, we entered into a distribution agreement with HCA. The
terms of the distribution agreement provide that HCA will indemnify us for any
losses (other than consequential damages) which we may incur as a result of the
proceedings described above. HCA has also agreed to indemnify us for any losses
(other than consequential damages) which we may incur as a result of proceedings
which may be commenced by government authorities or by private parties in the
future that arise from acts, practices or omissions engaged in prior to the date
of the spin-off and that relate to the proceedings described above. HCA has also
agreed that, in the event that any hospital owned by us at the time of the
spin-off is permanently excluded from participation in the Medicare and Medicaid
programs as a result of the proceedings described above, then HCA will make a
cash payment to us, in an amount (if positive) equal to five times the excluded
hospital's 1998 income from continuing operations before depreciation and
amortization, interest expense, management fees, impairment of long-lived
assets, minority interests and income taxes, as set forth on a schedule to the
distribution agreement, less the net proceeds of the sale or other disposition
of the excluded hospital. We have agreed that, in connection with the government
investigations described above, we will participate with HCA in negotiating one
or more compliance agreements setting forth each of HCA's and our agreements to
comply with applicable laws and regulations.

         HCA will not indemnify us under the spin-off distribution agreement for
losses relating to any acts, practices and omissions engaged in by us after the
spin-off date, whether or not we are indemnified for similar acts, practices and
omissions occurring prior to the spin-off date. HCA also will not indemnify
Triad under the distribution agreement for similar qui tam litigation,
governmental investigations and other actions to which quorum was subject, some
of which are described below. If indemnified matters were asserted successfully
against us or any of our facilities, and HCA failed to meet its indemnification
obligations, then this event could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.

         The extent to which we may or may not continue to be affected by the
ongoing investigations of HCA and the initiation of additional investigations,
if any, cannot be predicted. These matters could have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects in
future periods.

                                       12

<PAGE>

Quorum Litigation and Investigations

         Tampa Qui Tam Lawsuit

         Prior to the merger, Quorum and its subsidiary, Quorum Health
Resources, along with subsidiaries that owned hospitals from 1990 through
February 24, 1999, were named as defendants in a qui tam lawsuit in U.S.
District Court in Tampa, Florida. The United States government elected to
intervene in, or join, the lawsuit and on February 24, 1999, the government
filed its own complaint in the case. The new complaint alleged that Quorum, on
behalf of hospitals it managed between 1985 and 1995 and hospitals it owned from
1990 to the date of the complaint, violated the False Claims Act by knowingly
submitting or causing to be submitted false Medicare cost reports, resulting in
the submission of false claims to Federal health care programs. The government
asserted that the false claims in the cost reports were reflected, in part, in
"reserve analyses" created by Quorum. The complaint also alleged that these cost
report filings were prepared as the result of company policy. This qui tam
action sought three times the amount of damages caused to the United States by
the submission of any alleged false claims to the government, civil penalties of
not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 for each false claim, and the
relator's attorneys' fees and costs.

         On April 23, 2001, a settlement agreement was signed and a stipulation
of dismissal was filed with the court dismissing all claims against Quorum,
Quorum Health Resources and the other Quorum subsidiaries named in the lawsuit.
The settlement provides for a payment of $82.5 million to the government, plus
interest accruing on $77.5 million at 7.25% per annum from October 2, 2000 (the
date on which an understanding with the government to settle this lawsuit was
reached) to the payment date. The settlement agreement also provides for a
release, on certain conditions, of all hospitals currently or formerly managed
by Quorum Health Resources electing to participate in the settlement.

         In connection with the settlement, Quorum entered into a corporate
integrity agreement with the Office of Inspector General containing, among other
things, an affirmative obligation to report certain violations of applicable
laws and regulations. This obligation could result in greater scrutiny by
regulatory authorities. Complying with the corporate integrity agreement may
impose expensive and burdensome requirements on certain of our operations which
could have a material adverse impact on us. Failure to comply with the terms of
the corporate integrity agreement could subject the Quorum hospitals to
significant monetary penalties and/or exclusion from Medicare, Medicaid and
other governmental reimbursement programs.

Flowers Qui Tam Lawsuit

         On October 26, 2000, Quorum completed settlement of a qui tam lawsuit
which primarily involved allegedly improper allocation of costs at Flowers
Hospital, Dothan, Alabama, to its home health agency. Quorum paid to the
government on October 26, 2000 approximately $18 million in connection with this
settlement. In addition to the settlement agreement, Quorum entered into a five
year corporate integrity agreement covering Flowers Hospital with the HHS Office
of the Inspector General, which will be terminated upon the effective date of
the corporate integrity agreement entered into in connection with the settlement
of the Tampa qui tam lawsuit discussed above. The government always reserves the
right to investigate and pursue other allegations made by a relator under a
complaint. However, under the settlement agreement, the relator is prohibited
from pursuing these additional allegations.

Other Qui Tam Lawsuits

         As a result of its ongoing discussions with the government prior to the
merger, Quorum learned that there are two additional unrelated qui tam
complaints against it alleging violations of the False

                                       13

<PAGE>

Claims Act for claims allegedly submitted to the government involving one owned
and two managed hospitals. Both matters remain under seal. With respect to the
matter involving the two managed hospitals, the government has requested that
Quorum conduct a self audit with respect to one Medicare cost report for one
managed hospital and three other specific issues. The government could undertake
additional investigative efforts. The government has stated that it intends to
investigate certain other allegations. Quorum also is a defendant in certain
other qui tam complaints, in which the government has declined to intervene.

         Neither the merger agreement nor the distribution agreement entered
into with HCA in connection with our spin-off will provide indemnification to us
in respect of the Quorum litigation and investigations described above. Based on
due diligence and discussions with various parties including the Department of
Justice, the estimate of the liability for Quorum's qui tam lawsuits was
increased by approximately $16 million prior to the merger of Quorum into Triad,
including the $5 million paid to settle the Tampa qui tam lawsuit discussed
above, in addition to the originally estimated settlement amount accrued by
Quorum. If we incur material liabilities as a result of other qui tam litigation
or governmental investigations, these matters could have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.

         From time to time we may be the subject of additional investigations or
a party to additional litigation which alleges violations of law. We may not
know about those investigations, or about qui tam actions filed against us. If
any of those matters were successfully asserted against us, there could be a
material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of
operations or prospects.

We could incur substantial liability if the merger with Quorum or other factors
cause our spin-off from HCA to be taxable.

         On March 30, 1999, HCA, formerly known as Columbia/HCA Healthcare
Corporation, received a private letter ruling from the IRS concerning the United
States federal income tax consequences of the spin-off of our company and
LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. by HCA and the restructuring transactions that
preceded the spin-off. The private letter ruling provided that the spin-off
generally was tax-free to HCA and HCA's stockholders, except for any cash
received instead of fractional shares. The IRS has issued additional private
letter rulings that supplement its March 30, 1999 ruling, including supplemental
rulings stating that the merger of Quorum with and into Triad and certain other
transactions occurring subsequent to the spin-off do not adversely affect the
private letter rulings previously issued by the IRS. The March 30, 1999 ruling
and the supplemental rulings are based upon the accurracy of representations as
to numerous factual matters and as to certain intentions of HCA, our company and
LifePoint. The inaccuracy of any of those representations could cause the IRS to
revoke all or part of any of the rulings retroactively.

         If the spin-off were to fail to qualify for tax-free treatment, then,
in general, additional corporate tax, which would be substantial, would be
payable by the consolidated group of which HCA is the common parent. Each member
of HCA's consolidated group at the time of the spin-off, including us, would be
jointly and severally liable for this tax liability. In addition, we entered
into a tax sharing and indemnification agreement with HCA and LifePoint, which
prohibits us from taking actions that could jeopardize the tax treatment of
either the spin-off or the restructuring transactions that preceded the
spin-off, and requires us to indemnify HCA and LifePoint for any taxes or other
losses that result from our actions, which amounts could be substantial. If we
are required to make any indemnity payments or otherwise are liable for
additional taxes relating to the spin-off, our results of operations could be
materially adversely affected.

                                       14

<PAGE>

                           Forward-Looking Statements

         Some of the information included and incorporated by reference in this
prospectus and other written and oral statements made from time to time by us
contain disclosures which are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all
statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts, and can be
identified by the use of words such as "may," "believe," "will," "expect,"
"project," "estimate," "anticipate," "plan" or "continue" and similar words or
expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on our current plans and
expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could
significantly affect our current plans and expectations and our future financial
condition and results. These factors include, but are not limited to:

     o    the highly competitive nature of the health care business;

     o    the efforts of insurers and other payers, health care providers, and
          others to contain health care costs;

     o    possible changes in the Medicare and Medicaid programs that may
          further limit reimbursements to health care providers and insurers;

     o    changes in Federal, state or local regulations affecting the health
          care industry;

     o    the possible enactment of Federal or state health care reform;

     o    our ability to attract and retain qualified management and personnel,
          including physicians;

     o    the departure of key executive officers;

     o    our ability to integrate effectively Triad's and Quorum's information
          systems, operations and personnel in a timely manner;

     o    claims and legal actions relating to professional liabilities and
          other matters;

     o    fluctuations in the market value of our common stock;

     o    changes in accounting practices;

     o    changes in general economic conditions;

     o    future divestitures which may result in additional charges;

     o    our ability to enter into managed care provider and other payer
          arrangements on acceptable terms;

     o    the availability and terms of capital to fund future expansion;

     o    changes in business strategy or development plans;

     o    timeliness of reimbursement payments received under government
          programs;

     o    potential adverse impact of known and unknown government
          investigations; and

     o    other risk factors described herein.

         As a consequence, current plans, anticipated actions and the future
financial condition and results may differ from those expressed in any
forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of us. You are cautioned not to
unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information
presented in this Prospectus. We do not undertake any obligation to update
publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.

                                       15

<PAGE>

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         We will not receive any proceeds from this offering.

                            SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS

         The selling security holders consist of 12 officers of our company who
acquired an aggregate of 970,000 shares of our common stock pursuant to our
Executive Stock Purchase Plan.

         We are registering all 970,000 shares covered by this Prospectus on
behalf of the selling security holders named in the table below. We are
registering the shares to permit the selling security holders and their
pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors-in-interest that receive their
shares from selling security holders as a gift, partnership distribution or
another non-sale related transfer after the date of this Prospectus to resell
the shares when they deem appropriate. We refer to all of these possible sellers
as "selling security holders" in this Prospectus.

         The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the common stock by the selling security holders as of April 30,
2001.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               Shares Beneficially                                 Shares Beneficially
                                 Owned Prior to           Maximum Number of      Owned After Completion
Name(1)                            Offering(2)          Shares Being Offered       of the Offering(3)
----                           -------------------      --------------------     ----------------------
<S>                            <C>                      <C>                      <C>

Joy M. Case...................      51,346                     20,000                    31,346
Donald P. Fay.................     147,359                     40,000                    107,359
Thomas H. Frazier Jr..........     128,667                     40,000                    88,667
Christopher A. Holden.........     158,880                     40,000                    118,880
William R. Huston.............     188,989                     40,000                    148,989
W. Stephen Love...............     106,994                     40,000                    66,994
Nicholas J. Marzocco..........     169,686                     40,000                    129,686
G. Wayne McCalister...........     120,796                     30,000                    90,796
Michael J. Parsons............     408,000                     80,000                    328,000
James B. Shannon..............     124,250                     40,000                    84,250
James D. Shelton..............   1,096,510                     400,000                   696,510
Burke W. Whitman..............     459,412                     160,000                   299,412
</TABLE>

---------------

(1) The address of each selling security holder is c/o Triad Hospitals, Inc.,
13455 Noel Road, 20th Floor, Dallas, Texas, 75240. Each of the selling security
holders is an officer of Triad.

(2) Includes any shares as to which the individual has sole or shared voting
power or investment power and also any shares which the individual has the right
to acquire within 60 days of the date of this Prospectus through the exercise of
any stock option or other right. The shares beneficially owned do not include
options to purchase 23,277 shares held by each of Ms. Case and Messrs. Frazier
and Shannon;

                                       16

<PAGE>

options to purchase 31,037 shares held by each of Messrs. Fay, Holden, Huston,
Love, Marzocco and McCalister; options to purchase 77,591 shares held by each of
Messrs. Parsons and Whitman; and options to purchase 155,182 shares held by Mr.
Shelton. These options would have vested upon our acquisition of Quorum.
However, vesting of these options has been waived, which waiver will lapse upon
receipt of a supplemental private letter ruling relating to private letter
rulings previously issued to HCA; the previous letter rulings relate to the tax
treatment of the spin-off of Triad and LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. from HCA and
the restructuring transactions that preceded the spin-off. Each person has sole
voting and investment power (or shares such powers with his or her spouse) with
respect to the shares shown as beneficially owned.

(3) In each case represents less than 1% of the outstanding common stock.

                                       17

<PAGE>

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         We do not know how the selling security holders will sell the shares.
They may sell the shares from time to time in any of several ways and in any of
several marketplaces, including:

     o    through private negotiations directly with purchasers;

     o    through agreements with underwriters, dealers or brokers for their own
          accounts;

     o    through agreements with underwriters or dealers for resale;

     o    in block trades with brokers or dealers who will attempt to sell the
          shares as agent but may resell a portion of the block as principal to
          facilitate the transaction; or

     o    in brokers' transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to
          its rules.

         We do not know at what prices the selling security holders may sell the
shares. They may sell the shares at market prices prevailing at the time of the
sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, or at negotiated
prices. They may pay usual and customary or specifically negotiated fees,
discounts or commissions in connection with these sales. We will not pay any of
those fees, discounts or commissions.

         Because selling security holders may be deemed to be "underwriters"
within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, they will be
subject to the Prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

         We will bear the expense of preparation and filing of the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The aggregate amount of all these
expenses is expected to be approximately $75,000.

         See "Selling Security Holders" for information concerning the
beneficial ownership of Triad common stock by the selling security holders.

                                     Experts

         Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited the consolidated
financial statements of Triad Hospitals, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of
December 31, 2000 and 1999 and for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2000, as set forth in their report included in Triad's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000, which is incorporated
by reference in this Prospectus and elsewhere in the Registration Statement. Our
financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young
LLP's report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

         Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited the consolidated
financial statements and schedule of Quorum Health Group, Inc. and its
subsidiaries as of June 30, 1999 and 2000 and for each of the three years in the
period ended June 30, 2000, as set forth in their report incorporated in Triad's
Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 11, 2001, which is incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus and elsewhere in this Registration Statement. These
financial statements and schedule are incorporated

                                       18

<PAGE>

by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's report, given on their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

                                       19

<PAGE>

                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

         We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or
other information we file at the SEC's public reference room at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further
information on the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available to
the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the web site
maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

         We have filed a Registration Statement on Form S-8 with the
SEC to register with the SEC our common stock issued pursuant to the Triad
Executive Stock Purchase Plan.

         The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this
Prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information
incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this Prospectus, except for
any information superseded by information in, or incorporated by reference in,
this Prospectus. This Prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set
forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain
important information about us and our finances.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Triad SEC Filings (File No. 0-29816)             Period
------------------------------------             ------
<S>                                  <C>
Annual Report on Form 10-K.......... Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2000.

Current Reports on Form 8-K......... Filed January 2, 2001, January 17, 2001, April 16,
                                     2001, April 17, 2001, April 18, 2001, April 30, 2001,
                                     May 8, 2001 and May 11, 2001.

Registration Statement on Form 8-A.. Filed April 20, 2001 (containing a description
                                     of Triad's common stock and associated preferred
                                     stock purchase rights and any amendment or report
                                     filed for the purpose of updating the description).
</TABLE>

All documents filed by us with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the
termination of the offering of the common stock registered hereby shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing such documents.

         Any statements contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except
as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus. We will
provide without charge to each person to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon
a written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the foregoing
documents incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (other than exhibits to
such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference
into such documents). Requests for such copies should be directed to:

                              Triad Hospitals, Inc.
                          Investor Relations Department
                           13455 Noel Road, 20th Floor
                               Dallas, Texas 75240
                                 (972) 789-2700


                                       20

<PAGE>

                                     PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

         The following documents filed with the SEC by Triad Hospitals, Inc. are
incorporated herein by reference into this Registration Statement and made a
part hereof:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Triad SEC Filings (File No. 0-29816)                     Period
------------------------------------                     ------
<S>                                     <C>
Annual Report on Form 10-K............  Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2000.

Current Reports on Form 8-K...........  Filed January 2, 2001, January 17, 2001, April 16, 2001,
                                        April 17, 2001, April 18, 2001, April 30, 2001, May 8, 2001
                                        and May 11, 2001.

Registration Statement on Form 8-A....  Filed April 20, 2001 (containing a description of Triad's
                                        common stock and associated preferred stock purchase rights
                                        and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
                                        updating the description).
</TABLE>

         All documents filed by Triad pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement
and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then
remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

ITEM 4.  Description of Securities.

Not Applicable.

ITEM 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not Applicable.

ITEM 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

         Triad is a Delaware corporation. Reference is made to Section 145 of
the Delaware General Corporation Law as to indemnification by Triad of its
officers and directors. The general effect of such law is to empower a
corporation to indemnify any of its officers and directors against certain
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person to be indemnified in
connection with certain actions, suits or proceedings (threatened, pending or
completed) if the person to be indemnified acted in good faith and in a manner
he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of
the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

         Article Fourteenth of Triad's certificate of Incorporation (which
Certificate of Incorporation is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 3.1 to this
Registration Statement), provides for the indemnification

                                       1

<PAGE>

of Triad's officers and directors in accordance with the Delaware General
Corporation Law. Article Twelfth of Triad's Certificate of Incorporation
includes, as permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, certain
limitations on the potential personal liability of members of Triad's Board of
Directors for monetary damages as a result of actions taken in their capacity as
Board members.

         The directors and officers of Triad are covered by insurance policies
indemnifying them against certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act,
which might be incurred by them in such capacities.

ITEM 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

         We have relied upon Section 4(2) of the Securities Act with respect to
the restricted securities to be reoffered or resold pursuant to this
Registration Statement. Such securities were issued pursuant to the Triad
Executive Stock Purchase Plan to officers of Triad.

ITEM 8.  Exhibits.

The documents listed hereunder are filed as exhibits hereto.

Exhibit        Description
Number

4.1  Certificate of Incorporation of Triad as amended April 27, 2001
     (incorporated by referenced from Exhibit 3.1 to Triad's Post Effective
     Amendment No. 1 on Form S-8 to Form S-4).

4.2  Bylaws of Triad as amended February 18, 2000 (incorporated by reference
     from Exhibit 3.2 to Triad's Annual Report on Form 10-K, for fiscal year
     ended December 31, 2000).

4.3  Form of Triad's Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from
     Exhibit 4.1 to Triad Hospitals, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form 10
     dated March 15, 1999).

4.4  Rights Agreement dated as of May 11, 1999 between Triad Hospitals, Inc. and
     National City Bank as rights agent (incorporated by reference to Triad
     Hospitals' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarter ended March 31,
     1999).

5.1  Opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP.

23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

23.2 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

99.1 Triad Hospitals, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by
     reference from Exhibit 10.11 to Triad Hospitals' Quarterly Report on From
     10-Q, for the quarter ended March 31, 1999).

ITEM 9.  Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                  (i)  to include any Prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
 the Securities Act of 1933;

                                        2

<PAGE>

                  (ii) to reflect in the Prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration
Statement; and

                  (iii) to include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or
any material change to such information in the Registration Statement; provided,
however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement.

         (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement
relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

                                        3

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Dallas, State of Texas, on May 15, 2001.

                                      TRIAD HOSPITALS, INC.


                                      By:   /s/ James D. Shelton
                                            -------------------------------
                                            James D. Shelton
                                            Chief Executive Officer

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

Date: May 15, 2001     By:  /s/ James D. Shelton
                            ---------------------------------------
                            James D. Shelton
                            Chairman of the Board, President
                            and Chief Executive Officer and Director

Date: May 15, 2001     By:  /s/ Michael J. Parsons
                            ---------------------------------------
                            Michael J. Parsons
                            Executive Vice President and
                            Chief Operating Officer and Director

Date: May 15, 2001     By:  /s/ Thomas G. Loeffler
                            ---------------------------------------
                            Thomas G. Loeffler, Esq.
                            Director

Date:                  By:
                            ---------------------------------------
                            Thomas F. Frist III
                            Director

Date: May 15, 2001     By:  /s/ Marvin Runyon
                            -----------------------------------------
                            Marvin Runyon
                            Director

                                        4

<PAGE>

Date: May 15, 2001       By:  /s/ Uwe E. Reinhardt
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Uwe E. Reinhardt, Ph.D.
                              Director

Date:                    By:
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Dale V. Kesler
                              Director

Date: May 15, 2001       By:  /s/ Gale Sayers
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Gale Sayers
                              Director

Date: May 15, 2001       By:  /s/ Barbara A. Durand
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Barbara A. Durand, Ed.D.
                              Director

Date: May 15, 2001       By:  /s/ Donald B. Halverstadt
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Donald B. Halverstadt, M.D.
                              Director

Date: May 15, 2001       By:  /s/ Russell L. Carson
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Russell L. Carson
                              Director

Date: May 11, 2001       By:  /s/ James E. Dalton, Jr.
                              -----------------------------------------
                              James E. Dalton, Jr.
                              Director

Date: May 15, 2001       By:  /s/ Burke W. Whitman
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Burke W. Whitman
                              Chief Financial Officer and
                              Treasurer (Principal financial and
                              accounting officer)


                                        5

<PAGE>



                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit        Description
Number

4.1  Certificate of Incorporation of Triad as amended April 27, 2001
     (incorporated by referenced from Exhibit 3.1 to Triad's Post Effective
     Amendment No. 1 on Form S-8 to Form S-4).

4.2  Bylaws of Triad as amended February 18, 2000 (incorporated by reference
     from Exhibit 3.2 to Triad's Annual Report on Form 10-K, for fiscal year
     ended December 31, 2000).

4.3  Form of Triad's Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from
     Exhibit 4.1 to Triad Hospitals, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form 10
     dated March 15, 1999).

4.4  Rights Agreement dated as of May 11, 1999 between Triad Hospitals, Inc. and
     National City Bank as rights agent (incorporated by reference to Triad
     Hospitals' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarter ended March 31,
     1999).

5.1  Opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP.

23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

23.2 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

99.1 Triad Hospitals, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by
     reference from Exhibit 10.11 to Triad Hospitals' Quarterly Report on From
     10-Q, for the quarter ended March 31, 1999).
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "ds8.txt", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 90900}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TRIAD HOSPITALS INC", "cik": "0001074771", "assigned-sic": "8062", "irs-number": "752816101", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-60922", "film-number": "1636657"}, "business-address": {"street1": "13455 NOEL RD SUITE 2000", "city": "DALLAS", "state": "TX", "zip": "75240", "phone": "9727892732"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "13455 NOEL RD SUITE 2000", "city": "DALLAS", "state": "TX", "zip": "75240"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "TRIAD HOSPITALS LLC", "date-changed": "19981207"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15, 2001.
                                                      Registration No. 333-54238
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                ----------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                ----------------

                              TRIAD HOSPITALS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             Delaware                                     75-2816101
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)

                           13455 Noel Road, 20th Floor
                               Dallas, Texas 75240
                                  972-789-2700
    (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code
               of each registrant's principal executive offices)

                                ----------------

               TRIAD HOSPITALS, INC. EXECUTIVE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                               Donald P. Fay, Esq.
             Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
                              Triad Hospitals, Inc.
                           13455 Noel Road, 20th Floor
                               Dallas, Texas 75240
                                  972-789-2700
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code of agent for services)

                                ----------------

                                    Copy to:
                             Morton A. Pierce, Esq.
                             Michelle B. Rutta, Esq.
                              Dewey Ballantine LLP
                           1301 Avenue of the Americas
                          New York, New York 10019-6092

                                ----------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================
Proposed Maximum     Proposed Maximum      Amount of
  Title of Securities        Amount to be      Offering Price     Aggregate Offering   Registration
   to be Registered          Registered(1)      Per Unit(2)            Price (2)          Fee(2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share (3)         970,000 shares        $24.625             $23,886,250        $5,971.63
====================================================================================================
(1) Consists of shares of common stock which have been issued under the Triad
     Hospitals, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan and are being registered for
     resale. This Registration Statement also covers any additional shares of
     common stock which become issuable in connection with the shares registered
     for sale hereby by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
     recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization of or by the
     Registrant which results in an increase in the number of shares of our
     common stock.
(2)  Estimated solely for purposes of determining the registration fee pursuant
     to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and based upon
     the average high $25.65 and low $23.60 prices reported in the consolidated
     reporting system on May 9, 2001.
(3)  Includes the Series A Preferred Stock purchase rights associated with the
     common stock.

================================================================================
PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

                                EXPLANATORY NOTE

                                ----------------

         We have prepared this Registration Statement in accordance with the
requirements of Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to
register shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, issued pursuant
to our Executive Stock Purchase Plan.

         Filed as part of this Registration Statement on this Form S-8 is a
reoffer Prospectus that we have prepared in accordance with Part I of Form S-3
under the Securities Act. The reoffer Prospectus may be utilized for reofferings
and resales of up to 970,000 shares of common stock which have been issued to
the selling security holders under the plan.

                                       2
REOFFER PROSPECTUS

                              Triad Hospitals, Inc.

                         970,000 Shares of Common Stock

This Prospectus relates to 970,000 shares of Triad Hospitals, Inc. common stock
acquired by the individuals listed under the "Selling Security Holders" section
of this reoffer Prospectus. The selling security holders acquired the shares
pursuant to our Executive Stock Purchase Plan. The shares covered by this
Prospectus may be offered for sale by the selling security holders from time to
time in ordinary brokerage transactions on the New York Stock Exchange at market
prices prevailing at the time of the sale or in one or more negotiated
transactions at prices acceptable to the respective selling stockholder.

The shares covered by this reoffer Prospectus are "restricted securities" under
the Securities Act before their sale under the reoffer Prospectus. The reoffer
Prospectus has been prepared for the purpose of registering the Shares under the
Securities Act to allow for future sales by the selling stockholders to the
public without restriction. To our knowledge, the selling stockholders have no
arrangement with any brokerage firm for the sale of the shares covered by this
reoffer Prospectus. The selling stockholders may be deemed to be "underwriters"
within the meaning of the Securities Act. Any commissions received by a broker
or dealer in connection with resales of the shares may be deemed to be
underwriting commissions or discounts under the 1933 Act.

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"TRI." On May 11, 2001, the last sale price for our common stock as quoted on
the New York Stock Exchange was $27.15 per share.

Investing in our common stock involves risks. For information concerning factors
that should be considered by prospective investors see "Risk Factors" on page 2.

                                ----------------

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the
adequacy or accuracy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.

                                ----------------

               The date of this reoffer Prospectus is May 15, 2001

                                       3
Table Of Contents

ABOUT THE COMPANY .........................................................    1
RISK FACTORS ..............................................................    2
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ................................................   15
SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS ..................................................   16
EXPERTS ...................................................................   18
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION .......................................   20

                                ----------------

You should rely only on the information contained in this document or to which
we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you other
information that is different. This document may only be used where it is legal
to sell these securities. The information in this document may only be accurate
on the date of this document.

                                       4
ABOUT THE COMPANY

         We are the third-largest publicly owned hospital company in the United
States and provide health care services through hospitals and ambulatory surgery
centers located in small cities and selected urban markets primarily in the
southern and midwestern United States. Our hospital facilities include 49
general, acute care hospitals and 14 ambulatory surgery centers located in the
states of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South
Carolina, Texas and West Virginia. One hospital included among these facilities
is operated through a 50/50 joint venture that is not consolidated for financial
reporting purposes. We are also a minority investor in three joint ventures that
own seven general, acute care hospitals in Georgia and Nevada. On April 27,
2001, we completed our acquisition of Quorum Health Group, Inc.

         Our general, acute care hospitals typically provide a full range of
services commonly available in hospitals, such as internal medicine, general
surgery, cardiology, oncology, neurosurgery, orthopedics and obstetrics,
diagnostic and emergency services. These hospitals also generally provide
outpatient and ancillary health care services such as outpatient surgery,
laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, cardiology and physical therapy.
Outpatient services also are provided by ambulatory surgery centers operated by
us. In addition, some of our general, acute care hospitals have a limited number
of licensed psychiatric beds and provide psychiatric skilled nursing services.

         In addition to providing capital resources, we make available a variety
of management services to our health care facilities. These services include
ethics and compliance programs, national supply and equipment purchasing and
leasing contracts, accounting, financial and clinical systems, governmental
reimbursement assistance, information systems, legal support, personnel
management and internal audit, access to regional managed care networks, and
resource management.

         Our principal executive office is located at 13455 Noel Road, 20th
Floor, Dallas, Texas, 75240. Our telephone number is (972) 789-2700.

                                       1
RISK FACTORS

         In evaluating an investment in our common stock, you should carefully
consider the following factors in addition to the other information included in
or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.

We have a limited operating history as an independent company, a history of
losses and may experience additional losses in the future.

         Triad had net income of $4.4 million in 2000 and net losses of $95.6
million in 1999 and $87.1 million in 1998 and may experience net losses in the
future. On a pro forma basis after giving effect to the merger of Quorum with
and into Triad, we experienced a net loss of $35.1 million in 2000. Until May
1999, when our company was spun off from HCA-The Healthcare Company, we operated
as the Pacific Group division of HCA and, therefore, we do not have a long
operating history as an independent, publicly owned company. In addition, we may
not be able to accurately predict our working capital and other cash needs
because we have a limited independent operating history. If we fail to maintain
adequate working capital and experience a resultant lack of liquidity, we may
default on our required debt service obligations.

         Prior to the spin-off from HCA, we relied on HCA for various financial,
administrative and managerial expertise relevant to the conduct of our business.
We maintain our own lines of credit and banking relationships, employ our own
senior executives and perform our own administrative functions; however, HCA
continues to provide various support services to us on a contractual basis. Our
business depends significantly on effective information systems to process
clinical and financial information. We still rely on HCA for our information
systems. Under a contract with an initial term that expires in May 2006, HCA
provides financial, clinical, patient accounting and network information
services to us. If our access to these systems is limited or if we fail to
develop independent systems in the future, our operations could suffer.
Moreover, as new information systems are developed, we must integrate them into
our existing system. Our inability to successfully integrate new information
systems could cause our operations to suffer.

Increased leverage could have a significant affect on our operations.

         To finance the merger with Quorum, we borrowed approximately $1.6
billion to pay the cash portion of the merger consideration and to refinance
approximately $1.0 billion of existing debt (as of December 31, 2000) of both
companies. This debt will create increased demands upon our cash available to
pay principal and interest. We also may draw upon revolving credit loans in an
aggregate principal amount of up to $250.0 million, and as of April 30, 2001, we
have drawn down $42.0 million under this revolving facility. We also have the
ability to incur additional debt, subject to the conditions imposed by the terms
of our credit facility and the indenture governing our notes. Although we
believe that our future operating cash flow, together with available financing
arrangements, will be sufficient to fund our operating requirements, our
leverage and debt service obligations could have important consequences to you,
including the following:

     o    The terms of our debt obligations contain numerous financial and other
          restrictive covenants which, among other things, restrict our ability
          to pay dividends, incur additional debt and sell assets. If we do not
          comply with these obligations, it may cause an event of default,
          which, if not cured or waived, could require us to repay the
          indebtedness immediately.

                                       2
o    We may be more vulnerable in the event of downturns in our businesses,
          in our industries, or in the economy generally, or if the government
          implements further limitations on reimbursement under Medicare and
          Medicaid.

     o    We may have difficulty obtaining additional financing at favorable
          interest rates to meet our requirements for working capital, capital
          expenditures, acquisitions, general corporate purposes or other
          purposes.

     o    We may be required to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow
          to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness, which
          could reduce the amount of funds available for operations.

     o    Any borrowings we may make at variable interest rates make us
          vulnerable to increases in interest rates generally.

We may be unable to successfully or efficiently integrate our operations and
realize the full cost savings we anticipate to result from the merger of Quorum
with and into Triad.

         The merger involves the integration of two companies that have
previously operated independently. The difficulties of combining the companies'
operations include the necessity of coordinating geographically disparate
organizations with facilities in 17 states and integrating personnel. Triad and
Quorum also have a number of dissimilar information systems. Many of Quorum's
systems will have to be integrated with Triad's systems or replaced.

         The process of integrating operations could cause an interruption of,
or loss of momentum in, the activities of one or more of our businesses after
the merger and the loss of key personnel. The diversion of management's
attention and any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with the
merger and the integration of the two companies' operations could have an
adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or
prospects.

         We cannot give any assurance that the potential for cost savings and
efficiencies that could result from the merger will be realized within the time
periods initially contemplated or even if they will be realized at all.

We will incur significant expenses and restructuring charges in connection with
the merger of Quorum with and into Triad.

         We expect to incur pre-tax charges to operations, currently estimated
to be approximately $5.0 million, to reflect costs associated with combining the
operations of Quorum with those of Triad. In addition, we have incurred
approximately $80.0 million of capitalized costs, consisting of transaction fees
related to the merger. Triad also expects to record a charge of approximately
$20 million to $30 million associated with coordinating Quorum's accounting
policies, practices and estimation processes with those of Triad. The majority
of these fees and costs will be recorded after the consummation of the merger.
Additional unanticipated costs may be incurred in the integration of the
businesses of Triad and Quorum. Triad will continue to evaluate the Quorum qui
tam lawsuits and other items, including receipt of fixed asset appraisals,
associated with the merger and appropriately reflect the amounts in accordance
with applicable purchase accounting or other accounting principles, which may
result in additional charges. See "--We may become subject to liabilities
because of litigation and investigations involving HCA, us and Quorum that could
have a material adverse effect on our operations--Quorum Litigation and

                                       3
Investigations." If the benefits of the merger do not exceed the costs
associated with the merger, including any dilution to stockholders resulting
from the issuance of shares in connection with the merger, our financial results
could be adversely affected.

Our future success depends on our ability to maintain good relationships with
the physicians at our hospitals.

         Because physicians generally direct the majority of hospital
admissions, our success has been, in part, dependent upon the number and quality
of physicians on our hospitals' medical staffs, the admissions practices of the
physicians at our hospitals and our ability to maintain good relations with our
physicians. Physicians are generally not employees of the hospitals at which
they practice and, in many of the markets that we serve, most physicians have
admitting privileges at hospitals in addition to our hospitals. If we are unable
to successfully maintain good relationships with physicians, our hospitals'
admissions may decrease and our operating performance may decline.

We depend heavily on our senior and local management personnel, and the loss of
the services of one or more of our key senior or local management personnel
could weaken our management team and our ability to deliver health care services
efficiently.

         We are dependent upon the continued services and management experience
of James D. Shelton and other of our executive officers. If Mr. Shelton or any
of our other executive officers were to resign their positions or otherwise be
unable to serve, our management could be weakened and operating results could be
adversely affected. In addition, our success depends on our ability to attract
and retain local managers at our hospitals and related facilities, on the
ability of our officers and key employees to manage growth successfully and on
our ability to attract and retain skilled employees. If we are unable to locate
and retain local management, our operating performance could decline.

Our success depends on our ability to attract and retain qualified health care
professionals, and a shortage of qualified health care professionals in certain
markets could weaken our ability to deliver health care services efficiently.

         In addition to the physicians and management personnel whom we employ,
our operations are dependent on the efforts, ability and experience of other
health care professionals, such as nurses, pharmacists and lab technicians.
Nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians and other health care professionals at
hospitals are generally employees of Triad. Our future success will be
influenced by our ability to attract and retain these skilled employees. A
shortage of health care professionals in certain markets, the loss of some or
all of our key employees, or the inability to attract or retain sufficient
numbers of qualified health care professionals could cause our operating
performance to decline.

A significant portion of our revenue is dependent on Medicare and Medicaid
payments, and possible reductions in Medicare or Medicaid payments or the
implementation of other measures to reduce reimbursements may reduce our
revenue.

         A significant portion of our revenues are derived from the Medicare and
Medicaid programs, which are highly regulated and subject to frequent and
substantial changes. We derived approximately 36.0% of our revenues from the
Medicare and Medicaid programs for 2000. Recent legislative changes, including
those enacted as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, have resulted in
limitations on, and reduced levels of payment and reimbursement for, a
substantial portion of hospital procedures and costs.

         The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 included significant reductions in
spending levels for the Medicare and Medicaid programs by:

                                       4
o    adopting rate reductions for inpatient and outpatient hospital
          services;

     o    establishing a prospective payment system, or PPS, for hospital
          outpatient services, skilled nursing facilities and home health
          agencies under Medicare; and

     o    repealing the Federal payment standard (the so-called "Boren
          Amendment") for hospitals and nursing facilities under Medicaid.

         Certain rate reductions resulting from the Balanced Budget Act of 1997
are being mitigated by the Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 and the
Benefits Improvement Protection Act of 2000. Nonetheless, the Balanced Budget
Act of 1997 significantly changed the method and amounts of payment under the
Medicare and Medicaid programs. A number of states have adopted or are
considering legislation designed to reduce their Medicaid expenditures and to
provide universal coverage and additional care, including enrolling Medicaid
recipients in managed care programs and imposing additional taxes on hospitals
to help finance or expand the states' Medicaid systems. We believe that hospital
operating margins have been, and may continue to be, under significant pressure
because of deterioration in pricing flexibility and payer mix, and growth in
operating expenses in excess of the increase in prospective payments under the
Medicare program.

         Future health care legislation or other changes in the administration
or interpretation of governmental health care programs may have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or
prospects.

If we are unable to contain costs, our future revenue and profitability may be
constrained by future cost containment initiatives undertaken by purchasers of
health care services.

         The competitive position of our hospitals is also affected by the
increasing number of initiatives undertaken during the past several years by
major purchasers of health care, including Federal and state governments,
insurance companies and employers, to revise payment methodologies and monitor
health care expenditures in order to contain health care costs. As a result of
these initiatives, managed care organizations offering prepaid and discounted
medical services packages represent an increasing portion of our admissions,
resulting in reduced hospital revenue growth nationwide. In addition, private
payers increasingly are attempting to control health care costs through direct
contracting with hospitals to provide services on a discounted basis, increased
utilization review and greater enrollment in managed care programs such as
health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations, referred
to as PPOs. If we are unable to contain costs through increased operational
efficiencies and the trend toward declining reimbursements and payments
continues, the results of our operations and cash flow will be adversely
affected.

Our revenues are heavily concentrated in Texas, Alabama and Indiana, which makes
us particularly sensitive to economic and other changes in these states.

         On a pro forma basis after giving effect to the merger of Quorum with
and into Triad, our:

     o    Texas hospitals generated approximately 21.4% of revenues and 16.9% of
          EBITDA for 2000;

     o    Alabama hospitals generated approximately 11.9% of revenues and 15.3%
          of EBITDA for 2000; and

                                       5
o    Indiana hospitals generated approximately 13.3% of revenues and 19.2%
          of EBITDA for 2000.

         Accordingly, any change in the current demographic, economic,
competitive or regulatory conditions in Texas, Alabama or Indiana could have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of
operations or prospects.

We face intense competition from other hospitals and health care providers which
may result in a decline in our revenues, profitability and market share.

         The health care business is highly competitive and competition among
hospitals and other health care providers for patients has intensified in recent
years. Approximately 75% of our hospitals operate in geographic areas where they
compete with at least one other hospital that provides services comparable to
those offered by our hospitals. Some of these competing facilities offer
services, including extensive medical research and medical education programs,
which are not offered by our facilities. Some of the hospitals that compete with
us are owned or operated by tax-supported governmental bodies or by private
not-for-profit entities supported by endowments and charitable contributions
which can finance capital expenditures on a tax-exempt basis and are exempt from
sales, property and income taxes. In some of these markets, we also face
competition from other providers such as outpatient surgery and diagnostic
centers.

         Approximately 25% of our hospitals operate in geographic areas where
they are currently the sole provider of general, acute care hospital services in
their communities. While these hospitals face less direct competition in their
immediate service areas than would be expected in larger communities, they do
face competition from other hospitals, including larger tertiary care centers.
Although these competing hospitals may be as far as 30 to 50 miles away,
patients in these markets increasingly may migrate to these competing facilities
as a result of local physician referrals, managed care plan incentives or
personal choice.

         Our health care consulting business competes in a fragmented industry
for the small percentage of hospitals managed by hospital management companies.
Competitors include large, national firms such as the national accounting firms,
specialized health care firms, and numerous independent practitioners.
Furthermore, some hospitals choose to obtain management services from the many
large, tertiary care facilities that create referral networks with smaller
surrounding hospitals. As a result, hospitals have various alternatives to the
management services currently offered by us.

         The intense competition we face from other health care providers and
other firms may result in a decline in our revenues, profitability and market
share.

We may have difficulty implementing our business strategy of growth through
acquisitions and we may have difficulty effectively integrating future
acquisitions into our ongoing operations. We may also have difficulty acquiring
hospitals from non-profit entities due to increased regulatory scrutiny.

         One element of our business strategy is expansion through the selective
acquisition of acute care hospitals in selected markets. The competition to
acquire hospitals in the markets that we target is significant, and we may not
be able to make suitable acquisitions on terms favorable to us if other health
care companies, including those with greater financial resources than ours, are
competing for the same target businesses. In order to consummate future
acquisitions, we may be required to incur or assume additional indebtedness. We
may not be able to obtain financing, if necessary, for any acquisitions that we
might make or we may be required to borrow at higher rates and on less favorable
terms.

                                       6
Additionally, we may not be able to effectively integrate the facilities that we
acquire with our ongoing operations. In addition, in order to ensure the
tax-free treatment of the distribution of our stock in connection with our
spin-off from HCA, our ability to issue stock as consideration for acquisitions
is limited.

         Acquired businesses may have unknown or contingent liabilities,
including liabilities for failure to comply with health care laws and
regulations. Although we have policies to conform the practices of acquired
facilities to our standards, and generally we will seek indemnification from
prospective sellers covering these matters, we may become liable for past
activities of acquired businesses.

         Many states have enacted or are considering enacting laws affecting the
sales, leases or other transactions in which control of not-for-profit hospitals
is acquired by for-profit entities. These laws, in general, include provisions
relating to state attorney general approval, advance notification and community
involvement. In addition, state attorneys general in states without specific
legislation governing these transactions may exercise authority based upon
charitable trust and other existing law. The increased legal and regulatory
review of these transactions involving the change of control of not-for-profit
entities may increase the costs required, or limit our ability, to acquire
not-for-profit hospitals.

We conduct business in a heavily regulated industry; changes in regulations or
violations of regulations may result in increased costs or sanctions that could
reduce our revenue and profitability.

         The health care industry is subject to extensive Federal, state and
local laws and regulations relating to:

     o    licensure;

     o    conduct of operations;

     o    ownership of facilities;

     o    addition of facilities and services;

     o    confidentiality, maintenance and security issues associated with
          medical records;

     o    billing for services; and

     o    prices for services.

         These laws and regulations are extremely complex. In many instances,
the industry does not have the benefit of significant regulatory or judicial
interpretation of these laws and regulations, in particular, Medicare and
Medicaid antifraud and abuse amendments, codified under Section 1128B(b) of the
Social Security Act and known as the "anti-kickback statute." This law prohibits
providers and others from soliciting, receiving, offering or paying, directly or
indirectly, any remuneration with the intent to generate referrals of orders for
services or items reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid and other Federal health
care programs.

         As authorized by Congress, the United States Department of Health and
Human Services, or HHS, has issued regulations which describe some of the
conduct and business relationships immune from prosecution under the
anti-kickback statute. The fact that a given business arrangement does not fall

                                       7
within one of these "safe harbor" provisions does not render the arrangement
illegal. However, business arrangements of health care service providers that
fail to satisfy the applicable safe harbor criteria risk increased scrutiny by
enforcement authorities.

         We have a variety of financial relationships with physicians who refer
patients to our hospitals. We have contracts with physicians providing services
under a variety of financial arrangements such as employment contracts, leases,
and professional service agreements. We also provide financial incentives,
including loans and minimum revenue guarantees, to recruit physicians into the
communities served by our hospitals. Several of the freestanding surgery centers
affiliated with us have physician investors. In four of our locations,
physicians have acquired ownership interests in hospitals and other health care
providers in which we own a majority interest; physicians also are part owners
of the hospital we are building in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Some of our arrangements
with physicians do not expressly meet the requirements for safe harbor
protection. We cannot assure you that regulatory authorities that enforce the
anti-kickback statute will not determine that any of these arrangements violate
the anti-kickback statute or other Federal or state laws. A determination that
we have violated the anti-kickback laws or other Federal laws could subject us
to liability under the Social Security Act, including:

     o    criminal penalties;

     o    civil sanctions, including civil monetary penalties; and

     o    exclusion from participation in government programs such as Medicare
          and Medicaid or other Federal health care programs.

         The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
broadens the scope of the fraud and abuse laws to include all health care
services, whether or not they are reimbursed under a Federal program, and
creates new enforcement mechanisms to combat fraud and abuse, including an
incentive program under which individuals can receive up to $1,000 for providing
information on Medicare fraud and abuse that leads to the recovery of at least
$100 of Medicare funds.

         In addition, the portion of the Social Security Act commonly known as
the "Stark Law," prohibits physicians from referring Medicare and Medicaid
patients to providers of designated health services if the physician or a member
of his or her immediate family has an ownership interest in or compensation
arrangements with that provider. There are exceptions to the Stark Law for
physicians maintaining an ownership interest in an entire hospital or surgery
center, employment agreements, leases, physician recruitment and certain other
physician arrangements. On January 4, 2001, the Health Care Financing
Administration issued final regulations subject to comment intended to clarify
parts of the Stark Law and some of the exceptions to it. These regulations are
considered Phase I of a two-phase process, with the remaining regulations to be
published at an unknown future date. Phase I of the regulations becomes
effective January 4, 2002, or in the case of some of the provisions relating to
home health agencies, becomes effective February 5, 2001. The Health Care
Financing Administration accepted comments on Phase I of the regulations until
April 4, 2001, which may lead to further changes. Upon taking office, the Bush
Administration temporarily postponed the effective date of regulations that had
been published at the end of the Clinton Administration but which had not become
effective. This action might affect these regulations. Consequently, we cannot
predict the final form that these regulations will take or the effect that the
final regulations will have on us. Therefore, our physician arrangements may
ultimately be found to be not in compliance with the Stark Law.

         Another set of laws that may impact our operations concern the
Administrative Simplification Provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996, which require the use of uniform electronic data
transmission standards for health care claims and payment transactions submitted

                                       8
or received electronically. On August 7, 2000, the Health Care Financing
Administration published final regulations establishing electronic data
transmission standards that all health care providers must use when submitting
or receiving certain health care transactions electronically. Compliance with
these regulations is required by October 2002. We cannot predict the impact that
final regulations, when effective, will have on us.

         The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 also
requires the Health Care Financing Administration to adopt standards to protect
the security and privacy of health-related information. Regulations were
proposed on August 12, 1998, but have not yet been finalized. As proposed, the
regulations would require health care providers to implement organizational and
technical practices to protect the security of electronically maintained or
transmitted health-related information. In addition, the Health Care Financing
Administration released final regulations containing privacy standards in
December 2000 which require compliance by April 2003. The privacy regulations
will extensively regulate the use and disclosure of individually identifiable
health-related information. The security regulations, as proposed, and the
privacy regulations, if they become effective, could impose significant costs on
our facilities in order to comply with these standards. Violations of the
Administration Simplification Provisions could result in civil penalties of up
to $25,000 per type of violation in each calendar year and criminal penalties of
up to $250,000 per violation.

         In addition, our facilities will continue to remain subject to any
state laws that are more restrictive than the regulations issued under the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which vary by state
and could impose additional penalties.

         Many of the states in which we operate have adopted or are considering
similar anti-kickback and physician self-referral legislation, some of which
extends beyond the scope of the Federal law to prohibit the payment or receipt
of remuneration for the referral of patients and physician self-referrals,
regardless of the source of the payment for the care. Little precedent exists
for the interpretation or enforcement of these laws. Both Federal and state
government agencies have announced heightened and coordinated civil and criminal
enforcement efforts. In addition, the Office of the Inspector General of HHS and
the Department of Justice regularly identify suspected areas of abuse for
enforcement focus.

         Government officials responsible for enforcing health care laws could
assert that we, or any of the transactions in which we are involved, are in
violation of these laws. It is also possible that these laws ultimately could be
interpreted by the courts in a manner that is different than our
interpretations. A determination that we have violated these laws, or the public
announcement that we are being investigated for possible violations of these
laws, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition,
results of operations or prospects and our business reputation could suffer
significantly.

         Some states require prior approval for the purchase of major medical
equipment or the purchase, construction, expansion, sale or closure of health
care facilities, based upon a determination of need for additional or expanded
health care facilities or services. The governmental determinations, embodied in
Certificates of Need, known as CONs, may be required for capital expenditures
exceeding a prescribed amount, changes in bed capacity or services and certain
other matters. Five states in which we currently owns hospitals, Alabama,
Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia, have CON laws affecting
acute care hospital services. We cannot predict whether we will be able to
obtain required CONs in the future. Any failure to obtain any required CONs may
impair our ability to operate profitably.

         The laws, rules and regulations described above are complex and subject
to interpretation. In the event of a determination that we are in violation of
any of these laws, rules or regulations, or if further changes in the regulatory
framework occur, our results of operations could be significantly harmed.

                                       9
We may be subject to liabilities because of litigation and investigations
involving HCA, us and Quorum that could have a material adverse effect on our
operations.

HCA Litigation and Investigations

         HCA is currently the subject of several Federal investigations into
certain of its business practices, as well as governmental investigations by
various states. HCA is cooperating in these investigations and understands,
through written notice and other means, that it is a target in these
investigations. Given the breadth of the ongoing investigations, HCA expects
additional subpoenas and other investigative and prosecutorial activity to occur
in these and other jurisdictions in the future. HCA is the subject of a formal
order of investigation by the SEC. HCA understands that the SEC's investigation
includes the anti-fraud, insider trading, periodic reporting and internal
accounting control provisions of the Federal securities laws.

         HCA is a defendant in several qui tam actions, or actions brought by
private parties, known as relators, on behalf of the United States of America,
which have been unsealed and served on HCA. The actions allege, in general, that
HCA and certain subsidiaries and/or affiliated partnerships violated the False
Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. ss. 3729 et seq., by submitting improper claims to the
government for reimbursement. The lawsuits seek three times the amount of
damages caused to the United States by the submission of any Medicare or
Medicaid false claims presented by the defendants to the Federal government,
civil penalties of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 for each such
Medicare or Medicaid claim, attorneys' fees and costs. HCA has disclosed that,
on March 15, 2001, the Department of Justice filed a status report setting forth
the government's decisions regarding intervention in existing qui tam actions
against HCA and filed formal complaints in those suits in which the government
has intervened. Of the original 30 qui tam actions, the Department of Justice
remains active in and has elected to intervene in 8 actions. HCA has also
disclosed that it is aware of additional qui tam actions that remain under seal
and believes that there may be other sealed qui tam cases of which it is
unaware.

         The investigations, actions and claims affecting HCA relate to HCA and
its subsidiaries, including subsidiaries that, prior to our spin-off from HCA,
owned facilities now owned by us. On May 5, 2000, we were advised that one of
the qui tam cases which had been unsealed listed three of our hospitals as
defendants. This qui tam action alleges various violations arising out of the
relationship between Curative Health Services and the other defendants,
including allegations of false claims relating to contracts with Curative Health
Services for the management of certain wound care centers and excessive and
unreasonable management fees paid to Curative Health Services and submitted for
reimbursement. Two of the three Triad hospitals named as defendants terminated
their relationship with Curative Health Services prior to our spin-off from HCA
and the third hospital continues to maintain an ongoing relationship with
Curative Health Services.

         In July 1999, Olsten Corporation and its subsidiary, Kimberly Home
Health (neither of which is affiliated with HCA), announced that they would pay
$61 million to settle allegations that both companies defrauded the Medicare
program. Kimberly pled guilty to three separate felony charges (conspiracy, mail
fraud and violating the Medicare anti-kickback statute) filed by the U.S.
attorneys in the Middle and Southern District of Florida and the Northern
District of Georgia. While HCA was not specifically named in these guilty pleas,
the guilty pleas refer to the involvement of a "Company A" or a "company not
named as a defendant." HCA has disclosed that it believes these references refer
to HCA or its subsidiaries.

         HCA is a defendant in a number of other suits, which allege, in
general, improper and fraudulent billing, overcharging, coding and physician
referrals, as well as other violations of law. Certain of the suits have been
conditionally certified as class actions. Since April 1997, numerous securities
class action

                                       10
and derivative lawsuits have been filed in the United States District Court for
the Middle District of Tennessee against HCA and a number of its current and
former directors, officers and/or employees. Several derivative actions have
been filed in state court by certain purported stockholders of HCA against
certain of its current and former officers and directors alleging breach of
fiduciary duty, and failure to take reasonable steps to ensure that HCA did not
engage in illegal practices thereby exposing it to significant damages.

         On May 18, 2000, HCA announced that it had reached an understanding
with attorneys of the Civil Division of the Department of Justice to recommend
an agreement to settle, subject to certain conditions, the civil claims actions
against HCA relating to diagnosis related group coding, outpatient laboratory
billing and home health issues. The understanding with the Department of Justice
attorneys would require HCA to pay $745 million in compensation to the
government, with interest accruing at a fixed rate of 6.5% per annum (beginning
May 18, 2000), and would reduce HCA's existing letter of credit agreement with
the government from $1 billion to $250 million at the time of the payment of the
settlement. On December 14, 2000, HCA announced that it had entered into a
settlement agreement with the Civil Division of the Department of Justice and
that payment of the amounts required by the settlement agreement would be made
upon court approval of the settlement, which HCA expects will occur in the
second quarter of 2001. HCA also entered into a corporate integrity agreement
with the Office of Inspector General of HHS. HCA is in continuing discussions
with the government regarding civil issues relating to cost reporting and
physician relations.

         On December 14, 2000, HCA also announced that it had signed an
agreement with the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice to resolve
pending Federal criminal actions against HCA. HCA received a full release from
criminal liability for conduct arising from or relating to billing and
reimbursement for services provided pursuant to Federal health care benefit
programs regarding: Medicare cost reports; violations of the anti-kickback
statute or prohibitions against physician self-referrals, and any other conduct
involving relations with referral sources and those in a position to influence
referral sources; diagnosis related group billing; laboratory billing; the
acquisition of home health agencies; and the provision of services by home
health agencies. In addition, the government agreed not to prosecute HCA for
other possible criminal offenses which are or have been under investigation by
the Department of Justice arising from or relating to billing and reimbursement
for services provided pursuant to Federal health care benefit programs. As part
of the criminal agreement, HCA paid the government $95 million and entered
certain pleas in respect of the criminal actions. HCA also stated that
representatives of state attorneys general have agreed to recommend to state
officials that HCA be released from corresponding criminal liability in all
states in which it conducts business.

         The agreements announced on December 14, 2000 relate only to conduct
that was the subject of the Federal investigations resolved in the agreements,
and HCA has stated publicly that it continues to discuss civil claims relating
to cost reporting and physician relations with the government. These agreements
with the government do not resolve various qui tam actions filed by private
parties against HCA, or any pending state actions. In addition to other claims
not covered by these agreements, the government also reserved its rights under
these agreements to pursue any claims it may have for:

     o    any civil, criminal or administrative liability under the Internal
          Revenue Code;

     o    any other criminal liability;

     o    any administrative liability, including mandatory exclusion from
          Federal health care programs;

                                       11
o    any liability to the United States (or its agencies) for any conduct
          other than the conduct covered in the government's investigation;

     o    any express or implied warranty claims or other claims for defective
          or deficient products or services, including quality of goods and
          services, provided by HCA;

     o    any claims for personal injury or property damage or for other similar
          consequential damages arising from the conduct subject to the
          investigation; and

     o    any civil or administrative claims of the United States against
          individuals.

         In addition, 14 of our current and former hospitals received notices in
early 2001 from the Health Care Financing Administration, a United States
government agency that runs the Medicare and Medicaid programs, that it was
re-opening for examination cost reports for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement
filed by these hospitals for periods between 1993 and 1998, which pre-dates our
spin-off from HCA. Furthermore, 2 of Quorum's current owned hospitals have
received such notices. HCA or its predecessors owned these Quorum hospitals
during the period covered by the notices. HCA is obligated to indemnify Quorum
for liabilities arising out of cost reports filed during these periods.

         We are unable to predict the effect or outcome of any of the ongoing
investigations or qui tam and other actions, or whether any additional
investigations or litigation will be commenced. In connection with our spin-off
from HCA on May 11, 1999, we entered into a distribution agreement with HCA. The
terms of the distribution agreement provide that HCA will indemnify us for any
losses (other than consequential damages) which we may incur as a result of the
proceedings described above. HCA has also agreed to indemnify us for any losses
(other than consequential damages) which we may incur as a result of proceedings
which may be commenced by government authorities or by private parties in the
future that arise from acts, practices or omissions engaged in prior to the date
of the spin-off and that relate to the proceedings described above. HCA has also
agreed that, in the event that any hospital owned by us at the time of the
spin-off is permanently excluded from participation in the Medicare and Medicaid
programs as a result of the proceedings described above, then HCA will make a
cash payment to us, in an amount (if positive) equal to five times the excluded
hospital's 1998 income from continuing operations before depreciation and
amortization, interest expense, management fees, impairment of long-lived
assets, minority interests and income taxes, as set forth on a schedule to the
distribution agreement, less the net proceeds of the sale or other disposition
of the excluded hospital. We have agreed that, in connection with the government
investigations described above, we will participate with HCA in negotiating one
or more compliance agreements setting forth each of HCA's and our agreements to
comply with applicable laws and regulations.

         HCA will not indemnify us under the spin-off distribution agreement for
losses relating to any acts, practices and omissions engaged in by us after the
spin-off date, whether or not we are indemnified for similar acts, practices and
omissions occurring prior to the spin-off date. HCA also will not indemnify
Triad under the distribution agreement for similar qui tam litigation,
governmental investigations and other actions to which quorum was subject, some
of which are described below. If indemnified matters were asserted successfully
against us or any of our facilities, and HCA failed to meet its indemnification
obligations, then this event could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.

         The extent to which we may or may not continue to be affected by the
ongoing investigations of HCA and the initiation of additional investigations,
if any, cannot be predicted. These matters could have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects in
future periods.

                                       12
Quorum Litigation and Investigations

         Tampa Qui Tam Lawsuit

         Prior to the merger, Quorum and its subsidiary, Quorum Health
Resources, along with subsidiaries that owned hospitals from 1990 through
February 24, 1999, were named as defendants in a qui tam lawsuit in U.S.
District Court in Tampa, Florida. The United States government elected to
intervene in, or join, the lawsuit and on February 24, 1999, the government
filed its own complaint in the case. The new complaint alleged that Quorum, on
behalf of hospitals it managed between 1985 and 1995 and hospitals it owned from
1990 to the date of the complaint, violated the False Claims Act by knowingly
submitting or causing to be submitted false Medicare cost reports, resulting in
the submission of false claims to Federal health care programs. The government
asserted that the false claims in the cost reports were reflected, in part, in
"reserve analyses" created by Quorum. The complaint also alleged that these cost
report filings were prepared as the result of company policy. This qui tam
action sought three times the amount of damages caused to the United States by
the submission of any alleged false claims to the government, civil penalties of
not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 for each false claim, and the
relator's attorneys' fees and costs.

         On April 23, 2001, a settlement agreement was signed and a stipulation
of dismissal was filed with the court dismissing all claims against Quorum,
Quorum Health Resources and the other Quorum subsidiaries named in the lawsuit.
The settlement provides for a payment of $82.5 million to the government, plus
interest accruing on $77.5 million at 7.25% per annum from October 2, 2000 (the
date on which an understanding with the government to settle this lawsuit was
reached) to the payment date. The settlement agreement also provides for a
release, on certain conditions, of all hospitals currently or formerly managed
by Quorum Health Resources electing to participate in the settlement.

         In connection with the settlement, Quorum entered into a corporate
integrity agreement with the Office of Inspector General containing, among other
things, an affirmative obligation to report certain violations of applicable
laws and regulations. This obligation could result in greater scrutiny by
regulatory authorities. Complying with the corporate integrity agreement may
impose expensive and burdensome requirements on certain of our operations which
could have a material adverse impact on us. Failure to comply with the terms of
the corporate integrity agreement could subject the Quorum hospitals to
significant monetary penalties and/or exclusion from Medicare, Medicaid and
other governmental reimbursement programs.

Flowers Qui Tam Lawsuit

         On October 26, 2000, Quorum completed settlement of a qui tam lawsuit
which primarily involved allegedly improper allocation of costs at Flowers
Hospital, Dothan, Alabama, to its home health agency. Quorum paid to the
government on October 26, 2000 approximately $18 million in connection with this
settlement. In addition to the settlement agreement, Quorum entered into a five
year corporate integrity agreement covering Flowers Hospital with the HHS Office
of the Inspector General, which will be terminated upon the effective date of
the corporate integrity agreement entered into in connection with the settlement
of the Tampa qui tam lawsuit discussed above. The government always reserves the
right to investigate and pursue other allegations made by a relator under a
complaint. However, under the settlement agreement, the relator is prohibited
from pursuing these additional allegations.

Other Qui Tam Lawsuits

         As a result of its ongoing discussions with the government prior to the
merger, Quorum learned that there are two additional unrelated qui tam
complaints against it alleging violations of the False

                                       13
Claims Act for claims allegedly submitted to the government involving one owned
and two managed hospitals. Both matters remain under seal. With respect to the
matter involving the two managed hospitals, the government has requested that
Quorum conduct a self audit with respect to one Medicare cost report for one
managed hospital and three other specific issues. The government could undertake
additional investigative efforts. The government has stated that it intends to
investigate certain other allegations. Quorum also is a defendant in certain
other qui tam complaints, in which the government has declined to intervene.

         Neither the merger agreement nor the distribution agreement entered
into with HCA in connection with our spin-off will provide indemnification to us
in respect of the Quorum litigation and investigations described above. Based on
due diligence and discussions with various parties including the Department of
Justice, the estimate of the liability for Quorum's qui tam lawsuits was
increased by approximately $16 million prior to the merger of Quorum into Triad,
including the $5 million paid to settle the Tampa qui tam lawsuit discussed
above, in addition to the originally estimated settlement amount accrued by
Quorum. If we incur material liabilities as a result of other qui tam litigation
or governmental investigations, these matters could have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.

         From time to time we may be the subject of additional investigations or
a party to additional litigation which alleges violations of law. We may not
know about those investigations, or about qui tam actions filed against us. If
any of those matters were successfully asserted against us, there could be a
material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of
operations or prospects.

We could incur substantial liability if the merger with Quorum or other factors
cause our spin-off from HCA to be taxable.

         On March 30, 1999, HCA, formerly known as Columbia/HCA Healthcare
Corporation, received a private letter ruling from the IRS concerning the United
States federal income tax consequences of the spin-off of our company and
LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. by HCA and the restructuring transactions that
preceded the spin-off. The private letter ruling provided that the spin-off
generally was tax-free to HCA and HCA's stockholders, except for any cash
received instead of fractional shares. The IRS has issued additional private
letter rulings that supplement its March 30, 1999 ruling, including supplemental
rulings stating that the merger of Quorum with and into Triad and certain other
transactions occurring subsequent to the spin-off do not adversely affect the
private letter rulings previously issued by the IRS. The March 30, 1999 ruling
and the supplemental rulings are based upon the accurracy of representations as
to numerous factual matters and as to certain intentions of HCA, our company and
LifePoint. The inaccuracy of any of those representations could cause the IRS to
revoke all or part of any of the rulings retroactively.

         If the spin-off were to fail to qualify for tax-free treatment, then,
in general, additional corporate tax, which would be substantial, would be
payable by the consolidated group of which HCA is the common parent. Each member
of HCA's consolidated group at the time of the spin-off, including us, would be
jointly and severally liable for this tax liability. In addition, we entered
into a tax sharing and indemnification agreement with HCA and LifePoint, which
prohibits us from taking actions that could jeopardize the tax treatment of
either the spin-off or the restructuring transactions that preceded the
spin-off, and requires us to indemnify HCA and LifePoint for any taxes or other
losses that result from our actions, which amounts could be substantial. If we
are required to make any indemnity payments or otherwise are liable for
additional taxes relating to the spin-off, our results of operations could be
materially adversely affected.

                                       14
Forward-Looking Statements

         Some of the information included and incorporated by reference in this
prospectus and other written and oral statements made from time to time by us
contain disclosures which are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all
statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts, and can be
identified by the use of words such as "may," "believe," "will," "expect,"
"project," "estimate," "anticipate," "plan" or "continue" and similar words or
expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on our current plans and
expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could
significantly affect our current plans and expectations and our future financial
condition and results. These factors include, but are not limited to:

     o    the highly competitive nature of the health care business;

     o    the efforts of insurers and other payers, health care providers, and
          others to contain health care costs;

     o    possible changes in the Medicare and Medicaid programs that may
          further limit reimbursements to health care providers and insurers;

     o    changes in Federal, state or local regulations affecting the health
          care industry;

     o    the possible enactment of Federal or state health care reform;

     o    our ability to attract and retain qualified management and personnel,
          including physicians;

     o    the departure of key executive officers;

     o    our ability to integrate effectively Triad's and Quorum's information
          systems, operations and personnel in a timely manner;

     o    claims and legal actions relating to professional liabilities and
          other matters;

     o    fluctuations in the market value of our common stock;

     o    changes in accounting practices;

     o    changes in general economic conditions;

     o    future divestitures which may result in additional charges;

     o    our ability to enter into managed care provider and other payer
          arrangements on acceptable terms;

     o    the availability and terms of capital to fund future expansion;

     o    changes in business strategy or development plans;

     o    timeliness of reimbursement payments received under government
          programs;

     o    potential adverse impact of known and unknown government
          investigations; and

     o    other risk factors described herein.

         As a consequence, current plans, anticipated actions and the future
financial condition and results may differ from those expressed in any
forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of us. You are cautioned not to
unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information
presented in this Prospectus. We do not undertake any obligation to update
publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.

                                       15
USE OF PROCEEDS

         We will not receive any proceeds from this offering.

                            SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS

         The selling security holders consist of 12 officers of our company who
acquired an aggregate of 970,000 shares of our common stock pursuant to our
Executive Stock Purchase Plan.

         We are registering all 970,000 shares covered by this Prospectus on
behalf of the selling security holders named in the table below. We are
registering the shares to permit the selling security holders and their
pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors-in-interest that receive their
shares from selling security holders as a gift, partnership distribution or
another non-sale related transfer after the date of this Prospectus to resell
the shares when they deem appropriate. We refer to all of these possible sellers
as "selling security holders" in this Prospectus.

         The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the common stock by the selling security holders as of April 30,
2001.
Shares Beneficially                                 Shares Beneficially
                                 Owned Prior to           Maximum Number of      Owned After Completion
Name(1)                            Offering(2)          Shares Being Offered       of the Offering(3)
----                           -------------------      --------------------     ----------------------
Joy M. Case...................      51,346                     20,000                    31,346
Donald P. Fay.................     147,359                     40,000                    107,359
Thomas H. Frazier Jr..........     128,667                     40,000                    88,667
Christopher A. Holden.........     158,880                     40,000                    118,880
William R. Huston.............     188,989                     40,000                    148,989
W. Stephen Love...............     106,994                     40,000                    66,994
Nicholas J. Marzocco..........     169,686                     40,000                    129,686
G. Wayne McCalister...........     120,796                     30,000                    90,796
Michael J. Parsons............     408,000                     80,000                    328,000
James B. Shannon..............     124,250                     40,000                    84,250
James D. Shelton..............   1,096,510                     400,000                   696,510
Burke W. Whitman..............     459,412                     160,000                   299,412
---------------

(1) The address of each selling security holder is c/o Triad Hospitals, Inc.,
13455 Noel Road, 20th Floor, Dallas, Texas, 75240. Each of the selling security
holders is an officer of Triad.

(2) Includes any shares as to which the individual has sole or shared voting
power or investment power and also any shares which the individual has the right
to acquire within 60 days of the date of this Prospectus through the exercise of
any stock option or other right. The shares beneficially owned do not include
options to purchase 23,277 shares held by each of Ms. Case and Messrs. Frazier
and Shannon;

                                       16
options to purchase 31,037 shares held by each of Messrs. Fay, Holden, Huston,
Love, Marzocco and McCalister; options to purchase 77,591 shares held by each of
Messrs. Parsons and Whitman; and options to purchase 155,182 shares held by Mr.
Shelton. These options would have vested upon our acquisition of Quorum.
However, vesting of these options has been waived, which waiver will lapse upon
receipt of a supplemental private letter ruling relating to private letter
rulings previously issued to HCA; the previous letter rulings relate to the tax
treatment of the spin-off of Triad and LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. from HCA and
the restructuring transactions that preceded the spin-off. Each person has sole
voting and investment power (or shares such powers with his or her spouse) with
respect to the shares shown as beneficially owned.

(3) In each case represents less than 1% of the outstanding common stock.

                                       17
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         We do not know how the selling security holders will sell the shares.
They may sell the shares from time to time in any of several ways and in any of
several marketplaces, including:

     o    through private negotiations directly with purchasers;

     o    through agreements with underwriters, dealers or brokers for their own
          accounts;

     o    through agreements with underwriters or dealers for resale;

     o    in block trades with brokers or dealers who will attempt to sell the
          shares as agent but may resell a portion of the block as principal to
          facilitate the transaction; or

     o    in brokers' transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to
          its rules.

         We do not know at what prices the selling security holders may sell the
shares. They may sell the shares at market prices prevailing at the time of the
sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, or at negotiated
prices. They may pay usual and customary or specifically negotiated fees,
discounts or commissions in connection with these sales. We will not pay any of
those fees, discounts or commissions.

         Because selling security holders may be deemed to be "underwriters"
within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, they will be
subject to the Prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

         We will bear the expense of preparation and filing of the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The aggregate amount of all these
expenses is expected to be approximately $75,000.

         See "Selling Security Holders" for information concerning the
beneficial ownership of Triad common stock by the selling security holders.

                                     Experts

         Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited the consolidated
financial statements of Triad Hospitals, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of
December 31, 2000 and 1999 and for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2000, as set forth in their report included in Triad's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000, which is incorporated
by reference in this Prospectus and elsewhere in the Registration Statement. Our
financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young
LLP's report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

         Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited the consolidated
financial statements and schedule of Quorum Health Group, Inc. and its
subsidiaries as of June 30, 1999 and 2000 and for each of the three years in the
period ended June 30, 2000, as set forth in their report incorporated in Triad's
Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 11, 2001, which is incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus and elsewhere in this Registration Statement. These
financial statements and schedule are incorporated

                                       18
by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's report, given on their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

                                       19
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

         We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or
other information we file at the SEC's public reference room at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further
information on the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available to
the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the web site
maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

         We have filed a Registration Statement on Form S-8 with the
SEC to register with the SEC our common stock issued pursuant to the Triad
Executive Stock Purchase Plan.

         The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this
Prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information
incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this Prospectus, except for
any information superseded by information in, or incorporated by reference in,
this Prospectus. This Prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set
forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain
important information about us and our finances.
Triad SEC Filings (File No. 0-29816)             Period
------------------------------------             ------
Annual Report on Form 10-K.......... Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2000.

Current Reports on Form 8-K......... Filed January 2, 2001, January 17, 2001, April 16,
                                     2001, April 17, 2001, April 18, 2001, April 30, 2001,
                                     May 8, 2001 and May 11, 2001.

Registration Statement on Form 8-A.. Filed April 20, 2001 (containing a description
                                     of Triad's common stock and associated preferred
                                     stock purchase rights and any amendment or report
                                     filed for the purpose of updating the description).
All documents filed by us with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the
termination of the offering of the common stock registered hereby shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing such documents.

         Any statements contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except
as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus. We will
provide without charge to each person to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon
a written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the foregoing
documents incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (other than exhibits to
such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference
into such documents). Requests for such copies should be directed to:

                              Triad Hospitals, Inc.
                          Investor Relations Department
                           13455 Noel Road, 20th Floor
                               Dallas, Texas 75240
                                 (972) 789-2700

                                       20
PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

         The following documents filed with the SEC by Triad Hospitals, Inc. are
incorporated herein by reference into this Registration Statement and made a
part hereof:
Triad SEC Filings (File No. 0-29816)                     Period
------------------------------------                     ------
Annual Report on Form 10-K............  Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2000.

Current Reports on Form 8-K...........  Filed January 2, 2001, January 17, 2001, April 16, 2001,
                                        April 17, 2001, April 18, 2001, April 30, 2001, May 8, 2001
                                        and May 11, 2001.

Registration Statement on Form 8-A....  Filed April 20, 2001 (containing a description of Triad's
                                        common stock and associated preferred stock purchase rights
                                        and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
                                        updating the description).
All documents filed by Triad pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement
and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then
remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

ITEM 4.  Description of Securities.

Not Applicable.

ITEM 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not Applicable.

ITEM 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

         Triad is a Delaware corporation. Reference is made to Section 145 of
the Delaware General Corporation Law as to indemnification by Triad of its
officers and directors. The general effect of such law is to empower a
corporation to indemnify any of its officers and directors against certain
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person to be indemnified in
connection with certain actions, suits or proceedings (threatened, pending or
completed) if the person to be indemnified acted in good faith and in a manner
he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of
the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

         Article Fourteenth of Triad's certificate of Incorporation (which
Certificate of Incorporation is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 3.1 to this
Registration Statement), provides for the indemnification

                                       1
of Triad's officers and directors in accordance with the Delaware General
Corporation Law. Article Twelfth of Triad's Certificate of Incorporation
includes, as permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, certain
limitations on the potential personal liability of members of Triad's Board of
Directors for monetary damages as a result of actions taken in their capacity as
Board members.

         The directors and officers of Triad are covered by insurance policies
indemnifying them against certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act,
which might be incurred by them in such capacities.

ITEM 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

         We have relied upon Section 4(2) of the Securities Act with respect to
the restricted securities to be reoffered or resold pursuant to this
Registration Statement. Such securities were issued pursuant to the Triad
Executive Stock Purchase Plan to officers of Triad.

ITEM 8.  Exhibits.

The documents listed hereunder are filed as exhibits hereto.

Exhibit        Description
Number

4.1  Certificate of Incorporation of Triad as amended April 27, 2001
     (incorporated by referenced from Exhibit 3.1 to Triad's Post Effective
     Amendment No. 1 on Form S-8 to Form S-4).

4.2  Bylaws of Triad as amended February 18, 2000 (incorporated by reference
     from Exhibit 3.2 to Triad's Annual Report on Form 10-K, for fiscal year
     ended December 31, 2000).

4.3  Form of Triad's Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from
     Exhibit 4.1 to Triad Hospitals, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form 10
     dated March 15, 1999).

4.4  Rights Agreement dated as of May 11, 1999 between Triad Hospitals, Inc. and
     National City Bank as rights agent (incorporated by reference to Triad
     Hospitals' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarter ended March 31,
     1999).

5.1  Opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP.

23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

23.2 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

99.1 Triad Hospitals, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by
     reference from Exhibit 10.11 to Triad Hospitals' Quarterly Report on From
     10-Q, for the quarter ended March 31, 1999).

ITEM 9.  Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                  (i)  to include any Prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
 the Securities Act of 1933;

                                        2
(ii) to reflect in the Prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration
Statement; and

                  (iii) to include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or
any material change to such information in the Registration Statement; provided,
however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement.

         (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement
relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

                                        3
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Dallas, State of Texas, on May 15, 2001.

                                      TRIAD HOSPITALS, INC.

                                      By:   /s/ James D. Shelton
                                            -------------------------------
                                            James D. Shelton
                                            Chief Executive Officer

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

Date: May 15, 2001     By:  /s/ James D. Shelton
                            ---------------------------------------
                            James D. Shelton
                            Chairman of the Board, President
                            and Chief Executive Officer and Director

Date: May 15, 2001     By:  /s/ Michael J. Parsons
                            ---------------------------------------
                            Michael J. Parsons
                            Executive Vice President and
                            Chief Operating Officer and Director

Date: May 15, 2001     By:  /s/ Thomas G. Loeffler
                            ---------------------------------------
                            Thomas G. Loeffler, Esq.
                            Director

Date:                  By:
                            ---------------------------------------
                            Thomas F. Frist III
                            Director

Date: May 15, 2001     By:  /s/ Marvin Runyon
                            -----------------------------------------
                            Marvin Runyon
                            Director

                                        4
Date: May 15, 2001       By:  /s/ Uwe E. Reinhardt
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Uwe E. Reinhardt, Ph.D.
                              Director

Date:                    By:
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Dale V. Kesler
                              Director

Date: May 15, 2001       By:  /s/ Gale Sayers
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Gale Sayers
                              Director

Date: May 15, 2001       By:  /s/ Barbara A. Durand
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Barbara A. Durand, Ed.D.
                              Director

Date: May 15, 2001       By:  /s/ Donald B. Halverstadt
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Donald B. Halverstadt, M.D.
                              Director

Date: May 15, 2001       By:  /s/ Russell L. Carson
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Russell L. Carson
                              Director

Date: May 11, 2001       By:  /s/ James E. Dalton, Jr.
                              -----------------------------------------
                              James E. Dalton, Jr.
                              Director

Date: May 15, 2001       By:  /s/ Burke W. Whitman
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Burke W. Whitman
                              Chief Financial Officer and
                              Treasurer (Principal financial and
                              accounting officer)

                                        5
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit        Description
Number

4.1  Certificate of Incorporation of Triad as amended April 27, 2001
     (incorporated by referenced from Exhibit 3.1 to Triad's Post Effective
     Amendment No. 1 on Form S-8 to Form S-4).

4.2  Bylaws of Triad as amended February 18, 2000 (incorporated by reference
     from Exhibit 3.2 to Triad's Annual Report on Form 10-K, for fiscal year
     ended December 31, 2000).

4.3  Form of Triad's Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from
     Exhibit 4.1 to Triad Hospitals, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form 10
     dated March 15, 1999).

4.4  Rights Agreement dated as of May 11, 1999 between Triad Hospitals, Inc. and
     National City Bank as rights agent (incorporated by reference to Triad
     Hospitals' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarter ended March 31,
     1999).

5.1  Opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP.

23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

23.2 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

99.1 Triad Hospitals, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by
     reference from Exhibit 10.11 to Triad Hospitals' Quarterly Report on From
     10-Q, for the quarter ended March 31, 1999).