Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.5

                    AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT

     THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT (this "Security Agreement")
dated as of October 1, 2003 is by and between Lovelace Health Systems, Inc. a
New Mexico corporation (together with its successors and permitted assignees,
the "Grantor") and Ardent Health Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Lender").

                                  WITNESSETH

     WHEREAS, the Grantor is the successor by merger to AHS Albuquerque Regional
Medical Center LLC, a New Mexico limited liability company ("AHS Albuquerque");
and

     WHEREAS, AHS Albuquerque was indebted to the Lender under the terms of the
Intercompany Promissory Note, dated September 30, 2003 (the "Original Note");
and

     WHEREAS, the Original Note was secured by a Security Agreement, dated
September 30, 2003, between AHS Albuquerque and the Lender (the "Original
Security Agreement");

     WHEREAS, the Grantor and the Lender desire to amend and restate the
Original Security Agreement to reflect the succession of the Grantor to the
obligations of AHS Albuquerque;

     WHEREAS, the Grantor has delivered to the Lender an Amended and Restated
Intercompany Promissory Note (the "Promissory Note"), dated of even date hereof,
in the original principal amount of $70,000,000; and

     WHEREAS, this Amended and Restated Security Agreement is required under
the terms of the Promissory Note.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1.     Definitions.

     (a)    Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have
the meanings provided in the Promissory Note.

     (b)    The following terms shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the
Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York on the date hereof:
Accession, Account, As-Extracted Collateral, Chattel Paper, Commercial Tort
Claim, Commingled Goods, Consumer Goods, Deposit Account, Document, Equipment,
Farm Products, Fixtures, General Intangible, Goods, Instrument, Inventory,
Investment Property, Letter-of-Credit Right, Manufactured Home, Proceeds,
Software, Supporting Obligation and Tangible Chattel Paper.

     (c)    As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings set
forth below:

            "Collateral" has the meaning provided in Section 2 hereof.

            "Collateral Agent" means Bank One, NA, as collateral agent under
the Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement.

            "Copyright License" means any written agreement, naming the
Grantor as licensor, granting any right under any Copyright including, without
limitation, any thereof referred to in Schedule 4(g) hereto.
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         "Copyrights" means (a) all registered United States copyrights in all
Works, now existing or hereafter created or acquired, all registrations and
recordings thereof, and all applications in connection therewith, including,
without limitation, registrations, recordings, and applications in the United
States Copyright Office including, without limitations, any thereof referred to
in Schedule 4(a) hereto, and (b) all renewals thereof including, without
limitation, any thereof referred to in Schedule 4(g) hereto.

         "Grantor" has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph
hereof.

         "Lender" has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph
hereof.

         "Patent License" means any written agreement providing for the grant
by or to the Grantor of any right to manufacture, use or sell any invention
covered by a Patent, including, without limitation, any thereof referred to in
Schedule 4(g) hereto.

         "Patents" means (a) all letters patent of the United States or any
other country and all reissues and extensions thereof, including, without
limitation, any letters patent referred to in Schedule 4(g) hereto, and (b) all
applications for letters patent of the United States or any other country and
all divisions, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof, including,
without limitation, any thereof referred to in Schedule 4(g) hereto.

         "Promissory Note" has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

         "Secured Obligations" means, without duplication, (a) all of the
obligations of the Grantor to the Lender under Promissory Note (including, but
not limited to, any interest accruing after the commencement by or against the
Grantor of a proceeding under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws,
regardless of whether such interest is an allowed claim under such proceeding),
whether now existing or hereafter arising, due or to become due, direct or
indirect, absolute or contingent, howsoever evidenced, created, held or
acquired, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, or joint and several,
as such obligations may be amended, modified, increased, extended, renewed or
replaced from time to time, and (b) all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with enforcement and collection of the obligations described in the
foregoing clause (a), including reasonable attorney's fees.

         "Security Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the introductory
paragraph hereof.

         "Trademarks License" means any written agreement providing for the
grant by or to the Grantor of any right to use any Trademark, including,
without limitation, any thereof referred to in Schedule 4(g) hereto.

         "Trademarks" means (a) all trademarks, trade names, corporate names,
company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, service
marks, logos and other source or business identifiers, and the goodwill
associated therewith, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all
registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in connection
therewith, whether in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any
similar office or agency of the United States, any state thereof or any other
country or any political subdivision thereof, or otherwise, including, without
limitation, any thereof referred to in Schedule 4(g) hereto, and (b) all
renewals thereof.

         "UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect
in the applicable jurisdiction.

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                  "Work" means any work that is subject to copyright protection
         pursuant to Title 17 of the United States Code.

         2.       Grant of Security Interest in the Collateral. To secure the
prompt payment and performance in full when due, whether by lapse of time,
acceleration, mandatory prepayment or otherwise, of the Secured Obligations, the
Grantor hereby grants to the Lender a continuing security interest in, and a
right to set off against, any and all right, title and interest of the Grantor
in and to all of the following, whether now owned or existing or owned,
acquired, or arising hereafter (collectively, the "Collateral"):

                  (a)      All Accounts;

                  (b)      all cash and currency;

                  (c)      all Chattel Paper;

                  (d)      those Commercial Tort Claims identified on
                           Schedule 2(d) attached hereto;

                  (e)      all Copyrights;

                  (f)      all Copyright Licenses;

                  (g)      all Deposit Accounts;

                  (h)      all Documents;

                  (i)      all Equipment;

                  (j)      all Fixtures;

                  (k)      all General Intangibles;

                  (l)      all Goods;

                  (m)      all Instruments;

                  (n)      all Inventory;

                  (o)      all Investment Property;

                  (p)      all Letter-of-Credit Rights;

                  (q)      all Patents;

                  (r)      all Patent Licensee;

                  (s)      all Software;

                  (t)      all Supporting Obligations;

                  (u)      all Trademarks;

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                  (v)      all Trademark Licenses;

                  (v)      all other personal property of the Grantor of
         whatever type or description; and

                  (w)      to the extent not otherwise included, all Accessions
         and all Proceeds of any and all of the foregoing.

                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
         the security interests granted under this Security Agreement shall not
         extend to (i) any Property that is subject to a Lien securing purchase
         money Indebtedness permitted under the Credit Agreement pursuant to
         documents that prohibit the Grantor from granting any other Liens in
         such Property or (ii) any lease, license or other contract if the
         grant of a security interest in such lease, license or contract in the
         manner contemplated by this Security Agreement, under the terms
         thereof and under applicable law, is prohibited and would result in
         the termination thereof; provided in each case that any such
         limitation on the security interests granted hereunder shall only apply
         to the extent that any such prohibition would not be rendered
         ineffective pursuant to the UCC or any other applicable law (including
         bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws) or principles of equity.

         The Grantor and the Lender hereby acknowledge and agree that the
security interest created hereby in the Collateral (i) constitutes continuing
collateral security for all of the Secured Obligations, whether now existing or
hereafter arising and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any
Copyrights, Copyright Licenses, Patents, Patent Licenses, Trademarks or
Trademark Licenses.

         3.       Provisions Relating to Accounts.

         (a)      Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Grantor
shall remain liable under each of the Accounts to observe and perform all
the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder,
all in accordance with the terms of any agreement giving rise to each such
Account. The Lender shall not have any obligation or liability under any
Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto) by reason of or arising out of
this Security Agreement or the receipt by the Lender of any payment relating to
such Account pursuant hereto, nor shall the Lender be obligated in any manner
to perform any of the obligations of the Grantor under or pursuant to any
Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to make any payment, to make
any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it
or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any Account (or
any agreement giving rise thereto), to present or file any claim, to take any
action to enforce any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts that
may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or
times.

         (b)      At any time after the occurrence and during the continuation
of an Event of Default, the Lender shall have the right, but not the
obligation, to make test verifications of the Accounts in any manner and
through any medium that it reasonably considers advisable, and the Grantor
shall furnish all such assistance and information as the Lender may reasonably
require in connection with such test verifications, (ii) upon the Lender's
reasonable request and at the expense of the Grantor, the Grantor shall cause
independent public accountants or others reasonably satisfactory to the Lender
to furnish to the Lender reports showing reconciliations, aging and test
verifications of, and trial balances for, the Accounts and (iii) the Lender in
its own name or in the name of the Grantor may communicate with account debtors
on the Accounts to the extent necessary to verify with them the existence,
amount and terms of any Accounts.

         4.       Representations and Warranties. The Grantor hereby represents
and warrants to the Lender that:

                  (a)      Legal Name: State of Formation. The exact legal name
         and state of formation of the Grantor is as set forth on the signature
         pages hereto.

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     (b)     Change in Legal Name, State of Formation or Structure. Other than
as set forth on Schedule 4(b) hereto, in the five years preceding the date
hereof the Grantor has not (i) changed its name, (ii) changed its state of
formation, or (iii) been party to a merger, consolidation or other change in
structure.

     (c)     Chief Executive Office: Locations of Collateral. The location of
the Grantor's chief executive office and each location where the Grantor
maintains any Collateral are as set forth on Schedule 4(c) hereto.

     (d)     Ownership. The Grantor is the legal and beneficial owner of its
Collateral and has the right to pledge, sell, assign or transfer the same.

     (e)     Security Interest/Priority. This Security Agreement creates a
valid security interest in favor of the Lender in the Collateral and, when
properly perfected by filing, shall constitute a valid perfected security
interest in the Collateral, to the extent such security interest can be
perfected by filing under the UCC, free and clear of all Liens except for
Permitted Liens.

     (f)     Types of Collateral. None of the Collateral consists of, or is the
Accessions or the Proceeds of, As-Extracted Collateral, Consumer Goods, Farm
Products, Manufactured Homes, or Standing Timber.

     (g)     Accounts. With respect to each Account of the Grantor, (i) such
Account and the papers and documents relating thereto are genuine and in all
material respects what they purport to be, (ii) such Account arises out of (A)
a bona fide sale of goods sold and delivered by the Grantor (or in the process
of being delivered) or (B) services theretofore actually rendered by the
Grantor to, the account debtor named therein, and (iii) if such Account is
evidenced by any Instrument or Chattel Paper, such Account has, to the extent
requested by the Lender, been endorsed over and delivered to, or submitted to
the control of, the Lender.

     (h)     Inventory. No Inventory of the Grantor is held by any Person
other than the Grantor pursuant to consignment, sale or return, sale on
approval or similar arrangement, unless the Grantor has perfected a purchase
money security interest therein.

     (i)     Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks.

             (i)     Schedule 4(g) hereto includes all Copyrights, Copyright
     Licenses, Patents, Patent Licenses, Trademarks and Trademark Licenses
     registered or applied for with the United States Copyright Office or the
     United States Patent and Trademark Office and owned by the Grantor in its
     own name, or to which the Grantor is a party, as of the date hereof.

             (ii)    To the best of the Grantor's knowledge, each Copyright,
     Patent and Trademark of the Grantor is valid, subsisting, unexpired,
     enforceable and has not been abandoned.

             (iii)   Except as set forth in Schedule 4(g) hereto, none of the
     Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks of the Grantor is the subject of any
     licensing or franchise agreement.

             (iv)    Except as set forth on Schedule 4(g) hereto, to the best of
     the Grantor's knowledge, no holding decision or judgement has been rendered
     by any Governmental Authority that would limit, cancel or question the
     validity of any Copyright, Patent or Trademark of the Grantor.

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                           (v)      Except as set forth on Schedule 4(g) hereto,
                  no action or proceeding is pending seeking to limit, cancel or
                  question the validity of any Copyright, Patent or Trademark of
                  the Grantor, or that, if adversely determined, could
                  reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
                  the value of any Copyright, Patent or Trademark of the
                  Grantor.

                           (vi)     All applications pertaining to the
                  Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks of the Grantor have been
                  duly and properly filed, and all registrations or letters
                  pertaining to such Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks have
                  been duly and properly filed and issued, and all of such
                  Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks are valid and enforceable.

                           (vii)    The Grantor has not made any assignment or
                  agreement in conflict with the security interest in the
                  Copyrights, Patents or Trademarks of the Grantor hereunder.

         5.       Covenants. The Grantor covenants that, so long as any of the
Secured Obligations remains outstanding, the Grantor shall:

                  (a)      Other Liens. Defend the Collateral against the
         claims and demands of all other parties claiming an interest therein
         other than Permitted Liens. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent
         the Grantor from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of
         its assets or properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of
         its Board of Directors, desirable in the conduct of its business.

                  (b)      Instruments/Tangible Chattel Paper/Documents. If any
         amount payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral shall
         be or become evidenced by any Instrument or Tangible Chattel Paper, or
         if any property constituting Collateral shall be stored or shipped
         subject to a Document, (i) ensure that such Instrument, Tangible
         Chattel Paper or Document is either in the possession of the Grantor
         at all times or, if requested by the Lender, is immediately delivered
         to the Lender, duly endorsed in a manner satisfactory to the Lender
         and (ii) ensure that any Collateral consisting of Tangible Chattel
         Paper is marked with a legend acceptable to the Lender indicating the
         Lender's security interest in such Tangible Chattel Paper.

                  (c)      Change in Structure, Location or Type. Not, without
         providing ten days prior written notice to the Lender (i) change its
         name or state of formation or (ii) be party to a merger, consolidation
         or other change in structure.

                  (d)      Perfection of Security Interest. Execute and deliver
         to the Lender such agreements, assignments or instruments (including
         affidavits, notices, reaffirmations and amendments and restatements of
         existing documents, as the Lender may reasonably request) and do all
         such other things as the Lender may reasonably deem necessary,
         appropriate or convenient (i) to assure to the Lender the
         effectiveness and priority of its security interests hereunder,
         including (A) such instruments as the Lender may from time to time
         reasonably request in order to perfect and maintain the security
         interests granted hereunder in accordance with the UCC and (B)
         entering into lockbox arrangements with the Lender with respect to its
         collection of Accounts pursuant to documentation reasonably
         satisfactory to the Lender and in accordance with any applicable state
         or federal law, (ii) to consummate the transactions contemplated
         hereby and (iii) to otherwise protect and assure the Lender of its
         rights and interests hereunder. To that end, the Grantor authorizes
         the Lender to file one or more financing statements (with collateral
         description broader and/or less specific than the description of the
         Collateral contained herein, such as "all assets" or "all personal
         property") disclosing the Lender's security interest in any or all of
         the Collateral of the Grantor without the Grantor's signature thereon,
         and further the Grantor also hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and

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appoints the Lender, its nominee or any other Person whom the Lender may
designate, as the Grantor's attorney-in-fact with full power and for the limited
purpose to sign in the name of the Grantor any such financing statements
(including renewal statements), amendments and supplements, notices or any
similar documents that in the Lender's reasonable discretion would be necessary,
appropriate or convenient in order to perfect and maintain perfection of the
security interests granted hereunder, such power, being coupled with an
interest, being and remaining irrevocable so long as the Secured Obligations
remain unpaid. Each Grantor hereby agrees that a carbon, photographic or other
reproduction of this Security Agreement or any such financing statement is
sufficient for filing as a financing statement by the Lender without notice
thereof to the Grantor wherever the Lender may in its sole discretion desire to
file the same. In the event for any reason the law of any jurisdiction other
than New York becomes or is applicable to the Collateral of the Grantor or any
part thereof, or to any of the Secured Obligations, the Grantor agrees to
execute and deliver all such instruments and to do all such other things as the
Lender in its sole discretion reasonably deems necessary, appropriate or
convenient to preserve, protect and enforce the security interests of the Lender
under the law of such other jurisdiction (and, if the Grantor shall fail to do
so promptly upon the request of the Lender, then the Lender may execute any and
all such requested documents on behalf of the Grantor pursuant to the power of
attorney granted hereinabove). If any Collateral is in the possession or control
of the Grantor's agents and the Lender so requests, the Grantor agrees to notify
such agents in writing of the Lender's security interest therein and, upon the
Lender's request, instruct them to hold all such Collateral for the account of
the holders of the Secured Obligations and subject to the Lender's instructions.
Each Grantor agrees to maintain its books and records to reflect the security
interest of the Lender in the Collateral.

     (e)     Control. Execute and deliver all agreements, assignments,
instruments or other documents as the Lender shall reasonably request for the
purpose of obtaining and maintaining control within the meaning of the UCC with
respect to any Collateral consisting of Deposit Accounts, Investment Property,
Letter-of-Credit Rights and Electronic Chattel Paper.

     (f)     Collateral held by Warehouseman, Bailee, etc. If any Collateral
with a fair market value in excess of $100,000 is at any time in the possession
or control of a warehouseman, bailee, agent or processor of the Grantor, (i)
notify the Lender of such possession or control, (ii) notify such Person of the
Lender's security interest in such Collateral, (iii) instruct such Person to
hold all such Collateral for the Lender's account and subject to the Lender's
instructions and (iv) use its reasonable efforts to obtain an acknowledgement
from such Person that it is holding such Collateral for the benefit of the
Lender.

     (g)     Treatment of Accounts. Not grant or extend the time for payment of
any Account in excess of $100,000, or compromise or settle any Account for less
than the full amount thereof, or release any Person or property, in whole or in
part, from payment thereof, or allow any credit or discount thereon, in each
case other than as normal and customary in the ordinary course of the Grantor's
business or as required by law.

     (h)     Covenants Relating to Copyrights. Other than any Copyright that
the Board of Directors of the Grantor deems not material to the conduct of its
business:

             (i)     Not do any act or knowingly omit to do any act whereby any
     material Copyright may become invalidated and (A) not do any act, or
     knowingly omit to do any act, whereby any material Copyright may become
     injected into the public domain; (B) notify the Lender immediately if it
     knows that any material Copyright may become injected into the public
     domain or of any adverse determination or development (including without
     limitation, the institution of, or any such determination or development in
     any court or tribunal in the United States or any other country) regarding
     the Grantor's ownership of any

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                  such Copyright or its validity; (C) take all necessary steps
                  as it shall deem appropriate under the circumstances, to
                  maintain and pursue each application (and to obtain the
                  relevant registration) and to maintain each registration of
                  each material Copyright owned by the Grantor including,
                  without limitation, filing of applications for renewal where
                  necessary; and (D) promptly notify the Lender of any material
                  infringement of any material Copyright of the Grantor of
                  which it becomes aware and take such actions as it shall
                  reasonably deem appropriate under the circumstances to
                  protect such Copyright, including, where appropriate, the
                  bringing of suit for infringement, seeking injunctive relief
                  and seeking to recover any and all damages for such
                  infringement.

                           (ii)     Not make any assignment or agreement in
                  conflict with the security interest in the Copyrights of the
                  Grantor hereunder.

                  Notwithstanding in this Agreement shall prevent the Grantor
                  from discontinuing the use of any Copyright or pursuing the
                  application for any such Copyright if such discontinuance is,
                  in the judgment of its Board of Directors, desirable in the
                  conduct to the conduct of its business.

                  (i)      Covenants Relating to Patents and Trademarks. Other
         than any Patent or Trademark that the Board of Directors of the Grantor
         deems not material to the conduct of its business:

                           (i)      (A) Continue to use each registered
                  Trademark on each and every trademark class of goods
                  applicable to its current line as reflected in its current
                  catalogs, brochures and price lists in order to maintain such
                  registered Trademark in full force free from any claim of
                  abandonment for non-use, (B) maintain as in the past the
                  quality of products and services offered under such
                  registered Trademark, (C) employ such registered Trademark
                  with the appropriate notice of registration, (D) not adopt or
                  use any mark that is confusingly similar or a colorable
                  imitation of such registered Trademark unless the Lender
                  shall obtain a perfected security interest in such mark
                  pursuant to this Security Agreement, and (E) not (and not
                  permit any licensee or sublicensee thereof to) do any act or
                  knowingly omit to do any act whereby any registered Trademark
                  may become invalidated.

                           (ii)     Not do any act, or omit to do any act,
                  whereby any Patent may become abandoned or dedicated.

                           (iii)    Notify the Lender immediately if it knows
                  that any application or registration relating to any Patent
                  or registered Trademark may become abandoned or dedicated, or
                  of any adverse determination or development (including,
                  without limitation, the institution of, or any such
                  determination or development in, any proceeding in the United
                  States Patent and Trademark Office or any court or tribunal in
                  any country) regarding the Grantor's ownership of any Patent
                  or registered Trademark or its right to register the same or
                  to keep and maintain the same.

                           (iv)     Whenever the Grantor, either by itself or
                  through an agent, employee, licensee or designee, shall file
                  an application for the registration of any Patent or
                  registered Trademark with the United States Patent and
                  Trademark Office or any similar office or agency in any other
                  country or any political subdivision thereof, the Grantor
                  shall report such filing to the Lender within five Business
                  Days after the last day of the fiscal quarter in which such
                  filing occurs. Upon request of the Lender, the Grantor shall
                  execute and deliver any and all agreements, instruments,
                  documents and papers as the Lender may reasonably request to
                  evidence the security interest of the Lender in any Patent or
                  registered Trademark

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                  and the goodwill and general intangibles of the Grantor
                  relating thereto or represented thereby.

                           (v)      Take all reasonable and necessary steps,
                  including, without limitation, in any proceeding before the
                  United States Patent and Trademark Office, or any similar
                  office or agency in any other country or any political
                  subdivision thereof, to maintain and pursue each application
                  (and to obtain the relevant registration) and to maintain each
                  registration of the Patents and Trademarks, including, without
                  limitation, filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of
                  use and affidavits of incontestability.

                           (vi)     Promptly notify the Lender after it learns
                  that any Patent or registered Trademark included in the
                  Collateral is infringed, misappropriated or diluted by a third
                  party and promptly sue for infringement, misappropriation or
                  dilution, to seek injunctive relief where appropriate and to
                  recover any and all damages for such infringement,
                  misappropriation or dilution, or to take such other actions as
                  it shall reasonably deem appropriate under the circumstances
                  to protect such Patent or Trademark.

                           (vii)    Not make any assignment or agreement in
                  conflict with the security interest in the Patents or
                  Trademarks of the Grantor hereunder.

                  Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent any Grantor from
                  discontinuing the use of any Trademark or Patent or pursuing
                  the application of any such Patent or Trademark if such
                  discontinuance is, in the judgment of its Board of Directors,
                  desirable in the conduct of its business.

                  (j)      Commercial Tort Claims.

                           (i)      Promptly notify the Lender in writing of the
                  initiation of any Commercial Tort Claim in excess of
                  $1,000,000 before any Governmental Authority by or in favor of
                  the Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries.

                           (ii)     Execute and deliver such statements,
                  documents and notices and do and cause to be done all such
                  things as the Lender amy reasonably deem necessary,
                  appropriate or convenient, or as are required by law, to
                  create, perfect and maintain the Lender's security interest in
                  any Commercial Tort Claim.

         6.       Advances by Holders of the Secured Obligations. On failure of
the Grantor to perform any of the covenants and agreements contained herein in a
material respect, the Lender may, as its sole option and in its sole discretion,
perform the same and in so doing may expend such sums as the Lender may
reasonably deem advisable in the performance thereof, including, without
limitation, the payment when due and payable of any insurance premiums or taxes,
a payment to obtain a release of a lien or potential lien, expenditures made in
defending against any adverse claim and all other expenditures that the Lender
may make for the protection of the security hereof or that may be compelled to
make by operation of applicable law. All such sums and out-of-pocket amounts so
expended shall be repayable by the Grantor promptly upon timely notice thereof
and demand therefor, shall constitute additional Secured Obligations and shall
bear interest from the date said amounts are demanded at the default rate
specified in the Promissory Note. No such performance of any covenant or
agreement by the Lender on behalf of the Grantor, and no such advance or
expenditure therefor, shall relieve the Grantor of any default under the terms
of this Security Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any other documents
relating to the Secured Obligations. The Lender may make any payment hereby
authorized in accordance with any bill or statement procured from the
appropriate public office or holder of the claim to be discharged without
inquiry into the accuracy of such bill or statement or into the validity of any
tax assessment, sale, forfeiture, tax lien, title or claim except to the extent
such payment is

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<PAGE>
being contested in good faith by the Grantor in appropriate proceedings and
against which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP.

         7.       Remedies.

         (a)      General Remedies. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default
and during the continuation thereof, the Lender shall have, in addition to the
rights and remedies provided herein, in the Promissory Note, in any other
documents relating to the Secured Obligations, or by applicable law (including,
without limitation, levy of attachment and garnishment), the rights and
remedies of a secured party under the UCC of the jurisdiction applicable to the
affected Collateral and, further, the Lender may, with or without judicial
process or the aid and assistance of others, (i) enter on any premises on which
any of the Collateral may be located and, without resistance or interference by
the Grantor, take possession of the Collateral, (ii) dispose of any Collateral
on any such premises, (iii) require the Grantor to assemble and make available
to the Lender at the expense of the Grantor any Collateral at any place and
time designated by the Lender that is reasonably convenient to both parties,
(iv) remove any Collateral from any such premises for the purpose of offering
sale or other disposition thereof, and/or (v) without demand and without
advertisement, notice, hearing or process of law, all of which the Grantor
hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, at any place
and time or times, sell and deliver any or all Collateral held by or for it at
public or private sale, by one or more contracts, in one or more parcels, for
cash, upon credit or otherwise, at such prices and upon such terms as the
Lender deems advisable, in its sole discretion (subject to any and all
mandatory legal requirements). The Grantor acknowledges that any private sale
referenced above may be at prices and on terms less favorable to the seller
than the prices and terms that might have been obtained at a public sale and
agrees that such private sale shall be deemed to have been made in a
commercially reasonable manner. Neither the Lender's compliance with the
applicable law nor its disclaimer of warranties relating to the Collateral
shall be considered to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any
sale. In addition to all other sums due the Lender with respect to the Secured
Obligations, the Grantor shall pay the Lender all reasonable documented costs
and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lender including, but not limited
to, reasonable attorneys' fees, the allocated cost of internal counsel and
court costs, in obtaining or liquidating the Collateral, in enforcing payment
of the Secured Obligations, or in the prosecution or defense of any action or
proceeding by or against the Lender or the Grantor concerning any matter
arising out of or connected with this Security Agreement, any Collateral or the
Secured Obligations, including, without limitation, any of the foregoing
arising in, arising under or related to a case under any bankruptcy, insolvency
or similar laws. To the extent the rights of notice cannot be legally waived
hereunder, the Grantor agrees that any requirement of reasonable notice shall
be met if such notice is personally served on or mailed, postage prepaid, to
the Grantor in accordance with the notice provisions of the Promissory Note at
least ten (10) Business Days before the time of sale or other event giving rise
to the requirement of such notice. The Lender shall not be obligated to make
any sale or other disposition of the Collateral regardless of notice having
been given. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Lender may be a
purchaser at any such sale. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the
Grantor hereby waives all of its rights of redemption with respect to any such
sale. Subject to the provisions of applicable law, the Lender may postpone or
cause the postponement of the sale of all or any portion of the Collateral by
announcement at the time and place of such sale, and such sale may, without
further notice, to the extent permitted by law, be made at the time and place
to which the sale was postponed, or the Lender may further postpone such sale by
announcement made at such time and place.

         (b)      Remedies relating to Accounts. Upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default and during the continuation thereof, whether or not the Lender
has exercised any or all of its rights and remedies hereunder and in each case
in compliance with and to the extent permitted under applicable law (i) the
Grantor will promptly upon request of the Lender instruct all account debtors
to remit all payments in respect of Accounts to a mailing location selected by
the Lender and (ii) the Lender shall have the right to enforce the Grantor's
rights against its customers and account debtors, and the Lender or its
designee may notify the Grantor's customers and account debtors that the
Accounts of the Grantor have been assigned to the Lender or of the Lender's
security interests therein, and may (either in its own name or in the name of
the Grantor or both)

                                      10
<PAGE>
demand, collect (including without limitation by way of a lockbox arrangement),
receive, take receipt for, sell, sue for, compound, settle, compromise and give
acquittance for any and all amounts due or to become due on any Account, and,
in the Lender's discretion, file any claim or take any other action or
proceeding to protect and realize upon the security interest of the holders of
the Secured Obligations in the Accounts; provided, however, that Grantor and
the Lender must comply with assignments of payments to providers as set forth
in 42 U.S.C. Section 1395, as may be amended or any subsequent changes thereto.
The Grantor acknowledges and agrees that the Proceeds of its Accounts remitted
to or on behalf of the Lender in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be
solely for the Lender's own convenience and that the Grantor shall not have any
right, title or interest in such Accounts or in any such other amounts except
as expressly provided herein. The Lender shall have no liability or
responsibility to the Grantor for acceptance of a check, draft or other order
for payment of money bearing the legend "payment in full" or words of similar
import or any other restrictive legend or endorsement or be responsible for
determining the correctness of any remittance. The Grantor hereby agrees to
indemnify the Lender from and against all liabilities, damages, losses, actions,
claims, judgments, costs, expenses, charges and reasonable attorneys' fees
suffered or incurred by the Lender (each, an "Indemnified Party") arising out
of its maintenance of the foregoing arrangements except as relating to or
arising out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of an indemnified
Party or its officers, employees or agents. In the case of any investigation,
litigation or other proceeding, the foregoing indemnity shall be effective
whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by
the Grantor, its directors, shareholders or creditors or an Indemnified Party
or any other Person or any other Indemnified Party is otherwise a party
thereto.

     (c)     Access. In addition to the rights and remedies hereunder, upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuation thereof, the
Lender shall have the right to enter and remain upon the various premises of
the Grantor without cost or charge to the Lender, and use the same, together
with materials, supplies, books and records of the Grantor for the purpose of
collecting and liquidating the Collateral, or for preparing for sale and
conducting the sale of the Collateral, whether by foreclosure, auction or
otherwise. In addition, the Lender may remove Collateral, or any part thereof,
from such premises and/or any records with respect thereto, in order to
effectively collect or liquidate such Collateral. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, prior to receiving information from the Grantor under this Security
Agreement that contains patient information subject to: (i) the state privacy
laws, (ii) the Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Act, 42
U.S.C. 290ee3 et. seq. or (iii) the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996, 42 U.S.C. 1320d et. seq., or (iv) regulations
promulgated pursuant to the foregoing statutes, the Lender agrees to execute an
agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Lender that complies with the
requirements relating to "business associates" as set forth in 45 CFR 502(e)(1)
and any applicable Laws.

     (d)     Nonexclusive Nature of Remedies. Failure by the Lender to exercise
any right, remedy or option under this Security Agreement, the Promissory Note,
any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, or as provided by law,
or any delay by the Lender in exercising the same, shall not operate as a
waiver of any such right, remedy or option. No waiver hereunder shall be
effective unless it is in writing, signed by the party against whom such waiver
is sought to be enforced and then only to the extent specifically stated, which
in the case of the Lender shall only be granted as provided herein. The rights
and remedies of the Lender under this Security Agreement shall be cumulative
and not exclusive of any other right or remedy that the Lender may have.

     (e)     Retention of Collateral. To the extent permitted under applicable
law, in addition to the rights and remedies hereunder, upon the occurrence of
an Event of Default, the Lender may, after providing the notices required by
Sections 9-620 and 9-621 of the UCC or otherwise complying with the
requirements of applicable law of the relevant jurisdiction, accept or retain
all or any portion of the Collateral in satisfaction of the Secured
Obligations. Unless and until the Lender shall have provided such notices,
however, the Lender shall not be deemed to have accepted or retained any
Collateral in satisfaction of any Secured Obligations for any reason.

                                      11
<PAGE>
     (f)  Deficiency. In the event that the proceeds of any sale, collection or
realization are insufficient to pay all amounts to which the Lender is legally
entitled, the Grantor shall be liable for the deficiency, together with
interest thereon at the default rate specified in the Promissory Note, together
with the costs of collection and reasonable attorneys' fees (including the
allocated cost of internal counsel). Any surplus remaining after the full
payment and satisfaction of the Secured Obligations shall be returned to the
Grantor or to whomsoever a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine to
be entitled thereto.

     8.   Rights of the Lender.

     (a)  Power of Attorney. In addition to other powers of attorney contained
herein, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Grantor hereby designates
and appoints the Lender and each of its designees or agents, as attorney-in-fact
of the Grantor, irrevocably and with power of substitution, with authority to
take any or all of the following actions upon the occurrence and during the
continuation of an Event of Default:

          (i)       to demand, collect, settle, compromise and adjust, and give
     discharges and releases concerning the Collateral, all as the Lender may
     reasonably deem appropriate;

          (ii)      to commence and prosecute any actions at any court for the
     purposes of collecting any of the Collateral and enforcing any other right
     in respect thereof;

          (iii)     to defend, settle or compromise any action brought and, in
     connection therewith, give such discharge or release as the Lender may
     reasonably deem appropriate;

          (iv)      to the extent permitted by applicable law and at all times
     in accordance therewith, to receive, open and dispose of mail addressed to
     the Grantor and endorse checks (other than for insurance premiums), notes,
     drafts, acceptances, money orders, bills of lading, warehouse receipts or
     other instruments or documents evidencing payment, shipment or storage of
     the goods giving rise to the Collateral on behalf of and in the name of
     the Grantor, or securing, or relating to such Collateral;

          (v)       to pay or discharge taxes, liens, security interests or
     other encumbrances levied or placed on or threatened against the
     Collateral;

          (vi)      to direct any parties liable for any payment in connection
     with any of the Collateral (other than insurance premiums) to make payment
     of any and all monies due and to become due thereunder directly to the
     Lender or as the Lender shall direct;

          (vii)     except as limited by applicable law, to receive payment of
     and receipt for any and all monies, claims, and other amounts due and to
     become due at any time in respect of or arising out of any Collateral;

          (viii)    to sell, assign, transfer, make any agreement in respect
     of, or otherwise deal with or exercise rights in respect of, any
     Collateral or the goods or services that have given rise thereto, as fully
     and completely as though the Lender were the absolute owner thereof for
     all purposes;

          (ix)      to adjust and settle claims under any insurance policy
     under which the Grantor or the Lender is a beneficiary or additional
     insured;

          (x)       to execute and deliver all assignments, conveyances,
     statements, financing statements, renewal financing statements, security
     and pledge agreements, affidavits, notices and other agreements,
     instruments and documents that the Lender may reasonably deem

                                       12

<PAGE>

         appropriate in order to perfect and maintain the security interests and
         liens granted in this Security Agreement and in order to fully
         consummate all of the transactions contemplated there in:

                  (xi)     to institute any foreclosure proceedings that the
         Lender may reasonably deem appropriate; and

                  (xii)    to do and perform all such other acts and things as
         the Lender may reasonably deem appropriate or convenient in connection
         with the Collateral.

         This power of attorney is a power coupled with an interest and shall
be irrevocable for so long as any of the Secured Obligations shall remain
outstanding. The Lender shall be under no duty to exercise or withhold the
exercise of any of the rights, powers, privileges and options expressly or
implicitly granted to the Lender in this Security Agreement, and shall not be
liable for any failure to do so or any delay in doing so. This power of
attorney is conferred on the Lender solely to protect, preserve and realize
upon its security interest in the Collateral.

         (b)      The Lender's Duty of Care. Other than the exercise of
reasonable care to assure the safe custody of the Collateral while being held
by the Lender hereunder, the Lender shall have no duty or liability to preserve
rights pertaining thereto, it being understood and agreed that the Grantor
shall be responsible for preservation of all rights in the Collateral, and the
Lender shall be relieved of all responsibility for the Collateral upon
surrendering it or tendering the surrender of it to the Grantor. The Lender
shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and
preservation of the Collateral in its possession if such Collateral is accorded
treatment substantially equal to that which the Lender accords its own
property, which shall be no less than the treatment employed by a reasonable
and prudent agent in the industry, it being understood that the Lender shall
not have responsibility for taking any necessary steps to preserve rights
against any parties with respect to any of the Collateral. In the event of a
public or private sale of Collateral pursuant to Section 7 hereof, the Lender
shall have no obligation to clean, repair or otherwise prepare the Collateral
for sale.

         9.       Applications of Proceeds. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuation of an Event of Default, any payments in respect of the Secured
Obligations and any proceeds of the Collateral will be applied in reduction of
the Secured Obligations in the order determined by the Lender and the Grantor
irrevocably waives the right to direct the application of such payments and
proceeds and acknowledges and agrees that the Lender shall have the continuing
and exclusive right to apply and reapply any and all such payments and proceeds
in the Lender's sole discretion, notwithstanding any entry to the contrary upon
any of its books and records.

         10.      Continuing Agreement.

         (a)      This Security Agreement shall be a continuing agreement in
every respect and shall remain in full force and effect so long as any of the
Secured Obligations remains outstanding.

         (b)      This Security Agreement shall continue to be effective or be
automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, in whole
or in part, of any of the Secured Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be
restored or returned by the Lender as a preference, fraudulent conveyance or
otherwise under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, all as though such
payment had not been made; provided that in the event payment of all or any
part of the Secured Obligations is rescinded or must be restored or returned,
all reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys'
fees, the allocated cost of internal counsel and disbursements) incurred by the
Lender in defending and entering such reinstatement shall be deemed to be
included as a part of the Secured Obligations.

                                       13

<PAGE>

         11.      Amendments and Waivers. This Security Agreement and the
provisions hereof may not be amended, waived, modified, changed, discharged or
terminated except with the consent of the Grantor and the Collateral Agent.

         12.      Successors in Interest.

         (a)      This Security Agreement shall create a continuing security
interest in the Collateral and shall be binding upon the Grantor, its
successors and assigns, and shall inure, together with the rights and remedies
of the Lender hereunder, to the benefit of the Lender and its successors and
permitted assigns; provided however, that the Grantor may not assign its rights
or delegate its duties hereunder except as consented to by the Collateral Agent.

         (b)      The Grantor acknowledges and consents to the collateral
assignment by the Lender of its rights hereunder to the Collateral Agent.

         13.      Notices. All notices and other communications required or
permitted to be given hereunder shall be given as follows:

         If to the Mortgagor:

                  Lovelace Health Systems, Inc.
                  One Burton Hills Boulevard, Suite 250
                  Nashville, Tennessee 37215
                  Attention: Page Barnes
                  Telephone: 615-296-3316
                  Facsimile: 615-296-6316

         If to the Mortgagee:

                  Ardent Health Services, Inc.
                  One Burton Hills Boulevard, Suite 250
                  Nashville, Tennessee 37215
                  Attention: Page Barnes
                  Telephone: 615-296-3316
                  Facsimile: 615-296-6316

         14.      Counterparts. This Security Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which where so executed and delivered shall be
an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. It
shall not be necessary in making proof of this Security Agreement to produce or
account for more than one such counterpart.

         15.      Headings. The headings of the sections and subsections hereof
are provided for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning
or construction of any provision of this Security Agreement.

         16.      Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue.

         (a)      THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS
MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE; PROVIDED THAT THE LENDER
SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

                                       14

<PAGE>
     (b)     ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS SECURITY
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK OR OF THE UNITED STATES
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY
OF THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT, THE GRANTOR AND THE LENDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND
IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS.
THE GRANTOR AND THE LENDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR
BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER
HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN
RESPECT OF THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT
RELATED THERETO. THE GRANTOR AND THE LENDER WAIVES (TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW) PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS, COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS,
WHICH MAY BE MADE BY ANY OTHER MEANS PERMITTED BY THE LAW OF SUCH STATE.

     17.     Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury.

     EACH PARTY TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES, TO THE
EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM,
DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT OR ANY
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO
THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO THIS SECURITY
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN
EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN
CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT
ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT
TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT MAY FILE
AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN
EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATURES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT
TO TRIAL BY JURY.

     18.     Severability. If any provision of this Security Agreement is
determined to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be
fully severable and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and
effect and shall be construed without giving effect to the illegal, invalid or
unenforceable provisions.

     19.     Entirety. This Security Agreement, the Promissory Note and the
other documents relating to the Secured Obligations represent the entire
agreement of the parties hereto and thereto, and supersede all prior agreements
and understandings, oral or written, if any, including any commitment letters
or correspondence relating to the Promissory Note, any other documents relating
to the Secured Obligations, or the transactions contemplated herein and therein.

     20.     Survival. All representations and warranties of the Grantor
hereunder shall survive the execution and delivery of this Security Agreement,
the Promissory Note and the other documents relating to the Secured
Obligations, the delivery of the Promissory Note and the extension of credit
thereunder or in connection therewith.

     21.     Other Security. To the extent that any of the Secured Obligations
are now or hereafter secured by property other than the Collateral (including,
without limitation, real property and securities

                                      15
<PAGE>

owned by the Grantor), or by a guarantee, endorsement or property of any other
Person, then the Lender shall have the right to proceed against such other
property, guarantee or endorsement upon the occurrence of any Event of Default,
and the Lender shall have the right in its sole discretion, to determine which
rights, security, liens, security interests or remedies the Lender shall at any
time pursue, relinquish, subordinate, modify or take with respect thereto,
without in any way modifying or affecting any of them or the Secured Obligations
or any of the rights of the Lender under this Security Agreement, under the
Promissory Note or under any other document relating to the Secured Obligations.

                            [Signature Pages Follow]

                                       16
<PAGE>

         Each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Security
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

GRANTOR:                                  LOVELACE HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.,
                                          a New Mexico corporation

                                          By: /s/ Stephen C. Petrovich
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Name: Stephen C. Petrovich
                                          Title: Secretary

LENDER:                                   ARDENT HEALTH SERVICES, INC.,
                                          a Delaware corporation

                                          By: /s/ William P. Barnes
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Name: William P. Barnes
                                          Title: Senior Vice President/Treasurer

                                       17
<PAGE>

                                 SCHEDULE 2(d)
                             COMMERCIAL TORT CLAIMS

         None.

<PAGE>

                                 SCHEDULE 4(a)
                          LOCATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE
                         OFFICE LOCATIONS OF COLLATERAL

Lovelace Health Systems
5400 Gibson Blvd. SE
Albuquerque, NM 87108
(505) 262-7000 or (800) 877-7526
(505) 262-7428 (fax)

<PAGE>

                                 SCHEDULE 4(b)
                       CHANGE OF NAME; STATE OF FORMATION
                      AND CORPORATE STRUCTURE; TRADENAMES

         Lovelace Health Systems, Inc., a New Mexico corporation ("Lovelace"),
was party to the Lovelace/Sandia Reorganization, pursuant to which AHS
Albuquerque Regional Medical Center, LLC, AHS Northeast Heights Hospital, LLC,
AHS Albuquerque Rehabilitation Hospital, LLC, AHS West Mesa Hospital, LLC, and
AHS Albuquerque Physician Group, LLC, all New Mexico limited liability
corporations, were merged with and into Lovelace, and pursuant to which Lovelace
acquired certain assets from Mesilla Valley Hospital, Inc., a New Mexico
corporation.

         Lovelace is the surviving corporation in connection with the
Lovelace/Sandia Reorganization.

<PAGE>

                                 SCHEDULE 4(g)
                          INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

         None.<PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.6

                    INTERCREDITOR AND SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT

         THIS INTERCREDITOR AND SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT dated as of August 19,
2003 (this "Intercreditor Agreement") is by and among (i) BANK ONE, NA, as
collateral agent (in such capacity, the "Collateral Agent") for and on behalf of
the Secured Parties, (ii) BANK ONE, NA, as Administrative Agent (in such
capacity, the "Administrative Agent") for and on behalf of the Senior Creditors,
(iii) U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee (in such capacity,
together with its successors and assigns, the "Trustee") for and on behalf of
the Subordinated Creditors, and (iv) ARDENT HEALTH SERVICES, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Borrower").

                                   WITNESSETH

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower is
required to (a) cause, under certain circumstances set forth therein, each HMO
Subsidiary to (i) issue an intercompany promissory note to the Borrower or a
Subsidiary in a principal amount set forth in the Credit Agreement and (ii)
grant to the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, a security interest in
all of its real and personal property to secure the obligations of such HMO
Subsidiary under such intercompany promissory note pursuant to the intercompany
security documents described in the Credit Agreement and (b) collaterally
assign, and grant a security interest in, all of the Borrower's or such
Subsidiary's, as applicable, rights under such intercompany promissory note and
such intercompany security documents to the Collateral Agent as collateral
security for the Senior Obligations;

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, in the event that the
Borrower or any Subsidiary grants a security interest in the Borrower's or such
Subsidiary's, as applicable, rights under any such intercompany promissory note
and any such intercompany security documents to the Collateral Agent as
collateral security for the Senior Obligations, then the Borrower or such
Subsidiary, as applicable, is also required to grant a security interest in the
Borrower's or such Subsidiary's, as applicable, rights under such intercompany
promissory note and such intercompany security documents in favor of the holders
of the Subordinated Notes as collateral security for the Subordinated
Obligations;

         WHEREAS, the Trustee and the holders of the Subordinated Notes agree
that any such collateral assignment and security interest in favor of the
holders of the Subordinated Notes shall be made to the Collateral Agent as
collateral security for the Subordinated Obligations;

         WHEREAS, the parties hereto have entered into this Intercreditor
Agreement to define the rights, duties, authority and responsibilities of the
Collateral Agent and the relationship among the Secured Parties regarding the
relative rights and priorities with respect to the Collateral.

         NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         1. Definitions. The following terms shall have the meanings provided
below:

                  "Credit Agreement" means that Credit Agreement dated as of
          August 19, 2003 among the Borrower, the guarantors identified therein,
          the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, as the same may be amended,
          modified, supplemented, extended, increased, refinanced, restated and
          replaced from time to time.

                  "Credit Documents" means the "Loan Documents" as defined in
          the Credit Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified,
          supplemented, extended, restated and replaced from time to time.

<PAGE>

                  "Collateral" means all of the property (whether real or
         personal, tangible or intangible) in which the Collateral Agent is
         granted a Lien pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

                  "Collateral Documents" means any security agreement, pledge
         agreement, mortgage, deed of trust or other security document pursuant
         to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary grants a Lien in any of its
         rights under any Intercompany Promissory Note or any Intercompany
         Security Documents to the Collateral Agent to secure the Secured
         Obligations, in each case as the same may be amended, modified,
         supplemented, extended, restated and replaced from time to time.

                  "Event of Default" means the occurrence of an "Event of
         Default" under, and as defined, the Credit Agreement.

                  "Financing Documents" means the Credit Documents and the
         Subordinated Note Documents.

                  "HMO" means any health maintenance organization, managed care
         organization, any Person doing business as a health maintenance
         organization or managed care organization, or any Person required to
         qualify or be licensed as a health maintenance organization or managed
         care organization under applicable federal or state law (including,
         without limitation, HMO Regulations).

                  "HMO Business" means the business of owning and operating an
         HMO or other similar regulated entity or business.

                  "HMO Regulations" means all laws, regulations, directives and
         administrative orders applicable under federal or state law to any HMO
         Subsidiary (and any regulations, orders and directives promulgated or
         issued pursuant to any of the foregoing) and Subchapter XI of Title 42
         of the United States Code Annotated (and any regulations, orders and
         directives promulgated or issued pursuant thereto, including, without
         limitation, Part 417 of Chapter IV of 42 Code of Federal Regulations
         (1990)).

                  "HMO Subsidiary" means any existing or future Subsidiary that
         is capitalized or licensed as an HMO, conducting HMO Business or
         providing managed care services.

                  "Indenture" means that certain Indenture dated as of August
         19, 2003 among the Borrower, the Subsidiaries of the Borrower party
         thereto and the Trustee, as the same may be amended, modified,
         supplemented, extended, restated, refinanced and replaced from time to
         time.

                  "Intercompany Promissory Notes" means each and every
         promissory note issued by an HMO Subsidiary to the Borrower or a
         Subsidiary of the Borrower pursuant to the requirements of the Credit
         Agreement.

                  "Intercompany Security Documents" means each and every
         security agreement, pledge agreement, mortgage, deed of trust or other
         security document pursuant to which any HMO Subsidiary grants a Lien in
         any of its real or personal property to secure its obligations under an
         Intercompany Promissory Note.

                  "Lenders" means the lenders from time to time party to the
         Credit Agreement.

                                       2

<PAGE>

                  "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment,
         deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or
         preference, priority or other security interest or preferential
         arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional
         sale or other title retention agreement, and any financing lease having
         substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

                  "Loan Parties" means the Borrower and the Guarantors.

                  "Parent" means Ardent Health Services LLC, a Delaware limited
         liability company.

                  "Person" means any natural person, corporation, limited
         liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company,
         partnership, governmental authority or other entity.

                  "Required Lenders" means the "Required Lenders" under, and as
         defined in, the Credit Agreement.

                  "Secured Obligations" means, collectively, the Senior
         Obligations and the Subordinated Obligations.

                  "Secured Parties" means the Senior Creditors and the
         Subordinated Creditors.

                  "Senior Creditors" means the Administrative Agent, the Lenders
         and any affiliate of a Lender that enters into a Swap Contract with any
         Loan Party.

                  "Senior Obligations" means all obligations (including (a)
         principal, interest, fees, indemnities and all other amounts and (b)
         interest accruing after commencement of a proceeding in bankruptcy,
         reorganization or insolvency, whether or not allowable as a claim),
         contingent or otherwise, of the Loan Parties from time to time to the
         Senior Creditors under the Credit Documents. The foregoing shall also
         include any Swap Contract between any Loan Party and any Lender or
         affiliate of a Lender.

                  "Subordinated Creditors" means the Trustee and the holders of
         the Subordinated Notes.

                  "Subordinated Obligations" means all obligations (including
         (a) principal, interest, fees, premiums, liquidated damages,
         indemnities and all other amounts and (b) interest accruing after
         commencement of a proceeding in bankruptcy, reorganization or
         insolvency, whether or not allowable as a claim), contingent or
         otherwise, of the Loan Parties from time to time to the Subordinated
         Creditors under the Subordinated Note Documents.

                  "Subordinated Notes" means those 10% Senior Subordinated Notes
         of the Borrower due 2013 issued pursuant to the Indenture, as the same
         may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, restated, refinanced
         and replaced from time to time.

                  "Subordinated Note Documents" means the Subordinated Notes,
         the Indenture and all other documents executed and delivered in respect
         of the Subordinated Notes and the Indenture, in each case as the same
         may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, restated, refinanced
         and replaced from time to time.

                  "Subsidiary" of a Person means a corporation, partnership,
         joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of
         which a majority of the shares of Capital Stock having ordinary voting
         power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than
         Capital Stock having such power only by reason of the happening of a
         contingency) are at the time

                                        3

<PAGE>

         beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled,
         directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by
         such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a
         "Subsidiary" or to "Subsidiaries" shall refer to a Subsidiary or
         Subsidiaries of the Parent.

                  "Swap Contract" means (a) any and all rate swap transactions,
         basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions,
         commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity
         or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index
         swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond
         index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange
         transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar
         transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap
         transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar
         transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any
         options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such
         transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b)
         any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations,
         which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any
         form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and
         Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange
         Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master
         agreement, together with any related schedules, a "Master Agreement"),
         including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master
         Agreement.

         2.       Intercreditor and Subordination Provisions.

         (a) Subordination. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in
the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the applicable
jurisdiction with respect to any Collateral, any applicable law or judicial
decision or the Financing Documents, or whether any Secured Party has possession
or control of all or any part of the Collateral, and irrespective of the time,
order or method of attachment, perfection, filing or recording of any Lien in
the Collateral or existing under the Collateral Documents, as among the Secured
Parties the rights of the Senior Creditors in respect of Liens in the Collateral
or existing under the Collateral Documents shall at all times be prior and
superior to the rights of the Subordinated Creditors in respect of any Lien in
the Collateral or existing under the Collateral Documents.

         (b) Limit on Enforcement. The Secured Parties agree among themselves
and for their own benefit alone that the Liens granted and provided for in the
Collateral Documents shall not be enforced as against any of the Collateral
except by the Collateral Agent at the direction of the requisite Lenders as
provided in the Credit Agreement. Each Secured Party agrees that, until the
Credit Agreement has been terminated and the Senior Obligations have been paid
in full in cash, the provisions of this Intercreditor Agreement shall provide
the exclusive method by which any Secured Party may exercise rights and remedies
under the Collateral Documents. Each Subordinated Creditor agrees that, until
the Credit Agreement has been terminated and the Senior Obligations have been
paid in full in cash, no Subordinated Creditor may exercise any rights or
remedies in respect of any Lien in the Collateral or existing under the
Collateral Documents.

         (c) Control by Senior Creditors. The Collateral Agent shall take any
action with respect to the Collateral and the Collateral Documents requested in
writing by the requisite Lenders as provided in the Credit Agreement (including,
without limitation, any direction (i) to release all or any portion of the
Collateral from the Liens created under the Collateral Documents, (ii) to
execute any amendment, modification or supplement to the Collateral Documents,
(ii) to exercise or refrain from exercising any right, remedy or power available
or conferred to the Collateral Agent under the Collateral Documents and (iv) to
sell all or any portion of the Collateral at any price and on any other terms
following exercise of remedies under the Collateral Documents) without the need
for the approval or consent of, and

                                       4

<PAGE>

notwithstanding any contrary direction from, any Subordinated Creditor. During
the existence of an Event of Default, prior to receipt of any direction from the
requisite Lenders as provided in the Credit Agreement, the Collateral Agent may
take, but shall have no obligation to take, any and all actions with respect to
the Collateral and the Collateral Documents (including, without limitation, the
foreclosure of any Lien or any other exercise of remedies) as the Collateral
Agent shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Senior Creditors and
the Subordinated Creditors; provided, however, that if instructions are
thereafter received from the Requisite Lenders as provided in the Credit
Agreement, then any subsequent actions of the Collateral Agent shall be subject
to such instructions.

         (d) Application of Proceeds of the Collateral. The Collateral Agent
shall pay to and apply all proceeds of the Collateral as follows:

                  (i) First, to the payment of the reasonable costs and expenses
         of the Collateral Agent incurred in connection with the execution of
         its duties as Collateral Agent, in exercising or attempting to exercise
         any right or remedy hereunder or under the Collateral Documents or in
         taking possession of, protecting, preserving or disposing of any item
         of Collateral, and all amounts against or for which the Collateral
         Agent is to be indemnified or reimbursed hereunder;

                  (ii) Second, after payment in full of the amounts set forth in
         clause (i) above, to the Administrative Agent for application to the
         Senior Obligations in the order set forth in the Credit Agreement;

                  (iii) Third, after payment in full of the Senior Obligations,
         to the Trustee for application to the Subordinated Obligations as set
         forth in the Indenture;

                  (iv) Last, after payment in full of the amounts set forth in
         clause (iii) above, to the payment of the surplus, if any, to
         whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.

         (e) Recovery of Proceeds. If any Secured Party receives any proceeds of
 the Collateral other than from the Collateral Agent pursuant to the order of
 application set forth in Section 2(d), such Secured Party shall turn over such
 proceeds to the Collateral Agent promptly upon receipt thereof for application
 as provided in Section 2(d).

          (f) Reduction of Secured Obligations. The Borrower agrees that,
 notwithstanding any Financing Document to the contrary, the Secured Obligations
 owing under any Financing Document to a Secured Party (i) shall be reduced by
 the amount of any proceeds of the Collateral received by such Secured Party
 from the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 2(d) and (ii) shall not be
 reduced by the amount of any proceeds of the Collateral paid over to the
 Collateral Agent by such Secured Party pursuant to Section 2(e) (except to the
 extent such proceeds are subsequently received by such Secured Party from the
 Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 2(d)).

          (g) Determination of Amounts of Secured Obligations. Whenever the
  Collateral Agent is required to determine the existence or amount of any of
 the Secured Obligations or any portion thereof or the existence of any Event
 of Default for any purposes of this Intercreditor Agreement, it shall be
 entitled to make such determination on the basis of one or more certificates
 of any Secured Party (with respect to the Secured Obligations owed to such
 Secured Party); provided, however, that if, notwithstanding the request of the
 Collateral Agent, any Secured Party shall fail or refuse within ten days of
 such request to certify as to the existence or amount of any Secured
 Obligations or any portion thereof owed to it or the existence of any Event of
 Default, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to determine such existence or
 amount by such method as the Collateral Agent may reasonably determine,
 including by reliance upon a certificate of the Borrower; provided further,
 that, promptly following determination of any such amount, the Collateral
 Agent shall notify such Secured Party of such determination and thereafter
 shall correct

                                       5

<PAGE>

any error that such Secured Party brings to the attention of the Collateral
Agent. The Collateral Agent may rely conclusively, and shall be fully protected
in so relying, on any determination made by it in accordance with the provisions
of the preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a court of competent
jurisdiction in a final, nonappealable judgment) and shall have no liability to
the Borrower, any Guarantor, any Secured Party or any other Person as a result
of any action taken by the Collateral Agent based upon such determination prior
to receipt of notice of any error in such determination.

         (h) Acts of Secured Parties. Any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action permitted or required by this
Intercreditor Agreement to be given or taken by the Secured Parties or any
portion thereof may be and, at the request of the Collateral Agent, shall be
embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments satisfactory in form and
substance to the Collateral Agent and signed by or on behalf of such Persons
and, except as otherwise expressly provided in any such instrument, any such
action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments shall have
been delivered to the Collateral Agent. The instrument or instruments evidencing
any action (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are sometimes
referred to herein as an "Act" of the Persons signing such instrument or
instruments. In the absence of bad faith on the part of the Collateral Agent,
the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely absolutely upon an Act of any
Secured Party if such Act purports to be taken by or on behalf of such Secured
Party, and nothing in this Intercreditor Agreement shall be construed to require
any Secured Party to demonstrate that it has been authorized to take any action
which it purports to be taking, the Collateral Agent being entitled to rely
conclusively, and being fully protected in so relying, on any Act of such
Secured Party.

         (i) Intercreditor Arrangements in Bankruptcy.

                  (i) This Intercreditor Agreement shall remain in full force
         and effect and enforceable pursuant to its terms in accordance with
         Section 510(a) of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all
         references herein to any Loan Party shall be deemed to apply to such
         entity as debtor in possession and to any trustee in bankruptcy for the
         estate of such entity.

                  (ii) Except as otherwise specifically permitted in this
         Section 2(i), until the Credit Agreement is terminated and the Senior
         Obligations have been paid in full in cash, no Subordinated Creditor
         shall assert without the written consent of the Required Lenders any
         claim, motion, objection, or argument in respect of any Collateral in
         connection with any proceeding under Debtor Relief Laws which could
         otherwise be asserted or raised in connection with such proceeding by
         such Subordinated Creditor as a creditor of any Loan Party with a Lien
         on any Collateral, including without limitation any claim, motion,
         objection or argument seeking adequate protection or relief from the
         automatic stay in respect of any Collateral.

                  (iii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
         Subordinated Creditors agree that in any proceeding under Debtor Relief
         Laws, the Subordinated Creditors shall not oppose any sale or other
         disposition of any assets comprising part of the Collateral free and
         clear of the Liens of any party, including the Subordinated Creditors
         under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States on the
         basis that the Subordinated Creditors' interest in the Collateral is
         impaired by such sale or inadequately protected as a result of such
         sale if the Senior Creditors have consented to such sale or disposition
         of such assets.

                  (iv) The Subordinated Creditors agree that they will not
         initiate, prosecute, encourage, or assist with any other person to
         initiate or prosecute any claim, action or other proceeding (i)
         challenging the validity or enforceability of this Intercreditor
         Agreement, (ii) challenging the validity or enforceability of any
         Senior Creditor's claim with respect to the Collateral, (iii)
         challenging the perfection or enforceability of any Liens of the Senior
         Creditors

                                       6

<PAGE>

         in any Collateral or (iv) asserting any claims which any Loan Party may
         hold with respect to the Senior Creditors or the Senior Obligations, if
         any.

                  (v) To the extent that any Senior Creditor receives payments
         or transfers in respect of the Senior Obligations or proceeds of the
         Collateral which are subsequently invalidated, declared to be
         fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a
         trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, state or
         federal law, common law, or equitable cause, then, to the extent of
         such payment or proceeds received, the Senior Obligations, or part
         thereof, intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continue in full
         force and effect as if such payments or proceeds had not been received
         by such Senior Creditor.

                  (vi) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the
         Senior Creditors and the Subordinated Creditors shall be entitled to
         file any necessary pleadings, motions, objections or agreement which
         assert rights or interests available to unsecured creditors of any Loan
         Party arising under either the Bankruptcy Code of the United States or
         applicable non-bankruptcy law.

         3. Representations of Administrative Agent and Trustee.

        (a) The Administrative Agent represents and warrants to the other
parties hereto that it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this
Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of the Senior Creditors and that this
Intercreditor Agreement shall be binding upon the Senior Creditors.

         (b) The Trustee represents and warrants to the other parties hereto
that it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Intercreditor
Agreement on behalf of the Subordinated Creditors and that this Intercreditor
Agreement shall be binding upon the Subordinated Creditors. The Trustee further
represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to execute and
deliver, on behalf of the Subordinated Creditors, a restatement or replacement
of this Intercreditor Agreement in connection with any refinance, restatement or
replacement of the Credit Agreement, provided that the terms of such restatement
or replacement of this Intercreditor Agreement shall be on substantially the
same terms hereof.

         4. Collateral Agent

         (a) Appointment and Authority of Collateral Agent.

                  (i) Each of the Secured Parties hereby irrevocably appoints,
         designates and authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such action on
         its behalf under the provisions of this Intercreditor Agreement and
         each Collateral Document and to exercise such powers and perform such
         duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this
         Intercreditor Agreement or any Collateral Document, together with such
         powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any
         provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any
         Collateral Document, the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or
         responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein or therein,
         nor shall the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary
         relationship with any Secured Party, and no implied covenants,
         functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall
         be read into this Intercreditor Agreement or any Collateral Document or
         otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the
         generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term "agent"
         herein and in the Collateral Documents with reference to the Collateral
         Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or
         express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable
         law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom,
         and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative
         relationship between independent contracting parties. The Collateral
         Agent shall act on behalf of the Secured Parties with respect to any
         Collateral and the

                                       7

<PAGE>

         Collateral Documents, and the Collateral Agent shall have all of the
         benefits and immunities as provided herein or in the Collateral
         Documents.

                  (ii) The Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Collateral
         Agent:

                           (A) to execute the Collateral Documents for and on
                  behalf of the Secured Parties,

                           (B) to perfect the security interest in the
                  Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties,

                           (C) to hold instruments, if any, representing any
                  Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and

                           (D) to take any and all actions with respect to the
                  Collateral and the Collateral Documents requested in writing
                  by the Required Lenders without the need for the approval or
                  consent of, and notwithstanding any contrary direction from,
                  any Subordinated Creditor.

         (b) Duties.

                  (i) The Collateral Agent accepts the duties hereunder and
         under the Collateral Documents and agrees to perform the same, but only
         upon the terms and conditions hereof and of the Collateral Documents,
         to all of which the Loan Parties and the Secured Parties by their
         acceptance hereof agree.

                  (ii) The Collateral Agent shall not have any duty or
         obligation to manage, control, use, sell, dispose of or otherwise deal
         with the Collateral or to otherwise take or refrain from taking any
         action under, or in connection with, this Intercreditor Agreement or
         the Collateral Documents, except as expressly provided by the terms and
         conditions of this Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents.
         The Collateral Agent may take, but shall have no obligation to take,
         any and all such actions under the Collateral Documents or otherwise as
         it shall reasonably deem to be in the best interests of the Secured
         Parties in order to maintain the Collateral and protect and preserve
         the Collateral and the rights of the Secured Parties.

                  (iii) The Collateral Agent makes no representation as to the
         value or condition of the Collateral or any part thereof, as to the
         title of any of the Loan Parties to the Collateral or as to the
         security afforded by this Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral
         Documents and the Collateral Agent shall incur no liability or
         responsibility in respect of any such matters. The Collateral Agent
         shall not be required to ascertain or inquire as to the performance by
         any Loan Party of its obligations under any of the Financing Documents.

                  (iv) The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for
         insuring the Collateral, for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments
         or liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the
         Collateral, except as provided in the immediately following sentence
         when the Collateral Agent has possession of the Collateral. The
         Collateral Agent shall have no duty to any of the Loan Parties, any of
         their Subsidiaries or any of the Secured Parties as to any Collateral
         in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any
         agent or nominee of the Collateral Agent or any income thereon or as to
         the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights
         pertaining thereto, except the duty to accord such Collateral in its
         possession substantially the same care as it accords its own assets and
         the duty to account for monies received by it.

                                       8

<PAGE>

         (c) Delegation of Duties. The Collateral Agent may execute any of its
duties under this Intercreditor Agreement or any Collateral Document by or
through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice
of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to
such duties. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or
misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects with reasonable care
in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

         (d) Liability.

                  (i) The Collateral Agent shall not be (A) liable to any Loan
         Party or any Secured Party for any action taken or omitted to be taken
         by it under or in connection with this Intercreditor Agreement or any
         Collateral Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for
         its own gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with its
         duties expressly set forth herein), (B) responsible in any manner to
         any Secured Party for any recital, statement, representation or
         warranty made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof, contained
         herein or in any Collateral Document, or in any certificate, report,
         statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received
         by the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Intercreditor
         Agreement or any Collateral Document, or the validity, effectiveness,
         genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Intercreditor
         Agreement or any Collateral Document, or for any failure of any Loan
         Party or any other party to this Intercreditor Agreement or any
         Collateral Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder
         or (C) liable except with respect to such duties as are specifically
         set forth in this Intercreditor Agreement or in the Collateral
         Documents and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into
         this Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents against the
         Collateral Agent, but the duties and obligations of the Collateral
         Agent shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this
         Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Documents.

                  (ii) The Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to
          any Secured Party to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or
          performance of by any Loan Party of any of the agreements contained
          in, or conditions of, this Intercreditor Agreement or any Collateral
          Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan
          Party or any affiliate thereof. The Collateral Agent shall not assume,
          and shall not be deemed to have assumed, any obligation towards or
          relationship of agency, fiduciary or trust with or for any other
          Person.

                  (iii) Whether or not an Event of Default shall have occurred,
          the Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to take or
          refrain from taking any action under this Intercreditor Agreement or
          the Collateral Documents (A) which may tend to involve it in any
          expense or liability, unless and until it is (x) requested in writing
          so to do by the Required Lenders as provided herein and (y) furnished,
          from time to time as it may require, with satisfactory security and
          indemnity or (B) which may conflict with any provisions of law, this
          Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Documents or any order of any
          court or administrative agency.

         (e) Reliance. In the absence of bad faith on the part of the Collateral
Agent, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully
protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution,
representation, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram,
facsimile, telex or telephone message, electronic mail message, statement or
other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to
have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice
and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to any Loan Party),
independent accountants and other experts selected by the Collateral Agent. The
Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in
refraining from acting, under this Intercreditor Agreement or any Collateral
Document in accordance with the direction or consent of the requisite Secured
Parties

                                       9

<PAGE>

as set forth herein, and any action taken or failure to act pursuant to such
direction or consent shall be binding upon all the Secured Parties.

         (f) Notice of Default. The Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have
knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Event of Default unless the
Collateral Agent shall have received a notice of Event of Default from a Senior
Creditor or a Loan Party as set forth herein. The Collateral Agent shall have no
obligation either prior to or after receiving such notice to inquire whether an
Event of Default has, in fact, occurred and shall be entitled to rely
conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any notice so
furnished to it.

         (g) Indemnification. The Loan Parties jointly and severally agree:

                  (i) to pay to the Collateral Agent all of its out-of-pocket
         expenses in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of
         this Intercreditor Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
         including but not limited to the reasonable charges and disbursements
         of its special counsel;

                  (ii) to pay to the Collateral Agent from time to time
         reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder;

                  (iii) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to
          reimburse the Collateral Agent upon its request for all reasonable
          expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the
          Collateral Agent in accordance with any provision of this
          Intercreditor Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the
          expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel); and

                  (iv) to indemnify the Collateral Agent for, and to hold it
          harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without
          gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of
          competent jurisdiction in a final, nonappealable judgment) on its
          part, arising out of or in connection with this Intercreditor
          Agreement (excluding any amounts relating to disputes between or among
          the parties to this Intercreditor Agreement other than any such
          disputes involving a Loan Party) or the Collateral Documents or any
          action taken or omitted by it thereunder or in connection therewith,
          including, but not limited to, the costs and expenses of defending
          itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise
          or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, and any loss,
          liability, expense or claim arising out of its possession, management,
          control, use or operation of the Collateral.

          The Secured Parties (other than the Trustee) shall indemnify the
 Collateral Agent upon demand (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of
 any Loan Party and without limiting the obligation of any Loan Party to do so),
 pro rata, and hold the Collateral Agent harmless from and against any and all
 liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments,
 suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever that
 may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Collateral Agent arising
 out of the actions of the Collateral Agent under this Intercreditor Agreement
 or any Collateral Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby or the
 enforcement of any of the terms thereof or of any such other documents
 including all expenses, compensation, disbursements, advances, losses or
 liabilities of the type described above; provided, however, that no Secured
 Party shall be liable for the payment to the Collateral Agent of any portion
 thereof to the extent determined in a final, nonappealable judgment by a court
 of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the Collateral Agent's own
 gross negligence or willful misconduct; provided, further, that, with respect
 to the Senior Creditors only, no action taken by the Collateral Agent in
 accordance with the directions or the consent of the requisite Lenders as
 provided in the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence
 or willful misconduct for purposes hereof. The rights of each Secured Party
 shall be subrogated to the rights of the Collateral Agent with respect to all
 amounts paid by it pursuant to this

                                       10

<PAGE>

 paragraph, and all such amounts shall constitute Senior Obligations or
 Subordinated Obligations, as the case may be.

         This Section 4(g) shall survive termination of the Financing Documents
 and the repayment in full of the Secured Obligations.

          (h)        Status of Moneys Received.

                  (i) Pending the disbursement thereof pursuant to the terms of
         this Intercreditor Agreement, all proceeds of the Collateral received
         by the Collateral Agent following the enforcement of the Liens granted
         and provided for in the Collateral Documents shall, until used or
         applied as herein provided, be held for the purposes for which they
         were received, in segregated accounts, and shall, if held by the
         Collateral Agent for more than one business day, be invested by the
         Collateral Agent in either (A) direct obligations of the United States
         of America or (B) obligations for which the full faith and credit of
         the United States is pledged to provide for the payment of principal
         and interest, maturing not more than ninety days from the date of such
         investment. Earnings on monies so invested shall constitute proceeds of
         Collateral for purposes of this Intercreditor Agreement. The Collateral
         Agent and any affiliated corporation may become the owner of any of the
         Secured Obligations and be interested in any financial transaction with
         any of the Loan Parties or any affiliated corporation, or the
         Collateral Agent may act as depository or otherwise in respect to other
         securities of any of the Loan Parties or any affiliated corporation,
         all with the same rights which it would have if it was not the
         Collateral Agent.

          (i) Individual Capacity. Bank One, NA and its affiliates may make
 loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from,
 acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust,
 financial advisory, underwriting or other business with any of the Loan Parties
 and their respective affiliates as though Bank One, NA were not the Collateral
 Agent hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Secured Parties. The
 Secured Parties acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Bank One, NA or
 its affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or its
 affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality
 obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such affiliate) and acknowledge that
 the Collateral Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such information
 to them.

          (j) Successor Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent may resign as
 Collateral Agent upon not less than thirty days' notice to the Secured Parties.
 Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint
 a successor collateral agent (without the need for the consent or approval of,
 and notwithstanding any contrary direction from, any Subordinated Creditor),
 which successor shall be a state or national bank or trust company in good
 standing, organized under the laws of the United States of America or of any
 State, having a capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating at least
 $500 million, if there be such a bank or trust company willing and able to
 accept the duties hereunder upon reasonable and customary terms. If no
 successor collateral agent is appointed and shall have accepted such
 appointment in writing within fifteen days prior to the effective date of the
 resignation of the Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent may appoint, after
 consulting with the Senior Creditors (without the need to consult with any
 Subordinated Creditor), a successor collateral agent that meets the eligibility
 requirements set forth in the preceding sentence. Upon the acceptance of its
 appointment as successor collateral agent hereunder, such successor shall
 succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent
 and the retiring Collateral Agent, upon the signing, transferring and setting
 over to such successor Collateral Agent all rights, monies and other collateral
 held by it in its capacity as Collateral Agent, shall be discharged from its
 duties and obligations hereunder. After any retiring Collateral Agent's
 resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 4 and with respect to the
 Collateral Agent hereunder shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken
 or omitted to be taken by it

                                       11

<PAGE>

 while it was Collateral Agent hereunder. If no successor collateral agent has
 accepted appointment as Collateral Agent by the date thirty days following a
 retiring Collateral Agent's notice of resignation, the retiring Collateral
 Agent's resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the
 Required Lenders shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the
 retiring Collateral Agent until such time, if any, as a successor collateral
 agent is appointed. Any successor Collateral Agent appointed hereunder shall
 execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Borrower and the predecessor Collateral
 Agent an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon such successor
 Collateral Agent, without any further act, deed, conveyance or transfer, shall
 become vested with the title to the Collateral, and with all the rights,
 powers, duties and obligations of the predecessor Collateral Agent in the trust
 hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Collateral Agent herein.
 Upon the request of any such successor Collateral Agent, and at the expense of
 the Loan Parties, the Loan Parties and the predecessor Collateral Agent shall
 promptly execute and deliver such instruments of conveyance and do such other
 things as may reasonably be required for more fully and certainly vesting and
 confirming in such successor Collateral Agent its interest in the Collateral
 and all such rights, powers, duties and obligations of the predecessor
 Collateral Agent hereunder, and the predecessor Collateral Agent shall also
 promptly assign and deliver to the successor Collateral Agent any Collateral
 then in its possession.

         5. Miscellaneous.

         (a) Successors; Continuing Effect.

                   (i) This Intercreditor Agreement is being entered into for
          the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, (A) the Senior Creditors
          and their respective successors and assigns, including subsequent
          holders of the Senior Obligations and (B) the Subordinated Creditors
          and their respective successors and assigns, including subsequent
          holders of the Subordinated Obligations.

                   (ii) The Trustee agrees to execute (on behalf of the
          Subordinated Creditors) a restatement or replacement of this
          Intercreditor Agreement in connection with any refinance, restatement
          or replacement of the Credit Agreement, provided that the terms of
          such restatement or replacement of this Intercreditor Agreement shall
          be on substantially the same terms hereof.

                   (iii) This Intercreditor Agreement shall terminate upon the
          termination of the Credit Agreement and the payment of all Senior
          Obligations in full in cash (unless otherwise terminated sooner upon
          the request of the Required Lenders) and the Subordinated Creditors
          agree that the Collateral Agent may release the Liens arising under
          the Collateral Documents upon the termination of this Intercreditor
          Agreement.

         (b) Amendments to this Intercreditor Agreement. Each of the parties
hereto agrees that this Intercreditor Agreement may not be amended, modified or
supplemented unless such amendment, modification or supplement has been approved
in writing by the Loan Parties, the Required Lenders (or the Administrative
Agent acting with the consent of the Required Lenders) and the Trustee acting
with the consent of the requisite holders of the Subordinated Notes under the
Indenture.

        (c) Further Assurances. Each of the parties hereto will, at the expense
of the Loan Parties, and at any time and from time to time, promptly execute and
deliver all further instruments and documents, and take all further action, that
the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in order to perfect or otherwise
protect any right or interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or to
enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies
hereunder.

         (d) Expenses. The Loan Parties shall pay upon demand, the amount of any
and all reasonable expenses of the Secured Parties (including, without
limitation, the reasonable fees and

                                       12

<PAGE>

expenses of counsel) which any of the Secured Party may incur in connection with
the exercise or enforcement of any of their rights or interests hereunder.

         (e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
hereunder shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission). All such
notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the
earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii) if
delivered (A) by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the
relevant party hereto, (B) by certified or registered mail, four business days
after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid and (C) by facsimile, when sent and
receipt has been confirmed (which confirmation may be by telephone); provided,
however, that notices and other communications to the Collateral Agent shall not
be effective until actually received. In no event shall a voicemail message be
effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder. All written
notices shall be delivered, and any notices and other communications expressly
permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made, to the address,
facsimile number or telephone number specified on the signature pages hereto for
such party or to such other address, facsimile number or telephone number as
shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties.

         (f) Severability. Any provision of this Intercreditor Agreement which
is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity
without invalidating the remaining portions hereof or thereof or affecting the
validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

         (g) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

         (h) Entire Agreement; Governing Law. This Intercreditor Agreement
embodies the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto regarding
the subject matter hereof. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

          (i) Counterparts. This Intercreditor Agreement may be executed in any
 number of counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an
 original instrument, but all such counterparts together shall constitute one
 agreement.

                            [Signature Pages Follow]

                                       13

<PAGE>

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Intercreditor Agreement to
be duly executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers on the date and
year first above written.

BANK ONE, NA,
as Collateral Agent

By: /s/ Timothy K. Boyle
   -----------------------------------
Name:   Timothy K. Boyle
Title:  First Vice President

BANK ONE, NA,
 as Administrative Agent for and on behalf of the Senior Creditors

By: /s/ Timothy K. Boyle
   -----------------------------------
Name:   Timothy K. Boyle
Title:  First Vice President

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee for and on behalf of the Subordinated Creditors

By:
   ------------------------------------
Name:
Title:

ARDENT HEALTH SERVICES, INC.,
a Delaware corporation

By:
   ------------------------------------
Name:
Title:

<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Intercreditor Agreement to
be duly executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers on the date
and year first above written.

BANK ONE, NA,
as Collateral Agent

By:
   --------------------------------
Name:
Title:

BANK ONE, NA,
as Administrative Agent for and on behalf of the Senior Creditors

By:
   --------------------------------
Name:
Title:

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee for and on behalf of the Subordinated Creditors

By: /s/ Frank P. Leslie, III
   --------------------------------
Name: Frank P. Leslie, III
Title: Vice President

ARDENT HEALTH SERVICES, INC.,
a Delaware corporation

By:
   --------------------------------
Name:
Title:

<PAGE>

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Intercreditor Agreement to
be duly executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers on the date
and year first above written.

BANK ONE, NA,
as Collateral Agent

By:
   ---------------------------------
Name:
Title:

BANK ONE, NA,
as Administrative Agent for and on behalf of the Senior Creditors

By:
   ---------------------------------
Name:
Title:

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee for and on behalf of the Subordinated Creditors

By:
   ---------------------------------
Name:
Title:

ARDENT HEALTH SERVICES, INC.
a Delaware corporation

By: /s/ William P. Barnes
   ---------------------------------
Name: William P. Barnes
Title: Treasurer

<PAGE>
BHC ALHAMBRA HOSPITAL, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation
BHC BELMONT PINES HOSPITAL, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation
BHC CEDAR VISTA HOSPITAL, INC.,
a California corporation
BHC COLUMBUS HOSPITAL, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation
BHC FAIRFAX HOSPITAL, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation
BHC FOX RUN HOSPITAL, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation
BHC FREMONT HOSPITAL, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation
BHC GULF COAST MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation
BHC HEALTH SERVICES OF NEVADA, INC.,
a Nevada corporation
BHC HERITAGE OAKS HOSPITAL, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation
BHC HOSPITAL HOLDINGS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
BHC INTERMOUNTAIN HOSPITAL, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation
BHC LEBANON HOSPITAL, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation
BHC MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
BHC MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
BHC MANAGEMENT SERVICES OF INDIANA, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
BHC MANAGEMENT SERVICES OF KENTUCKY, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
BHC MANAGEMENT SERVICES OF NEW MEXICO, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
BHC MANAGEMENT SERVICES OF STREAMWOOD, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
BHC MEADOWS PARTNER, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
BHC MONTEVISTA HOSPITAL, INC.,
a Nevada corporation
BHC OF INDIANA, GENERAL PARTNERSHIP,
a Tennessee general partnership

By: /s/ William P. Barnes
   ---------------------------------------
Name: William P. Barnes
Title: Treasurer of each of the foregoing Grantors

[Signature Pages Follow]

<PAGE>

BHC OF NORTHERN INDIANA, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation

BHC PHYSICIAN SERVICES OF KENTUCKY, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company

BHC PINNACLE POINT HOSPITAL, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation

BHC PROPERTIES, INC.
a Tennessee corporation

BHC SIERRA VISTA HOSPITAL, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation

BHC SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS HOSPITAL, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation

BHC STREAMWOOD HOSPITAL, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation

BHC VALLE VISTA HOSPITAL, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation

BHC WINDSOR HOSPITAL, INC.,
an Ohio corporation

BLOOMINGTON MEADOWS, G.P.,
a Delaware general partnership

COLUMBUS HOSPITAL, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company

INDIANA PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTES, INC.,
a Delaware corporation

LEBANON HOSPITAL, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company

MESILLA VALLEY GENERAL PARTNERSHIP,
a New Mexico general partnership

MESILLA VALLEY HOSPITAL, INC.,
a New Mexico corporation

MESILLA VALLEY MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATES, INC.,
a New Mexico corporation

NORTHERN INDIANA HOSPITAL, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company

VALLE VISTA, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company

WILLOW SPRINGS, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company

AHS RESEARCH AND REVIEW, LLC,
a New Mexico limited liability company

BHC NORTHWEST PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company

By:  /s/ William P. Barnes
    ----------------------------------------------
Name:  William P. Barnes
Title: Treasurer of each of the foregoing Grantors

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