Document:

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                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.18

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as
of December 1, 2003 by and between AHS Management Company, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("the Company"), and R. Dirk Allison, an individual ("Employee").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to enter into this Agreement with Employee
and to provide him with the benefits set forth herein in recognition of the
valuable services he will render to the Company, and for the purposes evidenced
herein;

         WHEREAS, Employee is ready and willing to render the services provided
for, and on the terms and conditions set forth herein, and he is willing to
refrain from activities competitive with the business of the Company during the
term and after of this Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

         WHEREAS, in serving as an employee of the Company, Employee will
participate in the use and development of confidential proprietary information
about the Company, its customers and suppliers, and the methods used by the
Company and its employees in competition with other companies, as to which the
Company desires to protect fully its rights;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants and agreements herein set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         1.       Employment. The Company hereby employs Employee and Employee
accepts such employment with the Company, subject to the terms and conditions
set forth herein. Employee shall be employed as Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer and shall perform all duties and services incident to
such position, and such other similar duties and services as may be prescribed
by the Bylaws of the Company or established by the Chairman of the Board of
Directors or Chief Executive Officer of the Company, or its parent corporation
from time to time. During his employment hereunder, Employee shall devote his
best efforts and attention, on a full-time basis, to the performance of the
duties required of him as an employee of the Company.

         2.       Principal Office. Employee's principal office and normal place
of work shall be at the Company's principal executive offices in Nashville,
Tennessee ("Principal Office").

         3.       Compensation.

                  (a)      As compensation for services rendered by Employee
hereunder, Employee shall receive:

                           (1)      Salary. An annual salary of $400,000.00, or
such higher salary as shall be approved by the Board of Directors of the Company
("the Board") from time to time, which shall be payable in arrears in equal
monthly installments ("Salary").

                           (2)      Bonus. The Company shall pay Employee an
annual cash bonus in an amount to be determined by the Board based on whether
certain reasonable objectives established by the

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Board prior to the beginning of each Fiscal Year as set forth in the Company's
Incentive Compensation Plan have been met. Such bonus and objectives may be
stated in a written incentive compensation program which the Company intends to
qualify as "performance based compensation" described in Internal Revenue Code
section 162(m). The bonus payable during the first year, beginning January 1,
2004, shall be 75% of Employee's Salary if the Plan objectives have been met,
and 125% of 75% of Salary if the Plan is met and exceeded by 10% or more.

                           (3)      Fringe Benefits. Employee shall be entitled
during the term of this Agreement to such other benefits of employment with
Employer as are now or may hereafter be in effect for Employer's senior
executives with duties comparable to Employee including, without limitation, all
incentive and deferred compensation, pension, life and other insurance,
disability (insured and uninsured), medical and dental and other benefit plans
or programs, paid time off and stock option grants as approved by the Board of
Directors. Additionally, Employee shall be provided the opportunity to buy
additional life insurance Employee's expense.

                           (4)      Expenses. During the term of this Agreement,
Employer shall reimburse Employee promptly for all reasonable travel,
entertainment, parking, business meeting and similar expenditures in pursuance
and furtherance of Employer's business upon receipt of reasonable supporting
documentation as required by Employer's policies applicable to its officers and
other key employees generally. Until May 30, 2004, the Company will pay for (i)
Employee's and Employee's spouse's reasonable weekly travel expenses to/from
Dallas, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee, (ii) all reasonable temporary housing
expenses incurred including utilities and deposits, and (iii) all reasonable
moving expenses associated with Employee's relocation to Nashville on both a
temporary basis and when he permanently moves his residency to Nashville,
Tennessee, provided Employee follows the Company's expense reimbursement and
moving policies when claiming said reimbursement.

                           (5)      Withholdings. All amounts payable to
Employee hereunder shall be subject to such deductions or withholdings as are
required by law or the policies of the Employer or as may be authorized or
directed by Employee.

                  (b)      Benefits Review. Prior to the end of each fiscal year
of the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company shall review Employee's
salary and benefits payable hereunder. Any increases in salary or changes in
fringe benefits determined by the Board of Directors of the Company at such
annual review shall become effective the following month unless otherwise
determined by the Company. Employee understands and acknowledges that the
opportunity of an annual salary and benefit review by the Board shall not be
construed in any manner as an express or implied agreement by the Company to
raise or increase his salary or benefits.

                  (c)      Indemnification. This Agreement hereby incorporates
and makes a part of this agreement the Indemnification Agreement dated
contemporaneously herewith by and between Employee and Ardent Health Services
LLC. The provisions and rights guaranteed under that Agreement shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.

                  (d)      Employee Acceptance Bonus. Company will pay Employee
a total amount of $700,000.00, subject to appropriate withholdings, as a
one-time employment acceptance bonus.

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         4.       Confidential Information and Trade Secrets.

                  (a)      Trade Secrets. Employee recognizes that Employee's
position with the Company requires considerable responsibility and trust, and,
in reliance on Employee's loyalty, the Company may entrust Employee with highly
sensitive confidential, restricted and proprietary information involving Trade
Secrets and Confidential Information. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Trade
Secret" is any scientific or technical information, design, process, procedure,
formula or improvement that is valuable and not generally known to competitors
of the Company. "Confidential Information" is any data or information, other
than Trade Secrets, that is important, competitively sensitive, and not
generally known by the public, including, but not limited to, the Company's
business plan, acquisition targets, training manuals, product development plans,
pricing procedures, market strategies, internal performance statistics,
financial data, confidential personnel information concerning employees of the
Company, supplier data, operational or administrative plans, policy manuals, and
terms and conditions of contracts and agreements. The terms "Trade Secret" and
"Confidential Information" shall not apply to information which is (i) made
available to the general public without restriction by the Company, (ii)
obtained from a third party by Employee in the ordinary course of Employee's
employment by the Company, or (iii) required to be disclosed by Employee
pursuant to subpoena or other lawful process, provided that Employee notifies
the Company in a timely manner to allow the Company to appear to protect its
interests.

                  (b)      Non-disclosure. Except as required to perform
Employee's duties hereunder, Employee will not use or disclose any Trade Secrets
or Confidential Information of the Company during employment, or at any time
after termination of employment and prior to such time as they cease to be Trade
Secrets or Confidential Information through no act of Employee in violation of
this Agreement.

                  (c)      Material Surrender. Upon termination of Employee's
employment with Company, Employee will surrender to the Company all files,
correspondence, memoranda, notes, records, manuals or other documents or data
pertaining to the Company's business or Employee's employment (including all
copies thereof) however prepared and whether maintained in paper or electronic
format. Employee will also leave with the Company all materials involving any
Trade Secrets or Confidential Information of the Company. All such information
and materials, whether or not made or developed by Employee, shall be the sole
and exclusive property of the Company, and Employee hereby assigns to the
Company all of Employee's right, title and interest in and to any and all of
such information and materials.

         5.       Covenants. Employee shall be subject to the following
covenants and obligations:

                  (a)      Non-competition covenant. While employed by the
Company, Employee shall not compete or plan or prepare to compete with the
Company regarding the ownership of, investment in, management of or operation of
free standing hospitals that provide either medical surgical and/or behavioral
healthcare services ("Hospital"). Employee shall not compete with the Company
for a period of three (3) years following the termination of his employment,
within thirty (30) miles of any location where (i) the Company owned, operated
or managed any Hospital either on the date his employment terminates or at any
time within the immediately preceding Fiscal Year or (ii) the Board had approved
the potential or final acquisition of any Hospital prior to his termination and
Employee had knowledge of said approval.

                  (b)      Non-solicitation covenant. Following the termination
of Employee's employment with the Company, for a period equal to the term of the
non-competition covenant under Section 5(a), Employee shall not directly or
indirectly solicit the services of or otherwise induce or attempt to induce any
Company Employee to sever his/her employment relationship with the Company. For
purposes of this

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section "Company Employee" shall mean (i) any employee who performs or performed
(on the Termination Date or within the previous six (6) months of such date) any
of his/her services at the Company's Principal Office and (ii) any member of the
senior management staff of any line of hospital based healthcare business owned,
operated or managed by the Company. Prior to the initiation of any conduct
prohibited under this Section, Employee may request that the Company waive
application of this Section to said conduct. Granting of such request, however,
shall be at the Company's sole discretion.

                  (c)      Scope and Duration; Severability. The Company and
Employee understand and agree that the scope and duration of the covenants
contained in this Section 5 are reasonable both in time and geographical area
and are fairly necessary to protect the business of the Company. Except as
otherwise stated herein, such covenants shall survive the termination of
Employee's employment. It is further agreed that such covenants shall be
regarded as divisible and shall be operative as to time and geographical area to
the extent that they may be made so and, if any part of such covenants are
declared invalid or unenforceable, the validity and enforceability of the
remainder shall not be affected.

                  (d)      Assignment. Employee agrees that the covenants
contained in this Section 5 shall inure to the benefit of any successor or
assign of the Company, with the same force and effect as if such covenant had
been made by Employee with such successor or assign.

                  (e)      Exclusion. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 5, Employee's non-competition obligations shall not preclude Employee
from owning one percent (1%) or less of the voting power or common interest in
any publicly traded corporation conducting business activities in the healthcare
industry in competition with the Company or any affiliate.

                  (f)      Company. For purposes of this section 5, "Company"
shall mean Ardent Health Services LLC, Ardent Health Services, Inc., AHS
Management Company, Inc., Ardent Medical Services, Inc., and/or Behavioral
Healthcare Corporation.

         6.       Program Participation. Employee represents that he is, and
will for the term of this Agreement be eligible to participate in Medicare,
Medicaid, CHAMPUS, Tri-Care, and other federal health programs, and Employee
shall not have been sanctioned by the Health and Human Services Office of the
Inspector General, Cumulative Sanctions Report, or excluded by the General
Services Administration, as set forth on the List of Excluded Providers [see
www.dbhs.gov/progorg/org and www.arnet.gov/epis].

         7.       Specific Enforcement. Employee specifically acknowledges and
agrees that the restrictions set forth in Sections 4 and 5 hereof are reasonable
and necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the Company and that the
Company would not have entered into this Agreement in the absence of such
restrictions. Employee further acknowledges and agrees that any violation of the
provisions of Section 4 and 5 hereof will result in irreparable injury to the
Company, that the remedy at law for any violation or threatened violation of
such Sections will be inadequate and that in the event of any such breach, the
Company, in addition to any other remedies or damages available to it at law or
in equity, shall be entitled to temporary injunctive relief before trial from
any court of competent jurisdiction as a matter of course and to permanent
injunctive relief without the necessity of proving actual damages. The Company
shall also have available all remedies provided under state and federal
statutes, rules and regulations as well as any and all other remedies as may
otherwise be contractually or equitably available. In addition to any other
remedy herein granted or available to Company, either at law or in equity,
Employee shall forfeit and forever release any claim or right Employee may have
to any benefits remaining under this Agreement from the date Employee breached
section 5 of this Agreement. Any monetary damages sought by Company under this

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section shall not include the benefits forfeited under this section.

         8.       Term. This Agreement shall continue for three (3) years from
the date first written above ("Initial Term"), unless sooner terminated in the
manner set forth herein; provided, however, that following the Initial Term,
this Agreement shall automatically renew at the end of the Initial Term for
additional terms of one (1) year (collectively "the Term") unless either party
gives notice of termination to the other not later than thirty (30) days prior
to the annual anniversary of the end of the Initial Term (a "Notice of Non-
Renewal"). The date upon which this Agreement and Employee's employment
hereunder shall terminate, whether pursuant to the terms of this Section or
pursuant to any other provision of this Agreement shall hereafter be referred to
as the "Termination Date."

         9.       Non-renewal Termination. In the event this Agreement
terminates pursuant to a Notice of Non-Renewal, the Company shall have no
further obligation to Employee and Employee shall have no further rights or
obligations hereunder except that the Company shall be obligated to pay
Employee, as severance compensation, the salary and benefits set forth in
Sections 13(b) and (c) of this Agreement. Employee's obligations under Section 4
hereof shall survive the termination of this Agreement pursuant to a Notice of
Non-renewal by either party. Employee's obligations under Section 5 hereof shall
only apply for twelve (12) months if the Company is the non-renewing party, but
shall continue in full force and effect if Employee is the non-renewing party.

         10.      Termination upon Death of the Employee. In the event the
Employee dies during the term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
immediately terminate and neither the Employee nor the Company shall have any
further obligations hereunder, except that the Company shall continue to pay
Employee's estate his salary and benefits, in effect immediately prior to the
Termination Date, set forth in Section 3(a) of this Agreement, for the
remaining term of this Agreement.

         11.      Termination by the Company for Cause. The Company shall have
the right at any time to terminate Employee's employment immediately for cause.
The term "Cause" shall mean (i) Employee's willful refusal to perform the
reasonable duties of Employee's office delegated under Section 1 of this
Agreement, (ii) Employee's conviction of any crime punishable as a felony or
involving moral turpitude or fraud, or (iii) Employee's change in status under
Section 6 of this Agreement. Employee's obligations under Sections 4 and 5
hereof shall survive in full force and effect the termination of the Agreement
pursuant to this Section 11. In the event Employee's employment hereunder is
terminated in accordance with this Section, the Company shall have no further
obligation to make any payments to Employee hereunder except for unpaid salary
or unreimbursed expenses that have accrued but have not been paid as of the
Termination Date.

         12.      Termination without Cause.

                  (a)      In the event that Employee is terminated by the
Company without cause during the term hereof (which shall not include a
termination pursuant to Sections 9, 10, 11, 13, or 14,), the Company shall: (a)
pay Employee all bonuses and unreimbursed expenses owed to Employee that have
been incurred, but have not been paid as of the Termination Date; and (b) pay to
Employee, as severance compensation, the salary and benefits set forth in
Sections 13(b) and (c) of this Agreement. Employee's obligations under Section 4
hereof shall survive the termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section.
In the event of a termination pursuant to this section, Section 5 shall apply in
full force and effect for only twelve (12) months from the Termination Date.

                  (b)      In the event that Employee terminates his employment
with the Company

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without cause during the term hereof (which shall not include a termination
pursuant to Sections 9, 10, 11, 13, or 14), the Company shall only be obligated
to pay Employee any salary and unreimbursed expenses owed to Employee that have
been incurred but have not been paid as of the Termination Date. Employee's
obligations under Sections 4 and 5 hereof shall survive in full force and effect
the termination of the Agreement pursuant to this Section 12(b).

         13.      Termination upon a Change in Control. Employee shall have the
unilateral right, to be exercised or not in his sole discretion, to terminate
this Agreement under this Section 14 within one hundred eighty (180) days after
a Change in Control (as such term is hereinafter defined). Notwithstanding any
statement contained in this Agreement to the contrary (other than in Section
11), in the event of Employee's termination of employment for any reason within
one hundred eighty (180) days following a Change in Control, Employee shall be
entitled to the compensation and benefits described in Section 13(b) and (c).
Employee's obligations under Sections 4 and 5 hereof shall survive in full force
and effect the termination of the Agreement pursuant to this Section 13.

                  (a)      For purposes of this Agreement, a Change in Control
means the occurrence of any of the following events, provided that references to
the Company in this Section 13(a) shall be treated as a reference solely to AHS
Management Company, Inc., Ardent Health Services, Inc., and/or Ardent Health
Services LLC.

                           (1)      An acquisition (other than (i) directly from
the Company or (ii) by any Principal or a Related Party of a Principal) of any
voting securities of the Company (the "Voting Securities") by any "Person" (as
that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), immediately after which
such Person has "Beneficial Ownership" (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than fifty percent (50%) of the
combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting Securities;
provided, however, in determining whether a Change in Control has occurred,
Voting Securities which are acquired in a Non-Control Acquisition shall not
constitute an acquisition which would cause a Change in Control. A "Non-Control
Acquisition" shall mean an acquisition by (1) an employee benefit plan (or a
trust forming a part thereof) maintained by (A) the Company, or (B) any
corporation or other Person of which a majority of its voting power or its
voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by
the Company (for purposes of this definition, a "Subsidiary"), (2) the Company
or its Subsidiaries, or (3) any person in connection with a Non-Control
Transaction (as hereinafter defined);

                           (2)      The individuals who, as of the date of this
Agreement, are members of the Company's Board of Managers (the "Incumbent
Board"), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members
of the Company's Board of Managers; provided, however, that if the election, or
nomination for election by the Company's equity holders, of any new Manager was
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Board, such new
Manager shall, for purposes of this Agreement, be considered as a member of the
Incumbent Board; provided, further, however, that no individual shall be
considered a member of the Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed
office as a result of either an actual or threatened "Election Contest" (as
described in Rule 14a-ll promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or
threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other
than the Company's Board of Managers (a "Proxy Contest") including by reason of
any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest;
or

                           (3)      Approval by the holders of the Voting
Securities of the Company of:

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         (i)      A merger, consolidation or reorganization involving the
                  Company, unless such merger, consolidation or reorganization
                  is a Non-Control Transaction. A "Non-Control Transaction"
                  shall mean a merger, consolidation or reorganization of the
                  Company where:

                  a)       the holders of the Voting Securities of the Company,
                           immediately before such merger, consolidation or
                           reorganization, own directly or indirectly
                           immediately following such merger, consolidation or
                           reorganization, more than fifty percent (50%) of the
                           combined voting power of the outstanding voting
                           securities of the entity resulting from such merger
                           or consolidation or reorganization (the "Surviving
                           Entity") in substantially the same proportion as
                           their own ownership of the Voting Securities
                           immediately before such merger, consolidation or
                           reorganization; and

                  b)       the individuals who were members of the Incumbent
                           Board immediately prior to the execution of the
                           agreement providing for such merger, consolidation or
                           reorganization constitute at least a majority of the
                           members of the board of directors of the Surviving
                           Entity, or a corporation or entity beneficially
                           directly or indirectly owning a majority of the
                           Voting Securities of the Surviving Entity;

         (ii)     A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

         (iii)    An agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or
                  substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person
                  (other than a transfer to (i) a Subsidiary or (ii) any
                  Principal or Related Party of a Principal).

For purposes of this Section 14, the following defined terms have the following
meanings:

         "Principals" means (i) Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, IX, L.P., (ii)
FFC Partners II, L.P., (iii) BancAmerica Capital Investors I, L.P., (iv) any
investment fund under common control or management with any person in the
foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), and (v) any general partner or other
entity directly controlling or managing any person in the foregoing clauses (i)
through (iv).

         "Related Party " means:

                  (1)      any controlling stockholder, partner, member, 80% (or
         more) owned Subsidiary, or immediate family member (in the case of an
         individual) of any Principal; or

                  (2)      any trust, corporation, partnership or other entity,
         the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, owners or persons
         beneficially holding an 80% or more controlling interest of which
         consist of any one or more Principals and/or such other persons
         referred to in the immediately preceding clause (1).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur
solely because any Person (the "Subject Person") acquired Beneficial Ownership
of more than the permitted amount of the then outstanding Voting Securities as a
result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company which, by reducing
the number of Voting Securities then outstanding, increases the proportional
number of shares Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person, provided that if a
Change in Control would occur

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(but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of
Voting Securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition by the
Company, the Subject Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional
voting Securities which increases the percentage of the then outstanding Voting
Securities Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in Control
shall occur.

                  (b)      Severance Amount. Employee shall receive as severance
benefits under this Section 13 three (3) times the highest salary level in
effect for Employee at any time during the Term of the Agreement. Employee shall
also receive a cash amount equivalent of three (3) years of fringe benefits as
described in Section 3(a)(3) in effect as of the Termination Date. Employee
shall also be entitled to receive reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred
in making a successful claim for compensation and benefits hereunder, including
all costs of arbitration, mediation, or litigation, if necessary.

                  (c)      Schedule of Payments. The Company will make cash
payments due under this Section 14 in the manner described below following
Employee's termination of employment. All other amounts and allowances will be
provided or promptly paid upon submission of receipts or other evidence of
expenses eligible for reimbursement.

                           (1)      All cash and benefits will be paid over
thirty-six (36) months, beginning on the first day of the month following
termination of employment.

                           (2)      In the event of the death of Employee prior
to the payment of all cash due hereunder, all remaining payments may, at the
Company's sole discretion either continue to be paid in accordance with Section
13(c) or be made in a single sum to the Employee's surviving spouse. If Employee
is not married at the time of death, such cash payments may be made to
Employee's estate.

         14.      Disability of Employee.

                  (a)      In the event Employee becomes disabled during the
term of this Agreement, the Company will continue to pay the Employee according
to the compensation provisions of this Agreement during the period of his
disability, until such time as Employee's long term disability insurance
benefits become available. However, in the event Employee is disabled for more
than six (6) continuous months, the Company may terminate Employee's employment.
In this case, the compensation provided for under this Agreement will cease,
except for earned but unpaid Salary and Incentive Compensation Awards and other
benefits and unreimbursed expenses that would be payable on a pro-rated basis
for the fiscal year in which the disability occurred.

                  (b)      During the period the Employee is disabled but is
receiving payments of regular compensation described in this Agreement and as
long as he is physically and mentally able to do so, the Employee will furnish
information and assistance to the Company and from time to time will make
himself reasonably available to the Company to undertake assignments consistent
with his prior position with the Company and his physical and mental health. If
the Company fails to make a payment or provide a benefit required as part of the
Agreement, the Employee's obligation to furnish information and assistance will
end immediately.

         The term "Disability" shall mean the inability of Employee to perform
the duties of his employment due to physical or emotional incapacity or illness
(including, without limitation, alcohol or chemical dependency), where such
inability has continued or is expected to continue for more than 180 days in any
one (1) year period. In the event of a dispute, the determination of Disability
shall be made

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as follows: the Company and the Employee (or his executor or personal
representative, as the case may be) shall each appoint a physician competent in
the field of medicine to which such incapacity or illness relates, and two
physicians so selected shall select a third physician who shall be similarly
competent. The decision of a majority of such physicians as to the Disability of
Employee shall be binding on the parties hereto.

         15.      Assignment.

                  (a)      The rights and benefits of Employee under this
Agreement, other than accrued and unpaid amounts due under Section 3(a) hereof,
are personal to him and shall not be assignable. Discharge of Employee's
undertakings in Section 4(c) hereof shall be an obligation of Employee's
executors, administrators, or other legal representatives or heirs.

                  (b)      This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company
except to an affiliate of the Company, provided, however, that if the Company
shall merge or effect a share exchange with or into, or sell or otherwise
transfer substantially all its assets to, another corporation, the Company may
assign its rights hereunder to that corporation.

         16.      Notices. Any notice or other communications under this
Agreement shall be in writing, signed by the party making same, and shall be
delivered personally or sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:

         If to Employee:            R. Dirk Allison
                                    ---------------

         If to the Company:         AHS Management Company, Inc.
                                    Attention: General Counsel
                                    One Burton Hills Blvd. - Suite 250
                                    Nashville, Tennessee 37215

or to such other address as may hereafter be designated by either party hereto.
All such notices shall be deemed given on the date personally delivered or
mailed.

         17.      Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee, without giving
effect to the choice of law provisions of such State.

         18.      Arbitration and Waiver of Jury Trial. Any dispute among the
parties hereto shall be settled by arbitration in Nashville, Tennessee, in
accordance with the then applicable rules of the Model Employment Arbitration
Procedures of American Arbitration Association and judgment upon the award
rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The arbitrator
shall award all costs, legal expenses and fees to the successful party. The
Company and Employee each hereby waive any right to trial by jury of any dispute
arising under this Agreement.

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         19.      Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this
Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid, but
if any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity,
legality and enforceability for any such provisions in every other respect and
of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be in any way impaired.

         20.      Modification. No waiver or modification of this Agreement or
of any covenant, condition, or limitation herein contained shall be valid unless
in writing and duly executed by the party to be charged therewith and no
evidence of any waiver or modification shall be offered or received in evidence
of any proceeding, arbitration or litigation between the parties hereunder,
unless such waiver or modification is in writing, duly executed as aforesaid and
the parties further agree that the provisions of this section may not be waived
except as herein set forth.

         21.      Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement
of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein. There
are no restrictions, promises, covenants or undertakings, other than those
expressly set forth herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

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         22.      Employer Policies, Regulations and Guidelines for Employee.
Employer may issue policies, rules, regulations, guidelines, procedures or other
informational material, whether in the form of handbooks, memoranda, or
otherwise, relating to its employees. These materials are general guidelines for
Employee's information and shall not be construed to alter, modify or amend this
Agreement for any purpose whatsoever.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement on the
day and year first above written.

                                    AHS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC.

                                    By:    /s/ David T. Vandewater
                                         ------------------------------

                                    Title:   President and CEO
                                         ------------------------------

                                    EMPLOYEE

                                    /s/ R. Dirk Allison
                                    ----------------------------------
                                    R. Dirk Allison

                                       11<PAGE>
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.19

                           INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

         This Indemnification Agreement is made effective as of the 1st day of
December, 2003, between Ardent Health Services LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the "Company"), and R. Dirk Allison (the "Indemnitee").

                                  WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, it is essential to the Company and its stockholders to
attract and retain qualified and capable directors, officers, employees, agents
and fiduciaries; and

         WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Company to indemnify its directors
and officers so as to provide them with the maximum possible protection
permitted by law; and

         WHEREAS, in recognition of Indemnitee's need for protection against
personal liability in order to induce Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve
the Company in an effective manner, and, in the case of directors and officers,
to supplement the Company's directors' and officers' liability insurance
coverage, the Company wishes to provide the Indemnitee with the benefits
contemplated by this Agreement; and

         WHEREAS, as a result of the provision of such benefits Indemnitee has
agreed to serve or to continue to serve the Company;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

         1.       Definitions. The following terms, as used herein, shall have
the following respective meanings:

                  (a)      An Affiliate: of a specified Person is a Person who
directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is
controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified. The term
Associate used to indicate a relationship with any Person shall mean (i) any
corporation or organization (other than the Company or a Subsidiary) of which
such Person is an officer or partner or is, directly, or indirectly, the
Beneficial Owner of ten (10) percent or more of any class of Equity Securities,
(ii) any trust or other estate in which such Person has a substantial
beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a
similar fiduciary capacity (other than an Employee Plan Trustee), (iii) any
Relative of such Person, or (iv) any officer or director of any corporation
controlling or controlled by such Person.

                  (b)      Beneficial Ownership: shall be determined, and a
Person shall be the Beneficial Owner of all securities which such Person is
deemed to own beneficially, pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or any
successor rule or statutory provision), or, if said Rule 13d-3 shall be
rescinded and there shall be no successor rule or statutory provision thereto,
pursuant to said Rule 13d-3 as in effect on the date hereof; provided, however,
that a Person shall, in any event, also be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of
any Voting Shares: (A) of which such Person or

<PAGE>
any of its Affiliates or Associates is, directly or indirectly, the Beneficial
Owner, or (B) of which such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has
(i) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only
after the passage of time), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
warrants, or options, or otherwise, or (ii) sole or shared voting or investment
power with respect thereto pursuant to any agreement, arrangement,
understanding, relationship or otherwise (but shall not be deemed to be the
Beneficial Owner of any Voting Shares solely by reason of a revocable proxy
granted for a particular meeting of stockholders, pursuant to a public
solicitation of proxies for such meeting, with respect to shares of which
neither such Person nor any such Affiliate or Associate is otherwise deemed the
Beneficial Owner), or (C) of which any other Person is, directly or indirectly,
the Beneficial Owner if such first mentioned Person or any of its Affiliates or
Associates acts with such other Person as a partnership, syndicate or other
group pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose
of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any shares of capital stock of
the Company; and provided further, however, that (i) no director or officer of
the Company, nor any Associate or Affiliate of any such director or officer,
shall, solely by reason of any or all of such directors and officers acting in
their capacities as such, be deemed for any purposes hereof, to be the
Beneficial Owner of any Voting Shares of which any other such director or
officer (or any Associate or Affiliate thereof) is the Beneficial Owner and
(ii) no trustee of an employee stock ownership or similar plan of the Company
or any Subsidiary ("Employee Plan Trustee") or any Associate or Affiliate of
any such Trustee, shall, solely by reason of being an Employee Plan Trustee or
Associate or Affiliate of an Employee Plan Trustee, be deemed for any purposes
hereof to be the Beneficial Owner of any Voting Shares held by or under any
such plan.

                  (c)      A Change in Control: shall be deemed to have
occurred if (A) any Person (other than (i) the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii)
any pension, profit sharing, employee stock ownership or other employee benefit
plan of the Company or any Subsidiary or any trustee of or fiduciary with
respect to any such plan when acting in such capacity, or (iii) any Person who
is as of the date and time of this Agreement the Beneficial Owner of 20% or
more of the total voting power of the Voting Shares) is or becomes, after the
date of this Agreement, the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the total voting
power of the Voting Shares, (B) during any period of two consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of
Directors of the Company and any new director whose election or appointment by
the Board of Directors or nomination or recommendation for election by the
Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of
the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning
of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so
approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof, or (C) the
stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company
with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would
result in the Voting Shares of the Company outstanding immediately prior
thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
converted into Voting Shares of the surviving entity) at least 80% of the total
voting power represented by the Voting Shares of the Company or such surviving
entity outstanding, or the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of
complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition
by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets.

                                       2
<PAGE>
                  (d)      Claim: means any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit, arbitration or proceeding, or any inquiry or investigation,
whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise, that Indemnitee
in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any such action, suit,
arbitration or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative,
investigative or other, or any appeal therefrom.

                  (e)      Equity Security: shall have the meaning given to
such term under Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on the date hereof.

                  (f)      D&O Insurance: means any valid directors' and
officers' liability insurance policy maintained by the Company for the benefit
of the Indemnitee, if any.

                  (g)      Determination: means a determination, and
"Determined" means a matter which has been determined based on the facts known
at the time, by: (i) a majority vote of disinterested directors, even though
less than an quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by
majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if
there are no such disinterested directors or if such disinterested directors so
direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or, in the event
there has been a Change in Control, by (A) Special Independent Counsel (in a
written opinion) selected by Indemnitee as set forth in Section 6, or (B) the
Board of Directors of the Company or of the ultimate parent entity of the
Company as set forth in Section 6, or (iii) a majority of the disinterested
stockholders of the Company, or (iv) a final adjudication by a court of
competent jurisdiction.

                  (h)      Excluded Claim: means any payment for Losses or
Expenses in connection with any Claim: (i) based upon or attributable to
Indemnitee gaining in fact any personal profit or advantage to which Indemnitee
is not entitled; or (ii) for the return by Indemnitee of any remuneration paid
to Indemnitee without the previous approval of the stockholders of the Company
which is illegal; or (iii) for an accounting of profits in fact made from the
purchase or sale by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning
of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar
provisions of any state law; or (iv) resulting from Indemnitee's knowingly
fraudulent, dishonest or willful misconduct; or (v) the payment of which by the
Company under this Agreement is not permitted by applicable law.

                  (i)      Expenses: means any reasonable expenses incurred by
Indemnitee as a result of a Claim or Claims made against Indemnitee for
Indemnifiable Events including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and all
other costs, expenses and obligations paid or incurred in connection with
investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on
appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness in or participate in any Claim
relating to any Indemnifiable Event.

                  (j)      Fines: means any fine, penalty or, with respect to
an employee benefit plan, any excise tax or penalty assessed with respect
thereto.

                  (k)      Indemnifiable Event: means any event or occurrence,
occurring prior to or after the date of this Agreement, related to the fact
that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, trustee, agent or
fiduciary of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or is or

                                       3
<PAGE>
was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee,
trustee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of anything done
or not done by Indemnitee, including, but not limited to, any breach of duty,
neglect, error, misstatement, misleading statement, omission, or other act done
or wrongfully attempted by Indemnitee, or any of the foregoing alleged by any
claimant, in any such capacity.

                  (1)      Losses: means any amounts or sums which Indemnitee
is legally obligated to pay as a result of a Claim or Claims made against
Indemnitee for Indemnifiable Events including, without limitation, damages,
judgments and sums or amounts paid in settlement of a Claim or Claims, and
Fines.

                  (m)      Person: means any individual, partnership,
corporation, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
association, joint venture, governmental authority or other entity of whatever
nature.

                  (n)      Relative: means a Person's spouse, parents,
children, siblings, mothers- and father-in-law, sons- and daughters-in-law, and
brothers- and sisters-in-law.

                  (o)      Reviewing Party: means any appropriate person or
body consisting of a member or members of the Company's Board of Directors or
any other person or body appointed by the Board (including the Special
Independent Counsel referred to in Section 6) who is not a party to the
particular Claim for which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification.

                  (p)      Subsidiary: means any corporation of which fifty
percent of any class of Equity Security is owned, directly or indirectly, by
the Company.

                  (q)      Voting Shares: means any issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors.

         2.       Basic Indemnification Agreement. In consideration of, and as
an inducement to, the Indemnitee rendering valuable services to the Company,
the Company agrees that in the event Indemnitee is or becomes a party to or
witness or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or
witness or other participant in, a Claim by reason of (or arising in part out
of) an Indemnifiable Event, the Company will advance Expenses to and indemnify
Indemnitee to the fullest extent authorized by law, against any and all
Expenses and Losses (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid
or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses and Losses) of
such Claim, whether or not such Claim proceeds to judgment or is settled or
otherwise is brought to a final disposition, subject in each case, to the
further provisions of this Agreement.

         3.       Limitations on Indemnification. Notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 2, Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless
from any Losses or Expenses (a) which have been Determined, as provided herein,
to constitute an Excluded Claim; (b) to the extent Indemnitee is indemnified by
the Company and has actually received payment pursuant to the Limited Liability
Company Agreement of the Company (the "LLC Agreement"), D&O Insurance, or
otherwise; or (c) other than pursuant to the last sentence of Section 4(d) or

                                       4
<PAGE>
Section 13, in connection with any Claim initiated by Indemnitee, unless the
Company has joined in or the Board of Directors has authorized such Claim.

         4.       Indemnification Procedures.

                  (a)      Promptly after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of
any Claim, Indemnitee shall, if indemnification with respect thereto may be
sought from the Company under this Agreement, notify the Company of the
commencement thereof, and Indemnitee agrees further not to make any admission
or effect any settlement with respect to such Claim without the consent of the
Company, except any Claim with respect to which the Indemnitee has undertaken
the defense in accordance with the second to last sentence of Section 4(d).

                  (b)      If, at the time of the receipt of such notice, the
Company has D&O Insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of
the commencement of Claim to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set
forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all
necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of
Indemnitee, all Losses and Expenses payable as a result of such Claim.

                  (c)      To the extent the Company does not, at the time of
the Claim have applicable D&O Insurance, or if a Determination is made that any
Expenses arising out of such Claim will not be payable under the D&O Insurance
then in effect, the Company shall be obligated to pay the Expenses of any Claim
in advance of the final disposition thereof and the Company, if appropriate,
shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Claim, with counsel
satisfactory to Indemnitee, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice
of its election so to do. After delivery of such notice, the Company will not
be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any legal or other Expenses
subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such defense other
than reasonable Expenses of investigation; provided that Indemnitee shall have
the right to employ its counsel in such Claim but the fees and expenses of such
counsel incurred after delivery of notice from the Company of its assumption of
such defense shall be at the Indemnitee's expense; provided further that if:
(i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by
the Company; (ii) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be
a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any
such defense; or (iii) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to
assume the defense of such action, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
shall be at the expense of the Company. In addition, Indemnitee shall have the
right to appeal any Determination to a court of competent jurisdiction, and if
successful shall be entitled to receive indemnification against and for Losses
and Expenses incurred in connection with such appeal.

                  (d)      All payments on account of the Company's
indemnification obligations under this Agreement shall be made within thirty
(30) days of Indemnitee's written request therefor unless a Determination is
made that the Claims giving rise to Indemnitee's request are Excluded Claims or
otherwise not payable under this Agreement, provided that all payments on
account of the Company's obligation to pay Expenses under Section 4(c) of this
Agreement prior to the final disposition of any Claim shall not be subject to
any such Determination but shall be subject to Section 4(e) of this Agreement.
In the event the Company takes the position that the Indemnitee is not entitled
to indemnification in connection with the proposed

                                       5
<PAGE>
settlement of any Claim, the Indemnitee shall have the right at its own expense
to undertake defense of any such Claim, insofar as such proceeding involves
Claims against the Indemnitee, by written notice given to the Company within
ten (10) days after the Company has notified the Indemnitee in writing of its
contention that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification. If it is
subsequently determined in connection with such proceeding that the
Indemnifiable Events are not Excluded Claims and that the Indemnitee,
therefore, is entitled to be indemnified under the provisions of Section 2
hereof, the Company shall promptly indemnify the Indemnitee.

                  (e)      Indemnitee hereby expressly undertakes and agrees to
reimburse the Company for all Losses and Expenses paid by the Company in
connection with any Claim against Indemnitee in the event and only to the
extent that a Determination shall have been made by a court of competent
jurisdiction in a decision from which there is no further right to appeal that
Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company for such Losses and
Expenses because the Claim is an Excluded Claim or because Indemnitee is
otherwise not entitled to payment under this Agreement.

         5.       Settlement. The Company shall have no obligation to indemnify
Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any Claim
effected without the Company's prior written consent. The Company shall not
settle any Claim in which it takes the position that Indemnitee is not entitled
to indemnification in connection with such settlement without the consent of
the Indemnitee, nor shall the Company settle any Claim in any manner which
would impose any Fine or any obligation on Indemnitee, without Indemnitee's
written consent. Neither the Company nor Indemnitee shall unreasonably withhold
their consent to any proposed settlement.

         6.       Change in Control; Extraordinary Transactions. The Company
and Indemnitee agree that if there is a Change in Control of the Company (other
than a Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Company's
Board of Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in
Control), then all Determinations thereafter with respect to the rights of
Indemnitee to be paid Losses and Expenses under this Agreement shall be made
only by a special independent counsel (the "Special Independent Counsel")
selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld) or by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Company and
the Indemnitee agree that if there is a Change of Control which has been
approved by a majority of the Company's Board of Directors who were directors
immediately prior to such Change of Control then all Determinations thereafter
with respect to the rights of Indemnitee to be paid Losses and Expenses under
this Agreement shall be made by a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested
directors of the Company or, if the Company is a subsidiary of any other
Person, then by a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors of the
ultimate parent entity of the Company, or, in either case, by a court of
competent jurisdiction. The Company shall pay the reasonable fees of such
Special Independent Counsel and shall indemnify such Special Independent
Counsel against any and all reasonable expenses (including reasonable
attorneys' fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to
this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

                                       6
<PAGE>
         The Company covenants and agrees that, in the event of a Change in
Control of the sort set forth in clause (B) of Section l(c), the Company will
use its best efforts (a) to have the obligations of the Company under this
Agreement expressly assumed by the surviving, purchasing or succeeding entity,
or (b) otherwise to adequately provide for the satisfaction of the Company's
obligations under this Agreement, in a manner reasonably acceptable to the
Indemnitee.

         7.       No Presumption. For purposes of this Agreement, the
termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or
without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or
its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that Indemnitee did
not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or
that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable
law.

         8.       Non-exclusivity, Duration, Etc. The rights of the Indemnitee
hereunder shall be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under
the LLC Agreement, applicable law, any vote of stockholders or disinterested
directors or otherwise, both as to action in the Indemnitee's official capacity
and as to action in any other capacity by holding such office, and the rights
and obligations under this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect
after the Indemnitee ceases to serve the Company as a director, officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary, and for so long as the Indemnitee shall be
subject to any Claim by reason of (or arising in part out of) an Indemnifiable
Event and until all applicable statutes of limitation have expired. To the
extent that a change in the applicable laws of the State of Delaware (whether
by statute or judicial decision) permits greater indemnification by agreement
than would be afforded currently under the LLC Agreement and this Agreement, it
is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this
Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.

         9.       Liability Insurance. To the extent the Company maintains an
insurance policy or policies providing directors' and officers' liability
insurance, Indemnitee, if an officer or director of the Company, shall be
covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to
the maximum extent of the coverage available for any director or officer of the
Company.

         10.      Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement,
the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the
rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and
shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the
execution of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to
bring suit to enforce such rights.

         11.      Partial Indemnity, Etc. If Indemnitee is entitled under any
provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a
portion of the Expenses and Losses of a Claim but not, however, for the total
amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the
portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled. Moreover, notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee has been
successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any or all Claims relating
in whole or in part to any Indemnifiable Event or in defense of any issue or
matter therein, including dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee shall be
indemnified against all

                                       7
<PAGE>
Expenses incurred in connection therewith. In connection with any Determination
as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder the burden of
proof shall be on the Company to establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled.

         12.      Liability of Company. The Indemnitee agrees that neither the
stockholders nor the directors nor any officer, employee, representative or
agent of the Company shall be personally liable for the satisfaction of the
Company's obligations under this Agreement and the Indemnitee shall look solely
to the assets of the Company for satisfaction of any claims hereunder.

         13.      Enforcement.

                  (a)      Indemnitee's right to indemnification and other
rights under this Agreement shall be specifically enforceable by Indemnitee
only in the state or Federal courts of the States of California, Delaware, New
York or Tennessee and shall be enforceable notwithstanding any adverse
Determination by the Company's Board of Directors, independent legal counsel,
the Special Independent Counsel or the Company's stockholders and no such
Determination shall create a presumption that Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified hereunder. In any such action, the Company shall have the burden of
proving that indemnification is not required under this Agreement.

                  (b)      In the event that any action is instituted by
Indemnitee under this Agreement, or to enforce or interpret any of the terms of
this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all court costs and
reasonable expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, incurred by Indemnitee
with respect to such action, unless the court determines that each of the
material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for such action were not made
in good faith or were frivolous.

         14.      Severability. In the event that any provision of this
Agreement is determined by a court to require the Company to do or to fail to
do an act which is in violation of applicable law, such provision (including
any provision within a single section, paragraph or sentence) shall be limited
or modified in its application to the minimum extent necessary to avoid a
violation of law, and, as so limited or modified, such provision and the
balance of this Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with their terms
to the fullest extent permitted by law.

         15.      Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to
agreements made and to be performed entirely within such State, without
reference to the choice of law provisions of such State.

         16.      Consent to Jurisdiction. The Company and the Indemnitee each
hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the States of
California, Delaware, New York and Tennessee for all purposes in connection
with any action or proceeding which arises out of or relates to this Agreement
and agree that any action instituted under this Agreement shall be brought only
in the state and Federal courts of the States of California, Delaware, New York
and Tennessee.

                                       8
<PAGE>
         17.      Notices. All notices, or other communications required or
permitted hereunder shall be sufficiently given for all purposes if in writing
and personally delivered, telegraphed, telexed, sent by facsimile transmission
or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, with postage
prepaid addressed as follows, or to such other address as the parties shall
have given notice of pursuant hereto:

                  (a)      If to the Company, to:

                           Ardent Health Services LLC
                           One Burton Hills Boulevard, Suite 250
                           Nashville, Tennessee 37215
                           Attention: General Counsel

                  (b)      If to the Indemnitee, to:

                           Mr. R. Dirk Allison
                           Ardent Health Services LLC
                           One Burton Hills Boulevard, Suite 250
                           Nashville, TN 37215

         18.      Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts,
each of which shall be an original and all of which, when taken together, shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

         19.      Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be (i) binding
upon all successors and assigns of the Company, including any direct or
indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, and (ii) shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successors and assigns, heirs,
and personal or legal representatives of Indemnitee.

         20.      Amendment; Waiver. No amendment, modification, termination or
cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless made in a writing
signed by each of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of
this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other
provision hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a
continuing waiver.

                                       9
<PAGE>
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Indemnitee have executed this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

                                        ARDENT HEALTH SERVICES LLC

                                        By: /s/ David T. Vandewater
                                            -----------------------------------
                                        Name: David T. Vandewater
                                              ---------------------------------
                                        Title: President and CEO
                                               --------------------------------

                                        INDEMNITEE

                                        By: /s/ R. Dirk Allison
                                            -----------------------------------
                                        Name: R. Dirk Allison

                                       10

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