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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                         PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

      Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported) - February 19, 2002


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



         DELAWARE                       000-29816                 75-2816101
(State or other jurisdiction      (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)                                      Identification No.)


                  13455 Noel Road, Suite 2000                      75240
                         Dallas, Texas                           (Zip Code)
           (Address of principal executive offices)


                                 (972) 789-2700
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


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Item 5.  Other Events.


         On February 19, 2002, Triad Hospitals, Inc. issued the press release
attached as an exhibit to this current report on Form 8-K.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c) Exhibit.

         99.1  Press Release issued by Triad Hospitals, Inc. on February 19,
               2002.





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                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
Triad Hospitals, Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                            TRIAD HOSPITALS, INC.



                                            By: /s/ Donald P. Fay
                                                ---------------------------
                                                Donald P. Fay
                                                Executive Vice President,
                                                  Secretary and General Counsel

Date: February 19, 2002


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.           Description
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99.1                  Press Release issued by Triad Hospitals, Inc. on
                      February 19, 2002.




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