Calculate the 2003 dividend payout ratio and operating income.

ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	46,134			$	14,648
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $66,875 in 2003 and $64,762 in 2002			111,957				109,948
Inventory of supplies			18,424				19,203
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			26,401				40,023
Total current assets			202,916				183,822
Property and equipment, net			460,031				440,358
Goodwill and other assets			346,178				348,319
		$	1,009,125			$	972,499
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	16,343			$	19,735
Accrued salaries and benefits			28,740				24,478
Other accrued expenses			14,238				12,877
Current portion of long-term debt			743				974
Other current liabilities			2,749				4,947
Total current liabilities			62,813				63,011
Long-term debt, less current portion			447,956				460,370
Other liabilities			51,483				35,916
Stockholders equity:
Common stock - 150,000,000 shares authorized, 48,841,157 shares and 48,581,549 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively			305,687				303,635
Retained earnings			141,186				109,567
Total stockholders equity			446,873				413,202
		$	1,009,125			$	972,499

PROVINCE HEALTHCARE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (in thousands)

		Year Ended December 31,
		2003				2002
Revenues:
Net patient revenue		$	735,841			$	649,954
Other			26,137				23,279
			761,978				673,233
Expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits			287,466				266,651
Purchased services			69,388				70,205
Supplies used in operations			95,675				84,524
Provision for doubtful accounts			72,678				53,059
Rentals and leases			9,323				8,592
Depreciation and amortization			37,753				32,313
Other operating expenses			96,568				77,341
Interest expense			27,094				21,242
Total expenses			695,945				613,927
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes			66,033				59,306
Income taxes			23,345				23,731
Income from continuing operations			42,688				35,575
Discontinued operations, net of tax:
(Loss) earnings from operations			(2,117	)			537
Loss on sale of Glades General Hospital			(8,952	)
			(11,069	)			537
Net income		$	31,619			$	36,112

E Earnings per share		$	0.65	$	0.75