PROMEDCO MANAGEMENT CO
10-K, 2000-03-30
OFFICES & CLINICS OF DOCTORS OF MEDICINE
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K

                ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

                         THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                    For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999

                         Commission File Number 0-29172

                           PROMEDCO MANAGEMENT COMPANY

           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                   Delaware                                  75-2529809
          (State or other jurisdiction of                  (I.R.S. Employer
          incorporation or organization)                Identification Number)

          801 Cherry Street, Suite 1450
          Fort Worth, Texas                                      76102
           (Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)

          Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (817) 335-5035

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, $.01
par value

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant  was required to file such  reports) and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES X . NO .

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be contained,
to the best of  registrant's  knowledge,  in  definitive  proxy  or  information
statements  incorporated  by  reference  in Part  III of this  Form  10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

         The  aggregate  market value of the  registrant's  Common Stock held by
non-affiliates  of the registrant as of February 17, 2000 (computed by reference
to  the  closing  price  of  such  stock  on the  Nasdaq  National  Market)  was
$50,050,825.

         As of February 17,  2000,  there were  22,287,688  shares of our common
stock outstanding.

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

             DOCUMENT                                      WHERE INCORPORATED

Portions of our definitive proxy statement
for our 2000 annual meeting of stockholders                     Part III

================================================================================



<PAGE>



                           PROMEDCO MANAGEMENT COMPANY

                                    FORM 10-K

                                Table of Contents
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Item                                                                                                           Page
<S>     <C>                                                                                                 <C>
                                     Part I

 1       Business...........................................................................................   1
 2       Properties.........................................................................................  10
 3       Legal Proceedings..................................................................................  10
 4       Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders................................................  10

                                     Part II

 5       Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters..............................  11
 6       Selected Financial Data............................................................................  12
 7       Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
         Operations.........................................................................................  13
 8       Financial Statements...............................................................................  21
 9       Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial
         Disclosure.........................................................................................  21

                                    Part III

10       Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.................................................  22
11       Executive Compensation.............................................................................  22
12       Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.....................................  22
13       Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.....................................................  22

                                     Part IV

14       Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K....................................  23
</TABLE>





<PAGE>



                                        5

                                     PART I

Item 1.  Business

General

         We are a medical  services  company  that manages and  coordinates  the
delivery of  healthcare  in non-urban  communities.  We currently  operate in 25
communities  throughout the United States,  and we are a leading  coordinator of
medical  services in each of these local  markets.  Our markets  have an average
population of approximately  150,000 and average annual healthcare  expenditures
of approximately $150 million.

         We believe non-urban  communities offer an excellent opportunity for us
to capture a substantial  portion of the local healthcare  expenditures and thus
expand our  business.  This is because our target  markets  typically  have both
fewer  healthcare  providers and a lower HMO penetration  rate than larger urban
areas.  We  capitalize  on  this  opportunity  by  affiliating  with  a  leading
(typically the largest) medical group in each community,  which then becomes the
platform from which we expand our market share. Our non-urban focus also enables
us to diversify our business among a broad base of markets.  Only one community,
Champaign, Illinois, accounted for more than 10% of our net revenue in 1999.

         We use  medical  groups as our  platform  for two  reasons.  First,  we
believe these groups,  as the main source of referrals for all medical services,
are the most knowledgeable  about referral patterns and are in the best position
to capture a substantial portion of their communities'  healthcare  expenditures
and  influence  the quality of care.  Nationwide,  according  to the Health Care
Financing  Administration,  physician  services account for approximately 20% of
all healthcare expenditures,  and physicians make referrals for treatments (such
as drugs,  surgeries and other  procedures)  that account for an additional 60%.
Second, we believe the medical group offers the optimal outpatient setting for a
variety of new ancillary  services.  Technological  advances in medical devices,
surgical  techniques  and drugs  continue to shift the delivery point of various
procedures from inpatient settings to less costly outpatient settings.

         We believe  primary care  physicians  are, and will continue to be, the
principal point of access in the healthcare  system and are thus critical to our
ability to consolidate the delivery of a community's healthcare services.  About
65%  of  our  physicians  are  primary  care  providers,  which  include  family
practitioners, general internists, pediatricians, obstetrician/gynecologists and
urgent-care physicians.  On average, our groups include approximately 29% of the
primary care physicians in their communities.  In total, there are approximately
830 physicians and 155 mid-level  providers,  primarily physician assistants and
nurse practitioners, in our affiliated medical groups.

         We seek to expand our leading market  positions by adding services that
are already in demand within each market, but have historically been referred by
our affiliated physicians to other unaffiliated  providers.  In addition, we add
new  physicians  to our  medical  groups  from  within  our  markets,  including
specialists who are already  receiving  referrals from the affiliated  group, as
well as  physicians  from  other  communities.  Where  appropriate,  we may also
leverage our physician  base by augmenting it with  mid-level  providers who can
increase the productivity of the physicians significantly.

         We have  consistently  demonstrated  our  ability  to  implement  these
community-level  improvements  since we began  operations  in 1995. We have been
successful in executing our strategy due to our disciplined selection of markets
and collaborative planning process with our affiliated physicians.  In total, we
have added over 50  ancillary  services in our  communities.  We have also added
over 180 physicians to our current communities compared with the staffing levels
on the date of affiliation.

         In addition to our core market strategy,  we have undertaken select new
initiatives  to expand our  presence  in our  communities  and  capture a larger
portion of healthcare expenditures.  These include the November 1999 affiliation
with a clinical  research site management  organization and an investment in two
ambulatory surgery centers.  The aim of these initiatives is to further leverage
our base of physicians  and strong market  positions to generate a higher return
on capital and further diversify our revenue stream.

Development and Expansion

    New Market Development

         The process by which we enter new markets is as follows:

         We perform  substantial  research and analyses to identify our priority
markets, which are generally communities with the following characteristics:

o        populations averaging approximately 30,000 to 500,000;

o        annual healthcare expenditures of approximately $36.0 million to $600.0
         million;

o        less than 20% HMO penetration; and

o        fewer healthcare providers and systems.

         In addition,  we consider  other market  criteria such as the number of
physicians   relative  to  demand,   Medicare   payment  rates,   medical  group
competition,   proximity  to  other  affiliated  groups,  number  of  hospitals,
demographics,  population  growth and the likelihood of  significant  future HMO
growth.

         From a pool  of over  1,200  communities  meeting  our  primary  market
criteria,  we prioritize our  development  activities  among those with the most
favorable   characteristics.   Within  a   community   ranking   high  in  these
characteristics, we initiate discussions with a leading medical group, typically
the  largest in the  community,  in order to assess our ability to work with the
group in implementing our market expansion strategy. We look for groups that are
well  established,  have a reputation for providing  high-quality  care and have
strong leadership committed to growth.

         If our  initial  discussions  with a medical  group  indicate  a strong
potential for market  expansion,  we conduct site visits,  analyze financial and
other data and conduct an extensive due diligence investigation into the group's
operations,  leadership  and commitment to long-term  growth.  If the outcome of
this  investigation is favorable,  we prepare a comprehensive  business plan for
presentation  to the group,  along with a proposal to  affiliate  with the group
through a long-term service agreement.

         Only  if the  group  is in  substantial  agreement  with  our  proposed
business  plan  for  its  continued  operation  and  expansion  do  we  complete
negotiations of the terms of the affiliation. Since 1995 we have affiliated with
medical  groups in 25  communities.  We are  continuously  seeking  to enter new
communities and engage in varying stages of discussions with medical groups.

    Same Market Expansion

         Once we have  affiliated  with a medical group in a new  community,  we
immediately begin  implementation of the business plan developed for the market,
focusing  on  capturing  an  increasing  share  of  the  community's  healthcare
expenditures  through the addition of  ancillary  services  and  recruitment  of
additional physicians and mid-level providers.

         Ancillary Services.  Technological progress has resulted in significant
advances in medical  diagnostic and  therapeutic  equipment.  In radiology,  for
example, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear studies
are now  regularly  performed in outpatient  settings.  In  cardiology,  complex
diagnostic  procedures such as cardiac  catheterization have moved to ambulatory
settings.  In  addition,  new  pharmaceuticals  allow more  patients  to receive
advanced  treatments  outside of the hospital.  As a result, a growing number of
diseases can now be diagnosed and treated in outpatient office settings.

         We believe there is significant  opportunity for us to increase our net
revenue by taking  advantage of the shift of patient care to the office  setting
and capturing  revenue from ancillary  services that our groups would  otherwise
refer  to  others.  Unlike  other  providers  of  outpatient  ancillary  medical
services,  such as hospitals and diagnostic  imaging centers,  a multi-specialty
medical group has an assured source of referrals for ancillary  services that it
provides directly to its patients.

         The addition of ancillary  services and  specialists to our groups also
helps us  maintain  a high  level  of  quality  of  healthcare  services  in the
community.  It enhances  the  convenience  to  patients  that is inherent in the
multi-specialty  group. It allows a physician to more closely coordinate patient
care by ordering and supervising these services from a single location.  In many
cases, a physician can immediately review diagnostic results and order necessary
follow-up  services.  In addition,  the  multi-specialty  medical  group setting
allows for cross-disciplinary consultation and care coordination.

         In evaluating the feasibility of adding  ancillary  services at each of
our  affiliated  group  clinics,  we  consider  the  extent  to which  the group
currently refers its patients to outside  providers of the service,  the cost of
the required  equipment and the expected return on the required  investment.  In
total,  we have added over 50  ancillary  services  in our  communities.  For
groups that have been  affiliated  with us for longer  than one year,  ancillary
services represent approximately 22% of total revenue which is up from a typical
starting point of 15% to 16% at the time of affiliation.

         Provider  Recruitment.  We seek to further  increase our net revenue by
recruiting   additional  primary  care  physicians,   selected  specialists  and
mid-level providers to join our groups.  Additions of specialists are based upon
analyses  of the  primary  care group  physicians'  patterns  of referral to the
particular specialty,  as well as demand for the specialty within the community.
Mid-level  providers  can  significantly   increase  physician  productivity  by
enabling them to treat a greater number of patients.  These  professionals  also
enhance  the  quality  of  care  provided,  by  performing  numerous  procedures
otherwise  performed  by the  physicians  and  permitting  a  greater  degree of
personal  attention  to  patients.  To date,  we have  increased  the  number of
physicians in our medical groups by an average of 28%.

    Managing and Coordinating Care

         Currently,  approximately 83% of our affiliated groups' billings are on
a  fee-for-service  basis.  However,  we believe  that the strong  local  market
positions and primary care orientation of our medical groups,  combined with our
demonstrated  medical  management  expertise,  make us  attractive  partners for
managed  care  organizations  and other  payors  seeking to  establish  a strong
presence  in  our  markets,   while  positioning  us  to  enter  into  favorable
arrangements  with them and share in the  efficiencies we believe we can achieve
in our communities.

         We provide  medical  management  services that help providers that have
entered  into  risk-sharing  contracts  control the costs of the  services  they
provide.  This  includes  clinical  quality  assessment,  credentialing,  claims
adjudication,  referral  and  utilization  management  and case  management.  We
provide  these  services  to those of our  affiliated  medical  groups that have
entered  into  risk-sharing   contracts  and  to  several  independent  practice
association  (IPA)  networks on whose behalf we have  entered into  risk-sharing
contracts.  Because  services  provided  by our  groups  and  IPAs  account  for
approximately  two-thirds  of the  total  cost of  services  provided  under our
risk-sharing  contracts,  our  exposure  under them is largely  limited to costs
within our control.

    Clinical Trials and Other Growth Initiatives

         We have undertaken select new initiatives to expand our presence in our
communities  and  capture a larger  portion of  healthcare  expenditures.  These
include the November 1999 affiliation  with a clinical  research site management
organization and investments in two ambulatory surgery centers. The aim of these
initiatives  is to  further  leverage  our base of  doctors  and  strong  market
positions  to  generate a higher  return on capital and  further  diversify  our
revenue stream.

         Through  approximately  2,835  providers  in  our  medical  groups  and
associated IPAs and access to over 5,000,000 patients, we are well positioned to
leverage our existing  infrastructure  in the research arena.  Filling  clinical
trials  with  acceptable  patients  is  a  major  challenge  for  pharmaceutical
companies.  Using our current infrastructure,  we have the ability to screen our
patient database for potential clinical trial candidates,  monitor the patients'
progress in the trials and organize the necessary records and paperwork.

         The addition of two ambulatory  surgery  centers  demonstrates  another
potential benefit of our strategy of becoming the leading healthcare provider in
each of our communities.  By increasing the number of healthcare  access points,
we are  able to  expand  our  position  in our  markets  and  address  a  higher
percentage of a community's total healthcare needs.

Current Operations

         We  are  currently   affiliated  with  approximately  2,835  providers,
consisting of some 830 physicians and 155 mid-level  providers in our affiliated
medical groups and 1,850 physicians in associated IPAs. Approximately 545 of the
physicians  in our groups are primary care  providers.  Primary care  physicians
consist   of   family   practitioners,   general   internists,    pediatricians,
obstetrician/gynecologists,  and  urgent-care  physicians.  Increasingly,  these
physicians  are  augmented  by  mid-level  providers,  primarily  consisting  of
physician  assistants and nurse  practitioners,  which we believe  significantly
increases the efficiency of delivery of a group's primary care services. Each of
the medical groups also provides, to varying degrees, medical specialty services
and ancillary  services.  Medical  specialties  offered include  anesthesiology,
endocrinology,   gastroenterology,   general   surgery,   infectious   diseases,
nephrology,    neurology,    occupational    medicine,    orthopedic    surgery,
otolaryngology,  pulmonology,  rheumatology, and urology. We continually seek to
expand our market  share  through the addition or primary  care  physicians  and
specialists.  We also offer, to varying degrees,  a range of ancillary  services
such as audiology,  clinical laboratory services, diagnostic imaging, and stress
testing.  We continually  evaluate the addition of ancillary services to enhance
growth and profitability.

         Our  associated  IPAs are  organizations  of  independent  primary care
providers  and  specialists  that  contract  to  provide   physician  and  other
healthcare  services to HMOs and other managed care  organizations.  The members
maintain their  individual  practices and, through the IPA  organization,  share
information and managed care systems,  actuarial and financial analysis, medical
management and managed care contract  services  provided by us. The IPAs,  which
accounted for approximately  5.2% of our net revenue in 1999, are located in New
York,  Maine,  New  Hampshire  and  three  of the  communities  in which we have
affiliated medical groups.

         The  following  are  communities  in which we have  affiliated  medical
groups as of December 31, 1999:

    Abilene, TX             Denton, TX        Hudson, NY         Naples, FL
    Boca Raton, FL          Dyer, IN          Lake Worth, TX     Pittsfield, MA
    Champaign, IL           Ft. Myers, FL     Las Cruces, NM     Prescott, AZ
    Clearwater, FL          Flagstaff, AZ     Mayfield, KY       Reno, NV
    Columbus, GA            Harrisburg, PA    Midland, TX        Sarasota, FL
    Corpus Christi, TX      Hollywood, MD     Morristown, TN     Temple, TX
    Cullman, AL

    Management Services

         Upon  affiliation  with a medical  group,  we manage all aspects of the
group's  operations other than the provision of medical services.  All personnel
other than  physicians  and mid-level  providers  become our  employees,  and we
generally own all of the operating assets other than real estate. We provide the
full range of administrative services required for the group's operations. These
include facilities  management;  the purchase of medical malpractice  insurance,
supplies  and  equipment;  and a broad  spectrum  of  financial  and  accounting
services.

         While we provide a  centralized  source of  expertise in all aspects of
management,  we believe that each medical group presents  different  operational
issues and  challenges.  Therefore,  we employ a system of  decentralized  local
management   of  each  group.   We   generally   retain  the  group's   existing
administrative staff as our employees, adding additional management personnel as
the group expands.  We provide  support to the local  management  with corporate
resources in operations,  finance,  human resources and other  disciplines.  Our
national  presence  also allows us to achieve  purchasing  efficiencies  in such
areas as medical and surgical  supplies,  insurance  and physician and executive
recruiting.

         The  physicians  in the group  continue to maintain  full  professional
control of the practice of medicine, including hiring and terminating physicians
within the group and setting practice guidelines and standards. Each group has a
policy  council  comprised  equally of  physicians  and our  representatives  to
determine the broad strategic and operational policies of the group.

    Information Systems

         With respect to financial and reporting systems,  we require all of our
groups to migrate to a single  system.  We have  incorporated  the MGMA chart of
accounts as the corporate standard for our accounting  system,  which enables us
to prepare  consolidated  financial  information  promptly and  efficiently  and
provides  a  platform  for  comparative   benchmarking.   Our  system  generates
comprehensive  reports on a monthly  basis  containing  financial  and operating
information that we use in our management  decision-making  process.  Currently,
over 90% of our groups are utilizing this common financial  system.  We are also
implementing  a system for  extraction  and storage of uniform  operational  and
medical  information from each of our groups. For basic practice management such
as scheduling,  billing and  collections,  we utilize  systems  offered by three
primary vendors,  depending upon individual group  requirements.  We replace the
practice  management systems of our affiliated groups only when they do not meet
operational needs.

         Over the past two years,  we have invested $3.8 million in  information
technology  improvements.  We are currently  evaluating  additional  information
technology  initiatives,   including  standard  software  to  support  ancillary
services,  electronic medical records software and automated  insurance coverage
and code verification software.

    Affiliation Structure

         To date, as medical groups have  affiliated  with us, we have generally
purchased  their  operating  assets,  excluding real estate,  and entered into a
long-term  service  agreement  with the group.  Our  payments to the groups have
included cash, common stock, notes and the assumption of liabilities. In certain
instances,  we  have  utilized  long-term  loans  to  the  groups  and  provided
split-dollar life insurance policies as consideration for the assets. Because we
believe that the stock market has  undervalued  our common stock during the past
year, our recent  affiliations  have not included  stock. If the market price of
our common  stock  recovers to a level that we believe  reflects  its value,  we
intend to make greater use of common stock in future affiliations.

         Our service agreements  generally have a term of 40 years and cannot be
terminated by either party without cause,  consisting primarily of bankruptcy or
material  default.  Under the service  agreement,  we provide the group with the
facilities and equipment used in its medical  practice.  If a service  agreement
expires or is terminated, the medical group is required to purchase our tangible
and intangible  assets  related to the practice,  typically at their current net
book value.

         When we enter into a service  agreement with a medical group, the group
enters into an employment contract with each of its physicians, typically for an
initial  term of five  years.  In  affiliations  involving  our  purchase of the
group's  operating assets,  the employment  contract requires that the physician
repay all or a portion of the  physician's  share of our  payment for the assets
and service  agreement if the physician  breaches the contract.  Each group also
enters into an agreement not to compete with us. In addition,  each  physician's
employment  contract  includes an agreement not to compete with the group during
the  period  of his or her  employment  and for a  period  of  time  thereafter,
typically  two  years.  The  employment  contract  also  provides  that we are a
third-party  beneficiary  entitled to enforce the  repayment  provision  and the
agreement  not  to  compete.  The  employment  agreements  typically  include  a
liquidated damages provision equal to the physician's salary for the most recent
12 months in the event the physician breaches the non-competition provision.

         Our  income  and the  income of the  physicians  within  each  group is
dependent  upon  operating  income.  Under our service  agreement,  we typically
receive  15% to 20% of  operating  income.  Operating  income is  defined as the
group's net revenue,  less certain  agreed  clinic  expenses,  before  physician
salaries and other physician-related  expenses. In our more recent affiliations,
our share of income from new ancillary  services has been  increased to 50%. Our
distribution from the group is typically increased or decreased by 25% to 50% of
the group's surplus or deficit under  risk-sharing  arrangements under capitated
managed care contracts.

         We have also developed alternative affiliation structures which require
minimal initial investment and have recently closed on one such affiliation. The
related  25-year service  agreement  gives us a lower  percentage of the group's
operating  income  than our  typical  agreement,  but  entitles us to 50% of the
income from ancillary services added following the initial affiliation date. The
service  agreement  also allows the group to  terminate  the  agreement  for any
reason  at  five-year  intervals,  but only if the  group  purchases  all of the
practice assets then owned by us and pays us a multiple of additional cash flows
created since the initial affiliation date.

Competition

         The medical services industry is competitive.  We face competition both
in affiliating with medical groups and in managing and coordinating  care in our
communities.  Our competitors  include  hospitals,  managed care  organizations,
other  medical  groups and other  medical  services  companies.  There can be no
assurance  that  we  will  be  able  to  compete  effectively,  that  additional
competitors will not enter the market, or that such competition will not make it
more  difficult  to  enter  into  affiliations  with  medical  groups  on  terms
beneficial to us.

         We also  experience  competition in recruiting and retaining  qualified
physicians and other healthcare professionals. There can be no assurance that we
will be able to recruit or retain a sufficient  number of  qualified  physicians
and other healthcare professionals to continue to expand our operations.

Government Regulation

    Health Care

         As a  participant  in  the  healthcare  industry,  our  operations  and
relationships  are subject to  extensive  regulation  by a number of federal and
state  governmental  entities.  We believe that our  operations  are in material
compliance with applicable laws.  Because the structure of our relationship with
medical  groups  is  relatively  new,  however,  many  aspects  of our  business
operations   have  not  been  the   subject  of  state  or  federal   regulatory
interpretation.  Thus, a review of our or our affiliated physicians' business by
courts or  regulatory  authorities  could result in a  determination  that could
adversely  affect  our  operations.   In  addition,  the  healthcare  regulatory
environment could change so as to restrict or require modification of our or our
affiliated  medical  groups'  operations or limit their  ability to expand.  Our
service  agreements  typically  require the parties to amend the  agreements  to
preserve the underlying economic and financial  arrangements if federal or state
law is interpreted by a court,  regulatory  agency or counsel to both parties to
indicate  that the agreement may violate such law. Only if it is not possible to
amend an agreement to preserve in all material respects the underlying  economic
and financial arrangements, the agreement may be terminated by either party.

         The laws of many states prohibit business  corporations such as us from
practicing  medicine and employing  physicians to practice medicine.  We perform
only  non-medical  administrative  services  and do not  hold  ourselves  out as
providers  of medical  services.  In addition,  we do not exercise  influence or
control  over the  practice  of  medicine by the  physicians  in our  affiliated
groups. Accordingly, we believe we are not in violation of applicable state laws
relating to the practice of medicine.

         In addition to prohibiting  the practice of medicine,  numerous  states
limit the  ability of  entities  such as us to control  physician  revenue or to
receive portions of such revenue in excess of the value of services provided. In
most  states,  these  so-called  "fee-splitting"  laws provide that the laws are
violated only if a physician shares fees with a referral source. A Florida court
recently  upheld a ruling by the Florida Board of Medicine that  interprets  the
Florida fee-splitting law very broadly to include, in some cases, the payment of
percentage-based    management    fees    specifically    when    coupled   with
practice-enhancement  activities.  We are  in  the  process  of  evaluating  the
interpretation and monitoring of subsequent clarifications and determinations to
determine whether the service agreements  covering our medical groups in Florida
will be affected.  There can be no assurance  that further  action by government
authorities  regarding the  structure of our  relationship  with our  affiliated
medical  groups or our managed IPAs,  in Florida or elsewhere,  will not have an
adverse effect upon us.

         Approximately  30% of the  revenue  of our  affiliated  groups has been
derived  from  payments  made  by   government-sponsored   healthcare  programs,
principally  Medicare  and  Medicaid.  As a result,  any  change  in  government
reimbursement  regulations,  policies,  practices,  interpretations  or statutes
could  adversely  affect our  operations.  Violation of the laws creating  these
programs, moreover, can result in civil or criminal penalties and exclusion from
the programs. In addition,  state and federal civil and criminal statutes impose
substantial penalties,  including civil and criminal fines and imprisonment,  on
healthcare  providers that fraudulently or wrongfully bill governmental or other
third-party payors for healthcare services.

         Certain  provisions of the Social Security Act, commonly referred to as
the fraud and abuse  provisions,  prohibit the payment or receipt of any form of
remuneration in return for the referral of Medicare or Medicaid  patients.  Many
states have adopted similar  prohibitions  against payments that are intended to
induce referrals of Medicaid and other third-party  payor patients.  Although we
believe that neither we nor any of our affiliated medical groups is in violation
of any such  prohibitions,  our operations do not fit within any of the existing
or proposed federal safe harbors and may therefore be subject to challenge.

         A section of the Social  Security Act  commonly  known as the Stark Law
further prohibits physicians from referring Medicare or Medicaid patients to any
entity  providing  "designated  health  services" in which the  physician has an
ownership or investment  interest or with which the physician has entered into a
compensation arrangement. A physician's ownership of or compensation arrangement
with the medical  group  through  which the  physician  practices  constitutes a
financial relationship for Stark Law purposes,  necessitating availability of an
exception  under the Stark Law if the medical group provides  designated  health
services.  Although we believe our  affiliated  medical groups are structured to
fit within exceptions contained in the Stark Law, there are no final regulations
or  other   regulatory  or  judicial   guidance   interpreting  the  Stark  Law.
Accordingly,  no assurance can be made that we are in compliance  with the Stark
Law.

         Some   states   have  also   enacted   similar   so-called   "physician
self-referral"  laws,  and  additional  states may follow.  We believe  that the
structure of our affiliated  medical groups fits within exemptions  contained in
these laws.  Nevertheless,  expansion of our operations to certain jurisdictions
may require  structural and  organizational  modifications of our  relationships
with medical groups to comply with new or revised state statutes.

         Several  states  regulate  the  managed  care  support   activities  of
organizations  other than insurers.  In particular,  claims  administration  and
utilization  review functions may require  licensure and the various elements of
our  operations  may be  subject  to  regulation.  We  believe  that we hold all
necessary licenses for our business activities.  However, we cannot be sure that
we will receive necessary  regulatory approvals in all states in which we intend
to conduct business,  or that the applicable  operational  requirements will not
adversely affect our profitability.

         As a result of the continued  escalation  of  healthcare  costs and the
inability of many  individuals to obtain health  insurance,  numerous  proposals
have been or may be  introduced  in the U.S.  Congress  and  state  legislatures
relating to  healthcare  reform.  There can be no  assurance  as to the ultimate
content,  timing or  effect  of any  healthcare  reform  legislation,  nor is it
possible at this time to estimate the impact of potential legislation on us.

    Antitrust

         Each of our affiliated  medical groups is deemed to be separate from us
under the antitrust laws.  Thus, we and they are subject to a wide range of laws
that  prohibit  anti-competitive  conduct  among  separate  legal  entities  and
individuals. In addition, because we have concentrated our business in non-urban
communities and frequently affiliate with the largest group in such communities,
the  antitrust  laws may limit our  ability  and the  ability of our  affiliated
medical  groups to  continue to expand in certain  communities.  There can be no
assurance that a review by courts or regulatory  authorities of the relationship
between us and our  affiliated  medical  groups,  or of our market  position  or
activities  within a particular  community would not result in determinations or
actions that could seriously harm our operations and our relationships  with our
affiliated medical groups.

Insurance

         Our affiliated  medical groups maintain medical  malpractice  liability
insurance in the amount of $1.0 million per  occurrence  and $3.0 million in the
aggregate.  Wherever  allowed  we are  named as the  additional  insured  on the
policies  maintained by each of our affiliated  groups. We also maintain general
liability and umbrella coverage.  The umbrella policy has limits of $1.0 million
per occurrence and a $10.0 million aggregate.  The cost and availability of this
coverage has varied widely in recent years. We maintain individual and aggregate
stop-loss  insurance  coverage  with respect to our and our  affiliated  groups'
risk-sharing contracts. While we believe that our insurance coverage is adequate
for our  current  operations,  there can be no  assurance  that the  coverage we
maintain  will be  sufficient  to cover all future claims or will continue to be
available in adequate amounts or at a reasonable cost.

Employees

         We  currently  employ  approximately  4,200  people,   including  those
employed in our corporate office. We are not party to any collective  bargaining
agreement with a labor union and consider our relations with our employees to be
good.  Generally,  we do not  employ  any of the  physicians  practicing  in our
affiliated groups.

Item 2.  Properties

         We currently  lease  approximately  13,000  square feet of space at 801
Cherry  Street in Fort Worth,  Texas,  where our  headquarters  are located.  We
believe  that  these  facilities  are  adequate  for our  current  uses and that
additional space is available to accommodate our anticipated growth.

         We lease,  sublease,  or occupy under our service agreements the clinic
facilities at which our affiliated  medical groups conduct their practices.  The
leases  have  varying  terms  ranging  from  month-to-month  to  ten  years.  We
anticipate  that  as the  affiliated  practices  continue  to  grow  and add new
services, expanded facilities will be required.

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

         We and our  affiliated  groups are from time to time subject to medical
malpractice  claims and other various claims and legal actions that arise in the
ordinary  course of  business.  Such  claims,  if  successful,  could  result in
substantial damage awards that may exceed the limits of our insurance  coverage.
We do not engage in the practice of medicine or provide medical services, nor do
we control the  practice of medicine  by our  affiliated  medical  groups or the
compliance  with  regulatory  requirements  directly  applicable  to our groups.
Nevertheless,  there can be no assurance that we will not become subject to such
claims in the future.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

         Not applicable.


<PAGE>



                                                          PART II

Item 5.  Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

          Since March 12,  1997,  our common stock has been traded on the Nasdaq
National  Market under the symbol "PMCO." This table sets forth the high and low
sale prices per share of our common  stock as  reported  by the Nasdaq  National
Market for each calendar quarter during 1998 and 1999.

                                                               High         Low

         1998

            First Quarter....................................    16.25     8.81
            Second Quarter...................................    15.87     8.81
            Third Quarter....................................    10.75     8.87
            Fourth Quarter...................................     7.87     4.12
         1999

            First Quarter....................................     6.63     3.75
            Second Quarter...................................     4.81     3.63
            Third Quarter....................................     3.97     2.88
            Fourth Quarter...................................     3.38     2.00


         We have never paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We presently
intend  to  retain  earnings  for  use  in our  business  and  therefore  do not
anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable  future.  The payment of
any future  dividends  will be  determined by our Board of Directors in light of
conditions  then  existing,  including  our  earnings,  financial  condition and
requirements,  restrictions in financing  agreements,  business conditions,  and
other factors.  In addition,  our ability to pay dividends or make distributions
to our  stockholders  is restricted by the terms of our credit  facility.  As of
February 17, 2000, there were 423 holders of record of common stock.

         During 1999, we issued 659,472  shares of common stock to  stockholders
of two physician  groups and one IPA management  company in connection  with our
affiliations. As of December 31, 1999, we had commitments to issue approximately
12,000  shares of common stock to  physician  groups and their  stockholders  in
connection with affiliations with physicians  joining our existing groups during
1999.  These  shares will be issued  after  completing  a  subsequent  review of
acquired  assets and adjusting the total  consideration  in accordance  with the
respective affiliation agreements.  Each of such issuances was or will be exempt
from registration under the Securities Act, pursuant to section 4(2) of the Act,
as they did not involve any public offering.

         In April 2000,  we expect to complete  the second  stage of a two-stage
transaction in which we will issue an aggregate of 550,000 shares of convertible
preferred  stock to  affiliates  of  Goldman,  Sachs & Co. for  aggregate  gross
proceeds of $55 million. The first stage of the transaction, which was completed
in January 2000,  involved the issuance of $16 million  principal  amount of our
senior  subordinated  notes and  1,250,000  shares of our  common  stock for $16
million.  In the second  stage,  the investors  will exchange the notes,  common
stock,  and an  additional  $39 million for  550,000  shares of our  convertible
preferred stock,  bringing the total investment to $55 million.  The convertible
preferred  stock  has  a  liquidation  preference  of  $100  per  share  and  is
convertible  into shares of our common stock at a conversion  price of $3.25 per
share,  subject  to  adjustment  in  accordance  with  customary   anti-dilution
provisions.


<PAGE>



Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

         The  selected   financial  data  presented  below  should  be  read  in
conjunction   with  our   consolidated   financial   statements  and  notes  and
"Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations" included elsewhere in this report.  (Amounts in thousands except net
earnings (loss) per share information)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                       Year Ended December 31,
                                                   ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      1995          1996         1997         1998         1999
                                                   -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------   -----------
<S>                                                <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>
Statement of Operations Data:
Net revenue.....................................   $     7,844  $    26,245  $    80,641  $   222,502   $   324,494
Operating expenses:
     Clinic salaries and benefits...............         4,250       11,695       29,860       74,676       112,342
     Clinic rent and lease expense..............           708        2,670        7,016       17,187        28,687
     Clinic supplies............................           624        3,213        9,667       24,874        37,000
     Purchased medical services.................           781          970        7,947       45,444        51,451
     Other clinic costs.........................         1,759        5,019       10,884       25,699        41,232
     General corporate expenses.................           803        2,634        3,793        5,613         9,150
     Depreciation and amortization..............           204          724        2,943        7,239        12,295
     Interest expense...........................            21          209          456        1,104         6,513
     Merger costs...............................         -              682        -            -             -
                                                   -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------   -----------
                                                         9,150       27,816       72,566      201,836       298,670
                                                   -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------   -----------
Income (loss) before provision for income
     taxes and extraordinary charge.............        (1,306)      (1,571)       8,075       20,666        25,824
Provision (benefit) for income taxes............           (54)       -            2,602        7,853         9,813
                                                   -----------  -----------  -----------  -------------------------
Net income (loss) before extraordinary charge...        (1,252)      (1,571)       5,473       12,813        16,011
Extraordinary charge - loss on extinguishment
     of debt, net of $375 income taxes .........         -            -            -             (611)        -
                                                   -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------   -----------
Net income (loss)...............................   $    (1,252) $    (1,571) $     5,473  $    12,202   $    16,011
                                                   ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========   ===========

Net earnings (loss) per share:
Basic:
     Income (loss) before extraordinary charge..   $     (0.16) $    (0.20)  $      0.48  $      0.69   $      0.76
     Extraordinary charge.......................          -            -            -           (0.03)        -
                                                   -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------   -----------
     Net income (loss)..........................   $     (0.16) $     (0.20) $      0.48  $      0.66   $      0.76
                                                   ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========   ===========
Diluted

     Income  (loss) before extraordinary charge.   $     (0.16) $     (0.20) $      0.38  $      0.61   $      0.71
     Extraordinary charge.......................          -            -            -           (0.03)        -
                                                   -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------   -----------
     Net income (loss)..........................   $     (0.16) $     (0.20) $      0.38  $      0.58   $      0.71
                                                   ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========   ===========
Weighted average number of common shares
     outstanding:
     Basic......................................         7,872        7,872       11,376       18,622        21,108
                                                   ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========   ===========
     Diluted....................................         7,872        7,872       14,224       20,958        23,141
                                                   ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========   ===========

Balance Sheet Data:

Cash and cash equivalents.......................   $     3,047  $     1,634  $    15,761  $    13,871   $     7,625
Working capital.................................         3,376        2,253       24,207       55,499        52,106
Total assets....................................         6,203       30,560      162,966      310,408       419,313
Long term debt, less current maturities.........           279        7,416       53,536       91,756       177,093
Redeemable equity securities....................         3,945        3,949        -            -             -
Total stockholders' equity......................           240       10,524       80,619      172,648       182,631
</TABLE>



<PAGE>



Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
         of Operations

Overview

         We are a medical  services  company  that manages and  coordinates  the
delivery  of a variety of  healthcare  services  in  non-urban  communities.  We
typically affiliate with a leading medical group in the community, which becomes
the platform from which we expand our market  share.  We expand this platform by
adding ancillary services, physicians and mid-level providers.

         Since  our   organization   in  December  1994,  we  have   experienced
substantial  growth,  primarily as a result of entering new communities and also
from same market  growth  within our  communities.  We  currently  operate in 25
communities  where we are affiliated  with medical groups  comprised of some 830
physicians and 155 mid-level  providers.  In addition,  we are  associated  with
approximately 1,850 physicians in IPA networks.

         Our  agreements  with medical groups are structured to provide a common
incentive  for growth.  When  affiliating  with a medical  group,  we  typically
acquire,  at fair market value, the group's non-real estate operating assets and
enter into a 40-year  service  agreement  with the group in exchange for various
combinations of cash, our common stock, other securities issued by us and/or our
assumption of certain liabilities.  Under these service agreements, we receive a
fixed  percentage,  typically 15% to 20%, of operating  income before  physician
compensation.  In our more  recent  affiliations,  our share of income  from new
ancillary  services has been increased to 50%. We also share between 25% and 50%
of each group's surplus or deficit under risk-sharing  arrangements  pursuant to
capitated managed care contracts.

         We have also developed alternative affiliation structures which require
minimal initial investment and have recently closed on one such affiliation. The
related  25-year service  agreement  gives us a lower  percentage of the group's
operating  income  than our  typical  agreement,  but  entitles us to 50% of the
income from ancillary services added following the initial affiliation date. The
service  agreement  also allows the group to  terminate  the  agreement  for any
reason  at  five-year  intervals,  but only if the  group  purchases  all of the
practice assets then owned by us and pays us a multiple of additional cash flows
created since the initial affiliation date.

         Our  net  revenue   represents  total  revenue  for  services  rendered
(reported at the estimated realizable amounts from patients,  third-party payors
and others, net of contractual and other adjustments),  less amounts paid to the
medical groups. The amounts paid to the medical groups,  typically 80-85% of the
operating income, consist primarily of the cost of physician services. Under our
service  agreements,  we provide  each  medical  group with the  facilities  and
equipment used in its medical practice, assume responsibility for the management
of the operations of the practice and employ  substantially all of the personnel
utilized by the group other than the physicians and mid-level  providers.  We do
not consolidate the operating results and accounts of the medical groups.


<PAGE>



Results of Operations

         We began  operations in our first two  communities in June and December
1995, and entered five additional  communities in 1996, six in 1997 and eight in
1998. During 1999, we entered four additional communities. Changes in results of
operations were caused  primarily by expanding into  additional  communities and
same market growth in our existing  communities.  The following table sets forth
the  percentages  of revenue  represented  by  certain  items  reflected  in our
condensed consolidated statements of operations.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                          Years Ended December 31,
                                                            -------------------------------------------------
                                                                 1997              1998              1999
                                                            --------------   ----------------  --------------
<S>                                                         <C>              <C>               <C>
Statement of Operations:

Net revenue...............................................        100.0%           100.0%            100.0%
Operating expenses:
     Clinic salaries and benefits.........................         37.0             33.5              34.6
     Clinic rent and lease expense........................          8.7              7.7               8.8
     Clinic supplies......................................         12.0             11.2              11.4
     Purchased medical services...........................          9.9             20.4              16.0
     Other clinic costs...................................         13.5             11.6              12.7
     General corporate expenses...........................          4.7              2.5               2.8
     Depreciation and amortization........................          3.6              3.3               3.8
     Interest expense.....................................          0.6              0.5               2.0
                                                              ---------         --------         ---------
Income before provision for income
   taxes and extraordinary charge.........................         10.0              9.3               7.9
Provision for income taxes................................          3.2              3.5               3.0
                                                              ---------         --------         ---------
Net income before extraordinary charge....................          6.8              5.8               4.9
Extraordinary charge, net of tax..........................          -               (0.3)              -
                                                              ---------         --------         ---------
Net income................................................          6.8%             5.5%              4.9%
                                                              =========         ========         =========

Other Financial Information:

Total revenue(1) (in thousands)...........................  $   127,716      $   310,454       $   450,877
                                                            ===========      ===========       ===========
Payor breakdown(2):
     Commercial and discounted
        fee-for-service...................................         39.2%            36.3%             38.8%
     Medicare/Medicaid....................................         24.7             29.6              29.5
     Capitation...........................................         16.4             20.7              17.1
     Other................................................         19.7             13.4              14.6
                                                              ---------         --------         ---------
     Total................................................        100.0%           100.0%            100.0%
                                                              =========         ========         =========
</TABLE>

(1)  Total revenue  represents  amounts  received for professional and ancillary
     services  and  for  other  services,  such  as  contract  billing,  medical
     directorship  and interim  management.  These  amounts are  recorded at the
     estimated realizable amounts, net of contractual and other adjustments. Our
     net  revenue  represents  total  revenue,  reduced by  amounts  paid to the
     medical groups.

(2)  As a percentage of total revenue.


<PAGE>



Year Ended December 31, 1999 Compared With Year Ended December 31, 1998

         Net  revenue  increased  by 45.8% to $324.5  million for the year ended
December 31,  1999,  from $222.5  million for the year ended  December 31, 1998.
Approximately  35.6% of this increase was attributable to communities we entered
during 1999, with the remainder  coming  primarily from  communities in which we
began  operations  prior  to  1999.  Same  market  growth  in  net  revenue  for
communities in which we operated for longer than one year was over 14% in 1999.

         Overall  clinic  costs,  including  purchased  medical  services,  as a
percentage of net revenue decreased to 83.5% in 1999, compared to 84.4% in 1998.
Purchased  medical services reflect the cost of services  required under managed
care contracts that are not provided by our medical  groups.  The primary reason
for the overall decrease in clinic expenses as a percentage of net revenue was a
change in purchased medical  services,  which decreased to 16.0% as a percentage
of net revenue in 1999, compared to 20.4% in 1998. This change resulted from the
relative decrease in full  professional and global capitation  revenue (compared
to total revenue) caused by our affiliation  with additional  medical groups and
from the conversion of certain payor contracts from  capitation  arrangements to
discounted  fee-for-service payment contracts. The decrease in purchased medical
services was  partially  offset by an increase in clinic  salaries and benefits,
clinic rent and lease  expense and other clinic costs which  increased to 34.6%,
8.8% and  12.7%,  respectively,  in 1999  compared  to  33.5%,  7.7% and  11.6%,
respectively,  in 1998. These increases were caused by changes in the mix of our
medical  groups and due to the  expansion of ancillary  services we offer within
the communities we serve.

         General corporate  expenses as a percentage of net revenue increased to
2.8% in 1999, compared to 2.5% in 1998,  reflecting  anticipated increases as we
continued  to add  management  and  technology  infrastructure.  We believe that
increases in the amount of general corporate  expenses will continue as we enter
new communities and expand our operations in existing  communities,  although we
expect these costs to remain relatively flat as a percentage of net revenue.

         Depreciation and amortization as a percentage of net revenue  increased
to 3.8% in 1999, compared to 3.3% in 1998. This increase resulted primarily from
the change in the  amortization  period  for our  service  agreement  intangible
assets.  As a result of a change in SEC  accounting  policy,  effective  July 1,
1998, all existing and future service agreement  intangible assets are amortized
over a period  not to  exceed  25 years  from the  inception  of the  respective
service  agreements.  In addition,  depreciation has increased due to changes in
the mix of our medical  groups,  with  certain of our more  recent  affiliations
having a relatively higher amount of property and equipment.

         Net interest  expense as a percentage of net revenue  increased to 2.0%
in 1999,  compared to 0.5% in 1998. This increase is a result of the increase in
long-term debt relating to financing our  affiliation  with  additional  medical
groups  and due to an  increase  in the  overall  effective  rate on our  credit
facility.  In addition,  interest  expense in 1998 was offset by interest income
earned on unused  proceeds  from a public  offering of our common stock that was
completed in May 1998.

         Provision  for income  taxes  reflects an effective  rate of 38%.  This
effective  rate is  higher  than  the  expected  Federal  statutory  rate due to
non-deductible amortization of certain intangible assets and state income taxes,
offset by the  realization of net operating loss  carryforwards,  which had been
previously  reserved.  We expect our  effective tax rate for 2000 to increase to
42%.

Year Ended December 31, 1998 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 1997

         Net revenue  increased  by 176.0% to $222.5  million for the year ended
December  31,  1998,  from $80.6  million for the year ended  December 31, 1997.
Approximately  40.1% of this increase was attributable to communities we entered
during  1998,  with  the  balance  coming  from  communities  in  which we began
operations prior to 1998.  Same-market  growth in net revenue for communities in
which we operated prior to 1997 was over 15% for 1998 compared with 1997.

         Overall  clinic  costs,  including  purchased  medical  services,  as a
percentage of net revenue increased to 84.4% in 1998, compared to 81.1% in 1997.
The change in overall  clinic costs and specific items was due to the changes in
the mix of our medical groups.  Purchased  medical  services created the largest
increase as a percentage of net revenue, increasing to 20.4% in 1998 compared to
9.9% in 1997. This increase  resulted from the increase in full professional and
global  capitation  revenue,  relating  primarily  to two of  our  groups,  that
required the purchase of services outside our medical groups.

         General  corporate  expenses as a percentage of net revenue declined to
2.5% in  1998,  compared  to 4.7% in  1997.  While  these  costs  declined  as a
percentage of net revenue,  the amount of general corporate  expenses  increased
47.9% to $5.6 million for the year ended December 31, 1998 from $3.8 million for
the year ended December 31, 1997. We anticipated this increase in expenses as we
continued to add management and technology infrastructure.

         Depreciation and amortization as a percentage of net revenue  decreased
to 3.3% in 1998, compared to 3.6% in 1997. This decrease resulted primarily from
differences  in the mix of  assets  acquired  in  connection  with  affiliations
completed  during this  period,  but also  reflected  the  impacts of  declining
consideration levels on new affiliations in the latter part of 1998.

         Net interest  expense as a percentage of net revenue  decreased to 0.5%
in 1998,  compared to 0.6% in 1997.  Although long-term debt levels increased in
the latter part of 1998, the resulting  interest  expense was offset by interest
income  earned  in the  earlier  part of 1998 on unused  proceeds  from a public
offering of our common stock that was completed in May 1998.

         In  December  1998,  we  replaced  our  existing  credit  facility.  In
connection with this transaction,  we were required to write off the unamortized
deferred  financing costs relating to the prior credit  facility.  The resulting
extraordinary  charge  amounted to  approximately  $611,000,  net of  applicable
income taxes of approximately $375,000.

         Provision for income taxes  reflected an effective rate of 38.0%.  This
effective rate was higher than the expected Federal statutory rate primarily due
to the impact of state income taxes.


<PAGE>



Summary of Operations by Quarter

         The following table presents our unaudited  quarterly operating results
for the eight quarters  ended  December 31, 1999. In our opinion,  all necessary
adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) have been included
in the amounts stated below to present fairly the quarterly results when read in
conjunction  with our  consolidated  financial  statements  and notes  which are
included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Our future quarterly results may fluctuate
depending on, among other  things,  the timing and number of  affiliations  with
medical groups.  In addition,  results of operations for any particular  quarter
are not  necessarily  indicative of results of operations for a full year or for
future periods.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                               Three Months Ended                          Three Months Ended
                                    ------------------------------------------  -----------------------------------------
                                     Mar. 31    Jun. 30    Sep. 30    Dec. 31    Mar. 31    Jun. 30    Sep. 30    Dec. 31
                                      1998       1998       1998       1998       1999       1999       1999       1999
                                     ----       ----       ----       ----       ----       ----       ----       ----
<S>                                <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Statement of Operations Data:
(in thousands, except for earnings
    per share information)
Net revenue                         $  40,612   $ 51,994   $ 61,097   $ 68,799   $ 73,092   $ 76,021   $ 84,317  $ 91,064
Operating expenses:
   Clinic salaries and benefits        13,340     17,715     19,334     24,287     25,706     27,277     28,989    30,370
   Clinic rent and lease expense        3,199      3,862      4,529      5,597      6,246      7,134      7,340     7,967
   Clinic supplies                      4,858      6,337      6,598      7,081      8,589      8,970      9,514     9,927
   Purchased medical services           8,132     10,657     14,813     11,843     11,912      9,751     13,631    16,157
   Other clinic costs                   4,322      5,636      6,649      9,092      8,819      9,870     10,972    11,571
   General corporate expenses           1,083      1,291      1,233      2,005      2,010      2,253      2,396     2,491
   Depreciation and amortization        1,294      1,749      2,075      2,121      2,776      3,110      3,093     3,316
   Interest expense (revenue), net        472       (170)       (48)       850      1,011      1,266      1,798     2,438
                                     --------    -------    -------    -------   --------  ---------  ---------  --------
   Income before provision for
     income taxes and
     extraordinary charge               3,912      4,917      5,914      5,923      6,023     6,390      6,584      6,827
   Provision for income taxes           1,486      1,868      2,248      2,251      2,289     2,428      2,502      2,594
                                     --------    -------    -------    -------   --------  ---------  ---------  --------
   Net income before
     extraordinary charge               2,426      3,049      3,666      3,672      3,734     3,962      4,082      4,233
   Extraordinary charge - loss on
     extinguishment of debt, net
     of $375 of income taxes              -          -          -         (611)      -          -          -         -
                                     --------    -------    -------    -------   --------  ---------  ---------  --------
   Net income                        $  2,426    $ 3,049    $ 3,666   $  3,061   $  3,734   $  3,962   $ 4,082    $ 4,233
                                   =========   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========

Net earnings per share:
Basic
   Income before
      extraordinary charge        $     0.18   $   0.17   $   0.17   $   0.17   $   0.17   $   0.19   $   0.19   $   0.20
   Extraordinary charge                   -           -         -       (0.03)      -          -         -           -
                                    --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   -------    -------    --------
    Net income                     $    0.18   $   0.17   $   0.17   $   0.14   $   0.17   $   0.19   $   0.19   $   0.20
                                   =========   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========
Diluted
   Income before
      extraordinary charge        $     0.15   $   0.15   $   0.16   $   0.16   $   0.16   $   0.18   $   0.18   $   0.19
   Extraordinary charge                   -          -          -       (0.03)        -          -          -          -
                                     --------   --------   --------   ---------  --------   -------    -------    -----
   Net Income                      $    0.15   $   0.15   $   0.16   $   0.13   $   0.16   $   0.18   $   0.18   $   0.19
                                   =========   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

    Basic                             13,616     17,841     21,450     21,514     21,457    20,867     21,053     21,127
                                     ========   ========   ========   ========   ========   =======    =======    =======
    Diluted                           16,491     20,555     23,540     23,331     23,740    22,988     22,978     22,981
                                     ========   ========   ========   ========   ========   =======    =======    =======

Other Financial Data: (in thousands)
Capital expenditures               $   1,213   $    923   $    851   $  1,095   $  1,098   $ 1,667    $ 2,120    $ 2,543
Total revenue (a)                     61,180     73,062     81,254     94,958    106,784   108,514    113,658    121,921

Other Data (at end of period):
Number of communities                     14         16         18         21         23        24         24         25
Affiliated physicians                    440        592        606        683        740       775        790        830
Mid-level providers                      115        123        127        132        155       155        150        155

</TABLE>


a)   Total revenue  represents  amounts  received for professional and ancillary
     services  and  for  other  services,  such  as  contract  billing,  medical
     directorship  and interim  management.  These  amounts are  recorded at the
     estimated realizable amounts, net of contractual and other adjustments. Our
     net  revenue  represents  total  revenue,  reduced by  amounts  paid to the
     medical groups.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

         At December 31, 1999, we had working capital of $52.1 million, compared
to $55.5 million at December 31, 1998.  Net cash provided by operations  for the
year ended  December  31,  1999 was $11.8  million.  Net income,  combined  with
depreciation  and  amortization  and a decrease in other assets,  provided $29.1
million in cash  flows.  This was offset by uses of cash of $17.3  million  that
resulted from deferred  taxes and increases in accounts  receivable,  management
fees  receivable,  due from affiliated  medical groups and prepaid  expenses and
other current assets,  and decreases in accounts payable,  payable to affiliated
medical groups and accrued expenses and other liabilities.

         Our accounts receivable  increased $7.8 million,  net of the effects of
purchase  accounting  since December 31, 1998. This increase is due primarily to
the  increase in revenues in 1999  compared to 1998.  For the fourth  quarter of
1999, the number of days in accounts receivable was 47 days, which is consistent
with the fourth quarter of 1998. While our days outstanding  compares  favorably
within the healthcare industry,  we are nonetheless focusing significant efforts
at all of our clinics to continue  to improve  the  collections  and the overall
business office processes.

         We had aggregate  cash  expenditures  for purchases of clinic assets of
$97.8  million for the year ended  December  31,  1999.  Of this  amount,  $27.7
million  related  primarily  to deferred  payments  associated  with  previously
completed  acquisitions  and $70.1 million related to acquisitions  completed in
1999. Our capital  expenditures were $7.4 million during 1999.  Although each of
the service agreements with our affiliated medical groups requires us to provide
capital  for  equipment,   expansion,  additional  physicians  and  other  major
expenditures,  we have not  committed  a  specific  amount in  advance.  Capital
expenditures  are made  based  partially  upon the  availability  of funds,  the
sources of funds, alternative projects and an acceptable repayment period.

         We had  aggregate  cash  expenditures  of $57.4  million  and issued or
committed to issue an aggregate of approximately  500,000 shares of common stock
for the acquisition of clinic assets during the year ended December 31, 1998. Of
this,  $14.9  million was for  additional  physicians  at  existing  clinics and
deferred payments  associated with previously  completed  acquisitions.  Capital
expenditures amounted to $4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 1998.

         In January  2000, we entered into a two-stage  transaction  in which we
will issue an  aggregate of 550,000  shares of  convertible  preferred  stock to
affiliates of Goldman,  Sachs & Co. for aggregate gross proceeds of $55 million.
The  first  stage of the  transaction,  which was  completed  in  January  2000,
involved the issuance of $16 million principal amount of our senior subordinated
notes and  1,250,000  shares of our common stock for $16 million.  In the second
stage which is expected to be completed in April 2000,  the new  investors  will
exchange the notes,  common  stock,  and an  additional  $39 million for 550,000
shares of our convertible  preferred stock, bringing the total investment to $55
million.  The convertible  preferred stock has a liquidation  preference of $100
per share and is  convertible  into shares of our common  stock at a  conversion
price of $3.25 per share,  subject to adjustment in  accordance  with  customary
anti-dilution provisions.

         On December 17, 1998, we entered into a new revolving  credit  facility
with a  syndicate  of banks,  to provide  for a  three-year  commitment  to fund
revolving credit borrowings of up to $125.0 million for acquisitions and general
working  capital.  During 1999, this credit facility was amended and expanded to
its current  commitment level of $157.5 million.  The commitment is comprised of
$142.5 million  maximum  commitment  that expires  December 17, 2001 and a $15.0
million  commitment  that expires June 27, 2000. The interest rate is set at our
option and  varies  based on our  leverage,  as  follows:  (i) the higher of the
federal  funds rate plus 0.5% to 1.25% or the prime rate plus 0.0% to 0.75%,  or
(ii) the  Eurodollar  rate plus 1.25% to 2.25%.  As of December  31,  1999,  the
effective  interest rate under the credit facility was 8.5%. The credit facility
includes certain restrictive covenants,  including limitations on the payment of
dividends,  as well as  requirements  for the  maintenance of certain  financial
ratios. At the expiration of the revolving credit commitment, we can convert the
outstanding  balance  to a term  loan.  Upon such  conversion,  the  outstanding
balance will be repaid in 5% increments  over eight  quarters,  with the balance
due December 17, 2003. The credit  facility is secured by  substantially  all of
our assets. In obtaining the credit facility and subsequent amendments,  we paid
fees and other  closing  costs of  approximately  $1.7  million,  which has been
capitalized in other assets on our consolidated  balance sheets and is amortized
as an adjustment to interest expense using the effective  interest method. As of
December 31, 1999, we had $156 outstanding and $1.5 million  available,  subject
to certain conditions under the agreement. The amount outstanding was reduced in
January  2000 by the  proceeds  from  the  first  stage of the  Goldman  & Sachs
transaction described above.

         In November  1998,  we  authorized  a common stock  repurchase  program
whereby we may repurchase up to $10.0 million of our common stock.  During 1999,
we purchased 973,164 shares at an average price of $3.95 per share.

         During May 1998, we completed a public offering of 6,900,000  shares of
common stock at a price of $11.00 per share.  Gross and net  proceeds  from that
offering were $75.9 million and $72.5 million,  respectively.  In addition,  net
proceeds  were  reduced by  approximately  $600,000 of expenses  relating to the
offering.

         In connection  with an August 1997  affiliation,  we agreed to lend the
medical group a total of $42.7  million,  the proceeds of which were utilized by
the group's  physicians.  An initial loan of $3.0 million was funded in November
1997,  $16.4 million in December  1997,  $5.83 million in December 1998 and 1999
and additional loans of $5.83 million will be funded each December through 2001.
This note  receivable is recorded in long-term  receivables on our  consolidated
balance  sheet.   The  note  receivable   earns  interest  at  8.0%  and  is  an
interest-only  loan  payable  monthly  through  November  2007,  after which the
balance is to be repaid in annual  installments  through  December  2022.  After
December  2007, an amount equal to  one-twelfth  of the annual  amortization  is
required to be set aside by the physician group each month to fund each upcoming
annual installment.  Certain assets of the affiliated group have been pledged to
us as security  under the loan,  and the loan provides us with certain rights of
offset against distributions to the medical group under the service agreement in
the event of default  under the loan  agreement.  As of December 31,  1999,  the
outstanding  balance of the loan was $31.1  million,  and we  estimate  that the
carrying value of this receivable approximates the fair value.

         In November 1998, we agreed to lend another medical group $8.0 million,
all of which was funded on November  12,  1998.  The purpose of this loan was to
provide  the  group  with  liquidity  for  general  corporate  purposes  and  to
strengthen  the  physician-association  relationship.  Interest is payable to us
monthly at an annual rate of 8.0%.  The principal  will be repaid in 180 monthly
installments  beginning  November 30,  2008.  Certain  assets of the  affiliated
medical group have been pledged to us as security  under the loan,  and the loan
provides us with certain rights of offset against  distributions  to the medical
group  under  the  service  agreement  in the  event of  default  under the loan
agreement. As of December 31, 1999, the outstanding balance of the loan was $8.0
million,  and we estimate that the carrying value this  receivable  approximates
the fair value.

         In connection with a  May 1999  affiliation,  we agreed to lend another
medical group a total of $5.5 million.  The proceeds of this loan are being used
by the group to purchase split-dollar life insurance policies for the physicians
in the group.  An initial  loan of $1.1  million was funded in April  1999,  and
additional  loans of $1.1 million will be funded each April  through  2003.  The
note  receivable  earns  interest at 8.2% and is an  interest-only  loan payable
monthly through April 2009, after which the principal balance is to be repaid in
monthly installments through April 2039.

         In connection with a March 1997 affiliation,  we issued $8.6 million of
notes payable to be paid in three equal annual  installments in April 1998, 1999
and 2000.  The notes bear  interest at 9%, with  interest  payable in options to
purchase  our common stock at a price of $9.00 per share  (valued in  accordance
with the Black-Scholes model),  provided the market price for the stock is above
the exercise  price at the time of payment.  Interest may be paid in cash at the
option of either party if the market price for the stock is $9.00 or less at the
time of payment.

         In connection with an April 1998 affiliation, we issued $7.6 million in
convertible  subordinated  notes.  The  notes  bear  interest  at 4.75%  payable
annually on March 31 and can be  converted  into shares of our common  stock any
time after  April 17,  1999 and prior to March 31, 2005 at a price of $15.35 per
share, subject to adjustment under the note agreements.

         In connection with an August 1999  affiliation,  we issued  convertible
subordinated  notes which accrue  interest at a rate of 5% paid annually on July
30 and  can  be  converted  into  shares  of the  Company's  common  stock  at a
conversion  price of $5.08,  subject  to  adjustment  under the note  agreement.
During  the first  two  years,  the  noteholders  have the  right to redeem  the
outstanding  principle on these  convertible  subordinated  notes under  certain
conditions.   As  of  December  31,  1999,   the  balance  on  these  notes  was
approximately $937,000.

         We had cash and cash  equivalents of $7.6 million at December 31, 1999.
In addition to this,  our  principal  sources of  liquidity at December 31, 1999
were accounts receivable of $63.8 million and availability of $1.5 million under
the credit facility.  We believe that this,  combined with the proceeds from the
Goldman Sachs transaction,  will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs
for at least the next  twelve  months.  Our future  acquisition,  expansion  and
capital  expenditure  programs  may,  however,  require  substantial  amounts of
additional  capital  resources.  To meet the  additional  capital needs of these
programs,  we will  continue  to  evaluate  alternative  sources  of  financing,
including short- and long-term bank  indebtedness,  additional  equity and other
forms of financing,  the availability and terms of which will depend upon market
and other  conditions.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain
additional financing at acceptable terms.

Forward-Looking Statements

         This report  includes  "forward-looking  statements"  under the Private
Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about anticipated  results,  including
statements  as to  operating  results,  liquidity  and  capital  resources,  and
expansion  into  and  within  additional   communities.   These  forward-looking
statements  are based upon our internal  estimates,  which are subject to change
because  they  reflect  preliminary  information  and our  assumptions.  Thus, a
variety of factors  could  cause our actual  results  and  experience  to differ
materially from the anticipated  results or other expectations we have expressed
in the forward-looking  statements.  The factors that could cause actual results
or outcomes to differ from our expectations include our ability to:

o        continue to operate profitably,

o        expand in our existing communities,

o        establish operations in additional communities, and

o        obtain additional financing upon terms acceptable to us,

along with the  uncertainties  and other factors described in this report and in
the our public filings and reports.

Item 8.  Financial Statements

         Our  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  are listed in Item  14(a)(1),
included at the end of this report  beginning on page F-1, and are  incorporated
herein by reference.

Item  9.  Changes  in and  Disagreements  with  Accountants  on  Accounting  and
Financial Disclosure

         None


<PAGE>



                                    Part III

Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

         The  information  required  by Item 10 will be  contained  in our proxy
statement  for our 2000  annual  meeting  of  stockholders  under  the  captions
"Directors and Nominees,"  "Executive  Officers of the Company" and  "Compliance
with Section 16(a) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934." That information is
incorporated by reference in this report.

Item 11.  Executive Compensation

         The  information  required  by Item 11 will be  contained  in our proxy
statement  for our  2000  annual  meeting  of  stockholders  under  the  caption
"Executive  Compensation." That information is incorporated by reference in this
report.

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

         The  information  required  by Item 12 will be  contained  in our proxy
statement for our 2000 annual meeting of stockholders  under the caption "Common
Stock Ownership of Certain  Beneficial  Owners and Management." That information
is incorporated by reference in this report.

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

         The  information  required  by Item 13 will be  contained  in our proxy
statement  for our  2000  annual  meeting  of  stockholders  under  the  caption
"Compensation   Committee  Interlocks  and  Insider  Participation  and  Certain
Transactions." That information is incorporated by reference by this report.


<PAGE>



                                     Part IV

Item 14.   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K.

         (a) (1) List of Financial  Statements.  The  following is a list of the
financial  statements  included at the end of this Report of Form 10-K beginning
on page F-1:

     Report of Independent Public Accountants
     Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1998 and 1999
     Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Years Ended
          December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999
     Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the
          Three Years Ended December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999
     Consolidated  Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Years Ended
          December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999
     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

              (2) List of Financial Statement Schedules. All schedules have been
omitted  because  they  are not  applicable  or not  required,  or the  required
information is provided in the financial statements or notes thereto.

         (b)  Reports on Form 8-K.

         No Reports on Form 8-K were filed during the fourth quarter of 1999.

         (c) List of Exhibits.  The  following is a list of exhibits  furnished.
Copies of exhibits will be furnished upon written  request of any stockholder at
a charge of $.25 per page plus postage.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Exhibit
Number                                               Description
<S>               <C>
1                 Form of Purchase Agreement. (1)
2                 Asset Purchase  Agreement dated as of January 19, 1996 by and among ProMedCo,  Inc.,  ProMedCo of
                  Abilene, inc. and Abilene Diagnostic Clinic, P.L.L.C. (2)
2(a)              First  Amendment to Asset Purchase  Agreement dated as of January 19, 1996 by and among ProMedCo,
                  Inc., ProMedCo of Abilene, inc., and Abilene Diagnostic Clinic, P.L.L.C. (2)
2.1               Plan and Agreement  for  Reorganization  dated as of September 13, 1996 by and between  ProMedCo,
                  Inc., ProMedCo of Temple, Inc., and King's Daughters Clinics, P.A. (2)
2.2               Agreement  for  Statutory  merger  dated as of November 7, 1996 by and  between  ProMedCo,  Inc.,
                  ProMedCo of Northern Nevada, Inc. and Western medical Management Corporation, Inc. (2)
3.1               Form of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of ProMedCo Management Company. (2)
3.2               By-laws of ProMedCo Management Company. (2)
4                 Form of Rights Agreement. (2)
10.1              Interim Service  Agreement dated as of January 19, 1996 by and between ProMedCo of Abilene,  inc.
                  and Abilene Diagnostic Clinic, P.L.L.C. (2)(3)
10.1(a)           First Amendment to Service  Agreement and Interim Service  Agreement dated as of January 19, 1996
                  by and between ProMedCo of Abilene, inc. and Abilene Diagnostic Clinic, P.L.L.C. (2)
10.2              Service  Agreement  dated as of January  19, 1996 by and between  ProMedCo of Abilene,  Inc.  and
                  Abilene Diagnostic Clinic, P.L.L.C. (2)(3)
10.3              Service Agreement dated as of March 12, 1996 by and between ProMedCo,  Inc. of Cullman,  Inc. and
                  Cullman Primary Care, P.C. (2)(3)
10.4              Service  Agreement  dated as of April 1, 1996 by and  between  ProMedCo  of  Mayfield,  Inc.  and
                  Morgan-Haugh, P.S.C. (2)(3)
10.5              Amended and Restated Service  Agreement dated as of June 24, 1996 by and between ProMedCo of Lake
                  Worth, Inc. and Tarrant Family Practice, P.A. (2)(3)
10.6              Service  Agreement  dated as of June 30, 1995 by and between  ProMedCo of Denton,  Inc. and North
                  Texas Medical Surgical Clinic, P.A. (2)(3)
10.7              Credit  Agreement  dated as of June 12,  1996 among  ProMedCo,  Inc.,  the  Lenders  referred  to
                  therein, and NationsCredit Commercial Corporation, as Agent. (2)
10.8              1996 Stock Option Plan. (2)
10.9              Employee Stock Purchase Plan. (2)
10.10             Employment Agreement with H. Wayne Posey. (2)
10.11             Employment Agreement with Richard R. D'Antoni. (2)
10.12             Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Dale K. Edwards. (2)
10.13             Employment Agreement with R. Alan Gleghorn. (2)
10.14             Employment Agreement with Rick E. Weymier. (2)
10.15             Employment Agreement with Deborah A. Johnson. (2)
10.16             Service  Agreement  dated as of  September  1, 1996 by and between  ProMedCo of Temple,  Inc. and
                  Physicians of King's Daughters, P.A. (2)
10.17             Employment Agreement with Robert D. Smith. (2)
10.18             Form of Service  Agreement by and between  ProMedCo of Northern  Nevada,  Inc. and Knutzen Goring
                  Medical Group, Ltd. DBA The Northern Nevada Medical Group. (2)(3)
10.19             1994 Stock Option Plan. (2)
10.20             Asset  Purchase  Agreements  as of April 23, 1997 by and  between  ProMedCo  Management  Company,
                  ProMedCo of  Southwest  Florida,  Inc.,  Naples  Medical  Center,  P.A.  and Naples  Obstetrics &
                  Gynecology,  M.D.,  P.A.  Included as Appendix 2.9A to the Agreement is the Service  Agreement by
                  and between ProMedCo of Southwest Florida and Naples Medical Center, P.A. (4)
10.21             Asset Purchase Agreement as of August 12, 1997 by and between ProMedCo  Management  Company,  PHB
                  Management Company,  Inc. and HealthAmerica  Pennsylvania,  Inc. Service Agreement by and between
                  PHB Management Company, Inc. and HealthAmerica Pennsylvania, Inc. effective October 1, 1997. (5)
10.22             Stock  Purchase  Agreement  as of October 8, 1997 by and  between  ProMedCo  Management  Company,
                  ProMedCo of Sarasota,  Inc., IMG, Inc. (formerly known as Intercoastal  Medical Group, Inc.), and
                  Intercoastal  Medical  Group,  Inc.  Service  Agreement  by and between  ProMedCo of Sarasota and
                  Intercoastal Medical Group, Inc., effective August 1, 1997. (6)
10.23             Agreement for Statutory Merger by and between HP Acquisition  Corp., a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of
                  ProMedCo  Management  Company,  with PBMA Health Systems,  Inc. and Health Plans, Inc. dated July
                  25, 1997. (7)
10.24             Amended and Restated  Credit  Agreement  dated as of November 13, 1997 among ProMedCo  Management
                  Company, the Lenders referred to therein, and NationsCredit Commercial Corporation, as Agent. (8)
10.25             Agreement for Statutory Merger between ProMedCo Management Company,  ProMedCo of Berkshire,  Inc.
                  and Berkshire Physicians & Surgeons, P.C., dated April 14, 1998. (9)
10.26             Service Agreement between  Commonwealth  Health Management  Services,  Inc. and BP&S, P.C., dated
                  April 1, 1998. (9)
10.27             Second  Amended  and  Restated  Credit  Agreement  dated as of April 16,  1998 among  ProMedCo  Management
                  Company, the Lenders referred to therein, and NationsCredit Commercial Corporation, as Agent. (1)
10.28             Credit  Agreement dated as of December 17, 1998 among ProMedCo  Management  Company,  the Lenders referred
                  to therein and NationsBank, N.A. as Agent and NationsBanc Montgomery Securities, LLC, as Arranger
11                Computation of Net Income Per Share.
22                List of Subsidiaries.
23.1              Consent of Independent Public Accountants.
27                Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>


(1)  Filed  as an  exhibit  of the same  number  to the  Company's  registration
     statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-50105).
(2)  Filed  as an  exhibit  of the same  number  to the  Company's  registration
     statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-10557).
(3)  Confidential  treatment  has been  requested  and an  application  has been
     separately filed with the Commission.
(4)  Filed as  exhibit  2.3 to the  Company's  report on Form 8-K filed with the
     Commission on May 7, 1997.
(5)  Filed as an  exhibit  to the  Company's  report on Form 8-K filed  with the
     Commission on October 15, 1997.
(6)  Filed as an  exhibit  to the  Company's  report on Form 8-K filed  with the
     Commission on October 23, 1997.
(7)  Filed as an  exhibit  to the  Company's  report on Form 8-K filed  with the
     Commission on December 17, 1997.
(8)  Filed as an  exhibit  to the  Company's  report on Form 10-K filed with the
     Commission on March 26, 1998.
(9)  Filed as an  exhibit  to the  Company's  report on Form 8-K filed  with the
     Commission on May 1, 1998.


<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

       Pursuant  to the  requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                PROMEDCO MANAGEMENT COMPANY

                                By:   /s/ H. WAYNE POSEY
                                      ------------------
                                       H. Wayne Posey
                                       Chairman, President and Chief Executive
                                       Officer

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed by the  following  persons in the  capacities  and on the
dates indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

              Signature                              Title                                 Date

<S>                                      <C>                                         <C>
/s/ H. WAYNE POSEY                       Chairman, President, Chief Executive         March 30, 2000
- - --------------------------------------   Officer and Director
H. Wayne Posey                           (Principal Executive Officer)



/s/ ROBERT D. SMITH                      Senior Vice President-Finance and            March 30, 2000
- - --------------------------------------   Chief Financial Officer
Robert D. Smith                          (Principal Financial and Accounting
                                         Officer)


/s/ RICHARD R. RAGSDALE                  Director                                     March 30, 2000
- - --------------------------------------
Richard R. Ragsdale

/s/ DAVID T. BAILEY, M.D.                Director                                     March 30, 2000
- - --------------------------------------
David T. Bailey, M.D.

/s/ CHARLES J. BUYSSE, M.D.              Director                                     March 30, 2000
- - --------------------------------------
Charles J. Buysse, M.D.

/s/ E. THOMAS CHANEY                     Director                                     March 30, 2000
- - --------------------------------------
E. Thomas Chaney

/s/ JAMES F. HERD, M.D.                  Director                                     March 30, 2000
- - --------------------------------------
James F. Herd, M.D.

/s/ JACK W. MCCASLIN                     Director                                     March 30, 2000
- - --------------------------------------
Jack W. McCaslin

/s/ SANJEEV K. MEHRA                     Director                                     March 30, 2000
- - --------------------------------------
Sanjeev K. Mehra
</TABLE>


<PAGE>




                          INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

ProMedCo Management Company                                                                                   Page
                                                                                                             -----
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
Report of Independent Public Accountants.....................................................................   F-1

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1998 and 1999 ................................................   F-2

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 1997, 1998 and
     1999....................................................................................................   F-4

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Three Years Ended December 31,
     1997, 1998 and 1999.....................................................................................   F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Years Ended December 31, 1997, 1998 and
     1999....................................................................................................   F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements...................................................................   F-7

</TABLE>



<PAGE>















                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

To the Board of Directors of
ProMedCo Management Company:

We have  audited  the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets  of  ProMedCo
Management Company (a Delaware  corporation) and subsidiaries as of December 31,
1999  and  1998,  and  the  related   consolidated   statements  of  operations,
stockholders'  equity,  and cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 1999. These financial  statements are the  responsibility  of
the Company's  management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable  assurance about whether the financial  statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting  the amounts and  disclosures in the financial  statements.  An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by  management,  as well as  evaluating  the  overall  financial  statement
presentation.  We believe  that our audits  provide a  reasonable  basis for our
opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of ProMedCo Management Company and
subsidiaries  as of  December  31,  1999  and  1998,  and the  results  of their
operations  and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1999, in conformity with accounting  principles  generally accepted
in the United States.

                            ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



Fort Worth, Texas,
March 25, 2000


<PAGE>



                  PROMEDCO MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                     (All amounts are expressed in thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                          December 31,
                                                                                --------------------------------
                                 ASSETS                                              1998              1999
                                 ------                                         --------------    --------------
<S>                                                                             <C>               <C>
Current assets:
         Cash and cash equivalents                                              $       13,871    $        7,625
         Accounts receivable, net of allowances of approximately $45,281
              and $53,269, respectively                                                 51,375            63,811
         Management fees receivable                                                      8,490             9,905
         Due from affiliated medical groups                                              9,334            13,337
         Deferred income taxes                                                           2,206               537
         Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                      13,043            16,102
                                                                                --------------    --------------

                      Total current assets                                              98,319           111,317

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of approximately
         $5,668 and $10,644, respectively                                               15,125            24,352

Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of approximately
         $5,967 and $13,769, respectively                                              153,402           227,006

Long term receivables                                                                   40,429            50,355

Deferred income taxes                                                                        -               993

Other assets                                                                             3,133             5,290
                                                                                --------------    --------------
                      Total assets                                              $      310,408    $      419,313
                                                                                ==============    ==============
</TABLE>


   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


<PAGE>



                  PROMEDCO MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEETS - (Continued)
             (All amounts are  expressed  in thousands  except for per
                                   share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                          December 31,
                                                                                --------------------------------
                  LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                               1998              1999
                  ------------------------------------                          --------------    --------------
<S>                                                                             <C>               <C>
Current liabilities:
         Accounts payable                                                       $        4,683    $        6,418
         Accrued salaries, wages and benefits                                            8,146             7,578
         Payable to affiliated medical groups                                            9,455            10,297
         Accrued purchased medical services                                              6,087             9,722
         Accrued expenses and other current liabilities                                  7,676             7,321
         Current maturities of notes payable                                             3,232            11,463
         Current portion of obligations under capital leases                               557               476
         Current portion of deferred purchase price                                      2,137             2,293
         Income taxes payable                                                              847             3,643
                                                                                --------------    --------------
                      Total current liabilities                                         42,820            59,211

Notes payable, net of current maturities                                                58,130           149,674
Obligations under capital leases, net of current portion                                   701               343
Deferred purchase price, net of current portion                                         25,290            17,592
Convertible subordinated notes payable                                                   7,635             9,484
Deferred income taxes                                                                    2,872                 -
Other long term liabilities                                                                312               378
                                                                                --------------    --------------
                      Total liabilities                                                137,760           236,682
                                                                                --------------    --------------

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders' equity:

         Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 20,000 shares authorized and no
              shares issued and outstanding                                             -                 -
         Common stock, $0.01 par value; 50,000 shares authorized; 21,024 and
              21,778 shares issued in 1998 and 1999, respectively; 21,024 and
              21,033 outstanding in 1998 and 1999, respectively                            211               219
         Additional paid-in-capital                                                    152,786           156,106
         Common stock to be issued, 413 and 12 shares, in 1998 and 1999,
              respectively                                                               6,005                90
         Treasury stock, 745 shares in 1999                                              -                (2,865)
         Stockholder notes receivable                                                     (370)             (250)
         Retained earnings                                                              14,016            29,331
                                                                                --------------    --------------
                      Total stockholders' equity                                       172,648           182,631
                                                                                --------------    --------------

                      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                $      310,408    $      419,313
                                                                                ==============    ==============
</TABLE>


    The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


<PAGE>



               PROMEDCO MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                   -------------------------------------
   (All amounts are expressed in thousands, except for net earnings per share)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                           Years Ended December 31,
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
                                                                    1997             1998               1999
                                                              -------------     --------------    --------------
<S>                                                           <C>               <C>               <C>
Net revenue                                                   $      80,641     $      222,502    $      324,494

Operating expenses:
     Clinic salaries and benefits                                    29,860             74,676           112,342
     Clinic rent and lease expense                                    7,016             17,187            28,687
     Clinic supplies                                                  9,667             24,874            37,000
     Purchased medical services                                       7,947             45,444            51,451
     Other clinic costs                                              10,884             25,699            41,232
     General corporate expenses                                       3,793              5,613             9,150
     Depreciation and amortization                                    2,943              7,239            12,295
     Interest expense, net                                              456              1,104             6,513
                                                              -------------     --------------    --------------
              Total operating expenses                               72,566            201,836           298,670
                                                              -------------     --------------    --------------

Income before provision for income taxes and
     extraordinary charge                                             8,075             20,666            25,824

Provision for income taxes                                            2,602              7,853             9,813
                                                              -------------     --------------    --------------

Net income before extraordinary charge                                5,473             12,813            16,011

Extraordinary charge - loss on extinguishment of debt, net
     of income taxes of approximately $375                            -                   (611)            -
                                                              -------------     --------------    --------------

Net income                                                    $       5,473     $       12,202    $       16,011

Net earnings per share:
     Basic

         Income before extraordinary charge                   $        0.48     $         0.69    $         0.76
         Extraordinary charge                                         -                  (0.03)            -
                                                              -------------     --------------    --------------
              Net income                                      $        0.48     $         0.66    $         0.76
                                                              =============     ==============    ==============
     Diluted

         Income before extraordinary charge                   $        0.38     $         0.61    $         0.71
         Extraordinary charge                                         -                  (0.03)            -
                                                              -------------     --------------    --------------
              Net income                                      $        0.38     $         0.58    $         0.71
                                                              =============     ==============    ==============
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

     Basic                                                           11,376             18,622            21,108
     Diluted                                                         14,224             20,958            23,141

</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


<PAGE>



                  PROMEDCO MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

                     (All amounts are expressed in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                 Class B               Additional    Common                          Stockholder        Total
                                 Common     Common      Paid-In-    Stock To  Treasury    Notes       Retained      Stockholders'
                                  Stock      Stock      Capital     Be Issued   Stock   Receivable    Earnings         Equity
<S>                          <C>          <C>         <C>           <C>         <C>    <C>          <C>           <C>
Balance,
       December 31, 1996     $        12   $      32  $   11,987     $  2,303   $  -   $    (151)     $  (3,659)   $   10,524

       Common stock
       issued in
       initial public
       offering,  net              -              40      31,705       -           -           -           -           31,745

       Redeemable
       preferred
       shares converted            -               5       2,953       -           -           -           -            2,958

       Redeemable
       common shares
       converted                   -               2         990       -           -           -           -              992

       Class B
       common converted              (12)         12       -           -           -           -           -            -

       Warrants and
       options
       exercised                   -               1          92       -           -           -           -               93

       Subordinated
       notes payable
       converted                   -           -              35       -           -           -           -               35

       Common stock
       issued and
       to be issued, net           -              16      11,566      17,818       -            (250)      -           29,150

       Treasury stock
       purchased
       and retired                 -              (1)       (381)      -           -           -           -             (382)

       Stockholder
       notes payments              -           -           -           -           -              31       -               31

       Net income                  -           -           -           -           -           -           5,473        5,473
                               ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------    --------    --------    --------    ---------

Balance,
       December 31, 1997           -             107      58,947      20,121       -            (370)      1,814       80,619

       Common stock
       offering, net               -              69      71,820       -           -           -           -           71,889

       Warrants and
       options
       exercised                   -               4         547       -           -           -           -              551

       Subordinated notes
       payable converted           -               1         684       -           -           -           -              685

       Common stock
       issued and to be
       issued, net                 -              30      20,788     (14,116)      -           -           -            6,702

       Net income                  -           -           -           -           -           -          12,202       12,202
                               ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------    --------    --------    --------    ---------

Balance,
       December 31, 1998           -             211     152,786       6,005       -            (370)     14,016      172,648


       Warrants and
       options exercised           -               1          21       -             982       -            (696)         308

       Subordinated notes
       payable converted           -               1         105       -           -           -           -              106

       Common stock
       issued and to
       be issued, net              -               6       3,194      (5,915)      -           -           -           (2,715)

       Stockholder
       notes payments              -           -           -           -           -             120       -              120

       Purchase
       of treasury stock           -                       -           -          (3,847)      -           -           (3,847)

       Net income                  -           -           -           -           -           -          16,011       16,011
                               ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------    --------    --------    --------    ---------

Balance,
       December 31, 1999       $   -       $     219   $ 156,106   $      90    $ (2,865)   $   (250)   $ 29,331    $ 182,631
                               =========   =========   =========   =========    ========    ========    ========    =========
</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


<PAGE>




                  PROMEDCO MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                     (All amounts are expressed in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                           Years Ended December 31,
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
                                                                    1997             1998               1999
                                                               -------------     -------------    --------------
<S>                                                            <C>               <C>              <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
    Net income before extraordinary charge                     $       5,473     $      12,813    $      16,011
    Extraordinary charge                                               -                  (611)           -
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
       provided by (used in) operating activities (net of
       effects of purchase transactions)-
       Depreciation and amortization                                   2,943             7,239           12,295
       Deferred income taxes                                             330             1,267             (462)
       Changes in assets and liabilities-
          Accounts receivable                                         (7,179)          (19,963)          (7,788)
          Management fees receivable                                     457            (6,644)          (1,610)
          Due from affiliated medical groups                          (1,972)           (6,463)          (3,373)
          Prepaid expenses and other assets                           (3,625)           (1,227)          (2,393)
          Other assets                                                  (402)             (640)             775
          Accounts payable                                             1,558            (5,122)            (699)
          Payable to affiliated medical groups                         5,191             4,353             (389)
          Accrued expenses and other liabilities                      (1,500)            2,474             (573)
                                                               --------------    -------------    --------------
              Net cash provided by (used in) operating
                 activities                                            1,274           (12,524)          11,794
                                                               -------------     --------------   -------------

Cash flows from investing activities:

    Purchases of property and equipment                               (2,818)           (4,082)          (7,428)
    Payments for acquisitions, net of cash                           (22,392)          (57,373)         (97,841)
    Increase in notes receivables (net of effects of
       purchase transactions)                                        (20,024)          (17,458)          (5,523)
                                                               --------------    --------------   --------------
              Net cash used in investing activities                  (45,234)          (78,913)        (110,792)
                                                               --------------    -------------    --------------

Cash flows from financing activities:

    Borrowings under notes payable                                    30,551           132,775          109,500
    Payments on notes payable                                         (2,839)         (114,778)         (12,832)
    Payments on capital leases                                          (562)             (425)            (504)
    Payment of deferred financing costs                                 (301)           (1,008)            (985)
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock                            31,838            72,983              366
    Purchase of treasury stock                                          (382)           -                (2,913)
    (Issuance) payments of stockholder notes receivable                 (218)           -                   120
                                                               --------------    -------------    -------------

              Net cash provided by financing activities               58,087            89,547           92,752
                                                               -------------     -------------    -------------

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                      14,127            (1,890)          (6,246)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year                           1,634            15,761           13,871
                                                               -------------     -------------    -------------

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year                         $      15,761     $      13,871    $       7,625
                                                               =============     =============    =============
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information (See Notes 3
    and 7):
    Cash paid during the year-
       Interest expense                                        $         689     $       3,165    $       9,227
       Income taxes                                            $       1,299     $       6,668    $       7,475
</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


<PAGE>



                  PROMEDCO MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                        DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999

1.   DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
     -----------------------

ProMedCo   Management  Company   ("ProMedCo"  or  the  "Company"),   a  Delaware
corporation,  is a medical  services  company that manages and  coordinates  the
delivery of a wide variety of healthcare services in non-urban markets. To enter
these markets,  the Company typically affiliates with a leading medical group in
a community,  thus providing the opportunity  for increasing  control of medical
expenditures  in these  communities.  The Company  then expands its market share
through affiliations with additional primary care physicians and specialists and
selective  additions of ancillary  services.  In addition to providing operating
and  expansion  capital,  the Company  provides a broad range of  strategic  and
management  expertise  and  services.  The  Company  currently  operates  in  25
communities  throughout the United States,  where it is affiliated  with medical
groups comprised of approximately 830 physicians and 155 mid-level providers. In
addition,  the Company is  associated  with  approximately  1,850  physicians in
associated independent practice association ("IPA") networks.

The Company, through its wholly-owned  subsidiaries,  typically acquires certain
net assets of medical groups and enters into long term service  agreements  with
these groups.  Under the service agreements the Company provides  administrative
and technical support for professional  services rendered by the medical groups.
The Company is reimbursed for all clinic expenses, as defined in the agreements,
and  participates  at varying  levels in the excess of total revenue over clinic
expenses.

2.   SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
     -------------------------------

Basis of Presentation/Basis of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of
accounting  and  include  the  accounts  of the  Company  and  its  wholly-owned
subsidiaries. The Company's subsidiaries acquire the operating assets and assume
certain  liabilities  of the  medical  groups  and  account  for  the  Company's
management  activities  with the medical  groups under the  Company's  long term
service  agreements.  The Company does not consolidate the operating results and
accounts of the medical groups under EITF 97-2, "Applications of FASB No. 94 and
APB No. 16 to Physician Practice  Management Entities and Certain other Entities
under Contracted  Management  Agreement." All significant  intercompany accounts
and transactions have been eliminated.

Certain  prior  year  balances  have been  reclassified  to  conform to the 1999
presentation.

Net Revenue

Net revenue  represents total revenue reduced by amounts paid to medical groups.
The amounts  paid to medical  groups  (typically  80-85% of the medical  groups'
operating income)  represents amounts paid to the groups pursuant to the service
agreements  between  the Company  and the groups and  primarily  consists of the
compensation cost of the group's physicians.  Under the service agreements,  the
Company  provides each medical group with the  facilities  and equipment used in
its  medical  practice,   assumes  responsibility  for  the  management  of  the
operations of the clinic,  and employs  substantially  all of the  non-physician
personnel. Net revenue is detailed as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                   1997             1998              1999
                                                              -------------     --------------   -------------
<S>                                                           <C>               <C>              <C>
              Total revenue                                   $     127,716     $      310,454   $     450,877
              Amounts paid to medical groups                         47,075             87,952         126,383
                                                              -------------     --------------   -------------
              Net revenue                                     $      80,641     $      222,502   $     324,494
                                                              =============     ==============   =============
</TABLE>

Total  revenue  consists  primarily of billings  and charges to patients,  third
party payors and others and payments  received  under  capitated  contracts  for
professional  and  ancillary  services  rendered.  Total  revenue also  includes
amounts earned for other services rendered,  including contract billing; medical
directorships;   interim  management;   strategic  and  financial  planning  and
management  consulting.  Revenue is recorded at the estimated realizable amount,
net of  contractual  and other  adjustments.  Revenue under certain  third-party
payor agreements is subject to audit and retroactive adjustments. Provisions for
third-party  settlements and adjustments are estimated in the period the related
services are rendered  and adjusted in future  periods as the final  settlements
are  determined.  There are no material  claims,  disputes,  or other  unsettled
matters   that   exist  to   management's   knowledge   concerning   third-party
reimbursements.  In  addition,  management  believes  there  are no  retroactive
adjustments that would be material to the Company's financial statements.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable  principally  represents receivables from patients and other
third party payors for medical  services  provided by the medical  groups.  Such
amounts are recorded net of  contractual  allowances  and  estimated  bad debts.
Management   continually   monitors  and  periodically  adjusts  its  allowances
associated  with these  receivables  based on estimated  collection  and payment
rates.  Any  adjustments  to these  estimates  are made in the period  that they
become known and quantifiable.  Under the terms of the service  agreements,  the
medical groups retain a percentage  (typically  80-85%) of the risks  associated
with uncollectible receivable amounts.

Concentration of Risk

During 1997, 1998 and 1999,  approximately  25%, 30% and 30%,  respectively,  of
total  revenue  was  received  under  government-sponsored  healthcare  programs
(principally,  the  Medicare  and Medicaid  programs).  The medical  groups have
numerous  agreements with managed care organizations and other payors to provide
services based on negotiated fee schedules.  The Company also receives  payments
under capitation  arrangements with various managed care  organizations.  During
1997,  1998 and 1999,  approximately  16%, 21%, and 17%, respectively,  of total
revenue was received under capitation  arrangements.  No individual managed care
organization or other payor is material to the Company.

For the year ended December 31, 1999, the Company's  Champaign,  Illinois market
represented  approximately 19% of the Company's net revenue. No other individual
market contributed 10% or more of the Company's net revenue.  For the year ended
December  31,  1998,  two of the  Company's  markets,  Champaign,  Illinois  and
Pittsfield, Massachusetts, contributed 25% and 14% of the Company's net revenue,
respectively.

General Corporate Expenses

General  corporate  expenses  represent  primarily  the salaries and benefits of
corporate  headquarters  personnel,   rent,  travel,  and  other  administrative
expenses.

Net Earnings Per Share

Basic EPS is calculated by dividing income  available to common  stockholders by
the weighted  average  number of common  shares  outstanding  during the period.
Common  stock to be issued is  assumed  to be common  stock  outstanding  and is
included in the weighted  average  number of common shares  outstanding  for the
basic  EPS  calculation.  Options,  warrants,  and  other  potentially  dilutive
securities are excluded from the calculation of basic EPS.  Diluted EPS includes
the options and warrants using the treasury method, and convertible subordinated
notes,  using the if-converted  method,  that are excluded from basic EPS to the
extent that these securities are not anti-dilutive.

For the years ended  December 31, 1997 and 1998,  the  convertible  subordinated
notes payable have been excluded from diluted EPS because they are considered to
be anti-dilutive. Following is a reconciliation of basic and diluted EPS for the
years ended  December 31, 1997,  1998 and 1999 (amounts in thousands  except for
per share amounts):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                      Income           Shares          Per-Share
                                                                    (Numerator)     (Denominator)       Amount
<S>                                                               <C>              <C>               <C>
December 31, 1997
         Basic EPS                                                $        5,473           11,376    $      0.48
                                                                                                     ===========
         Effect of dilutive securities:
              Options                                                    -                    657
              Warrants                                                   -                  2,191
                                                                  --------------    -------------
         Diluted EPS                                              $        5,473           14,224    $      0.38
                                                                  ==============    =============    ===========

December 31, 1998
         Basic EPS, income before extraordinary charge            $       12,813           18,622    $      0.69
                                                                                                     ===========
         Effect of dilutive securities:
              Options                                                     -                   402
              Warrants                                                    -                 1,934
                                                                  --------------    -------------
         Diluted EPS, income before extraordinary charge                  12,813           20,958    $      0.61

         Extraordinary charge - loss on extinguishment of
              debt, net of $375 of income taxes                             (611)          -               (0.03)
                                                                  --------------    -------------    -----------
         Diluted EPS                                              $       12,202           20,958    $      0.58
                                                                  ==============    =============    ===========
December 31, 1999
         Basic EPS                                                $       16,011           21,108    $      0.76
                                                                                                     ===========
         Effect of dilutive securities:
              Options                                                     -                   100
              Warrants                                                    -                 1,332
              Convertible subordinated notes payable                         305              601
                                                                  --------------    -------------
         Diluted EPS                                              $       16,316           23,141    $      0.71
                                                                  ==============    =============    ===========
</TABLE>


Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company  considers all highly liquid  investments  with  maturities of three
months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.  Cash and cash equivalents
as  of  December  31,  1998  and  1999,  include  approximately  $4,738,000  and
$3,159,000,  respectively,  of cash held in escrow  accounts  for the payment of
premiums under split-dollar life insurance contracts.  The related liability for
these premiums is included in deferred purchase price.

Management Fees Receivable

Management fees receivable  represent amounts receivable from affiliated medical
groups for interim  management and other  services.  These amounts are typically
received within one to four months after the services are rendered.

Property and Equipment

Property  and  equipment  are  stated  at cost.  Depreciation  of  property  and
equipment  are  calculated  using the  straight-line  method over the  estimated
useful lives of the assets,  which range from three to fifteen years.  Leasehold
improvements  are  amortized  on a  straight-line  basis over the shorter of the
lease term or  estimated  useful life of the  assets.  Routine  maintenance  and
repairs are charged to expense as incurred, while major renewals or improvements
are capitalized.

Intangible Assets

Service Agreement Rights

The  Company's  affiliations  typically  involve the  purchase  of tangible  and
intangible  assets and the  assumption of certain  liabilities of the affiliated
medical groups.  As part of the purchase  allocation,  the Company allocates the
purchase price to the tangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based on
estimated fair market values. In connection with each  acquisition,  the Company
enters into long term service  agreements with the medical  groups.  The service
agreements  are  typically  for a term of 40 years and cannot be  terminated  by
either party  without  cause,  consisting  primarily of  bankruptcy  or material
default.

In connection with the allocation of purchase price to  identifiable  intangible
assets,  the  Company  analyzes  the  nature of each  group with which a service
agreement is entered  into,  including  the number of  physicians in each group,
number of  service  sites and  ability  to recruit  additional  physicians,  the
group's  relative  market  position,  the  length of time each group has been in
existence, and the term and enforceability of the service agreement. Because the
Company  does  not  practice  medicine,  maintain  patient  relationships,  hire
physicians,  or  enter  into  employment  and  noncompete  agreements  with  the
physicians,  the intangible asset created in the purchase  allocation process is
associated solely with the service agreement with the medical group.

The Company believes that there is no material value allocable to the employment
and  noncompete  agreements  entered into  between the group and the  individual
physicians.  The primary economic beneficiary of these agreements is the medical
group,  an entity that the Company does not legally  control.  In addition,  any
damages under the  agreements  are paid solely to the medical group for purposes
of replacing  departing  physicians.  Generally,  due to low expected  physician
turnover  in the  industry  and the  ability  of the group to  actively  replace
departing physicians,  there would be no significant economic loss to either the
medical  group or the Company due to  physician  departure.  The medical  groups
continually  recruit physicians and, as appropriate and necessary,  subsequently
add  qualified  physicians to the group.  This manner of  operations  allows the
medical  group to  perpetuate  itself  as  individual  physicians  retire or are
otherwise  replaced.  The  Company  believes  that the groups  with which it has
service  agreements are thus long- lived entities with an  indeterminable  life,
and that the physicians,  customer  demographics,  and various contracts will be
continuously  replaced. The service agreement intangible is being amortized on a
straight-line  method over a composite  average life of 25 years. (See also Note
10).

Excess of Cost of Acquired Assets Over Fair Value

Excess of cost of acquired assets over fair value  (goodwill) is amortized using
the straight-line method over 25 years. (See also Note 10).

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company  periodically  reviews its intangible assets for impairment whenever
events or changes in  circumstances  indicate  that the  carrying  amount of the
asset may not be recoverable.  If this review indicates that the carrying amount
of the asset may not be recoverable, based on the undiscounted cash flows of the
operations over the remaining  amortization  period,  then the carrying value of
the asset is reduced to estimated fair value. Among the factors that the Company
will  continually  evaluate  are  unfavorable  changes in each  medical  group's
relative market share and local market competitive  environment,  current period
and  forecasted  operating  and cash flow  levels of the  medical  group and its
impact on the management fee earned by the Company,  and legal factors governing
the practice of medicine. At December 31, 1998 and 1999, no impairment existed.

Income Taxes

The Company  accounts for income taxes under the  liability  method which states
that  deferred  taxes are to be  determined  based on the  estimated  future tax
effects of differences  between the financial  statement and tax bases of assets
and  liabilities  given the provisions of enacted tax laws.  Deferred income tax
provisions  and benefits are based on the changes to the asset or liability from
period to period.  The  Company and its  subsidiaries  file a  consolidated  tax
return.

Use of Estimates

The  preparation of the  consolidated  financial  statements in conformity  with
generally accepted  accounting  principles requires management to make estimates
and assumptions  that affect the reported  amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of  contingent  assets and  liabilities  at the date of the financial
statements  and the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses  during  the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Stock-Based Compensation

In October 1995, the Financial  Accounting  Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS
No. 123,  "Accounting  for Stock-Based  Compensation,"  which allows entities to
measure  compensation costs related to awards of stock-based  compensation using
either the fair value method or the intrinsic value method. Under the fair value
method,  compensation  expense is  measured  at the grant date based on the fair
value of the award.  Under the intrinsic value method,  compensation  expense is
equal to the  excess,  if any,  of the quoted  market  price of the stock at the
grant date over the amount the employee must pay to acquire the stock.  Entities
electing to measure  compensation  costs using the  intrinsic  value method must
make pro forma  disclosures  of net income and earnings per share as if the fair
value  method  had  been  applied.  The  Company  has  elected  to  account  for
stock-based   compensation  programs  using  the  intrinsic  value  method.  The
following pro forma  disclosures are presented to reflect amounts as if the fair
value method were applied:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                          Years Ended December 31,
                                                              -------------------------------------------------
                                                                   1997             1998              1999
                                                              -------------     -------------    --------------
                                                                (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)        (Unaudited)
<S>                                                           <C>               <C>              <C>
         Net income (in thousands)                            $       3,921     $      10,762    $       14,266
                                                              =============     =============    ==============
         Basic net earnings per share                         $        0.34     $        0.58    $         0.68
                                                              =============     =============    ==============
         Diluted net earnings per share                       $        0.28     $        0.51    $         0.63
                                                              =============     =============    ==============
</TABLE>


For  disclosure  purposes,  the Company uses U.S.  Treasury  strip rates for its
risk-free  interest rates,  assumed no future dividends and assumed the expected
life of the options through the applicable  expiration dates. For 1997, 1998 and
1999, the Company assumes a volatility  rate of 58%, 88% and 78%,  respectively.
(See Note 8).

3.   ACQUISITIONS

Medical Groups

During 1999, 1998 and 1997, the Company, through its wholly-owned  subsidiaries,
acquired  certain  operating  assets  or  all of the  outstanding  stock  of the
following medical groups:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                     Medical Group                      Effective Date                      Location
<S>      <C>                                        <C>                                <C>
1999:    El Paseo Medical Center                     January 1999 (a)                   Las Cruces, NM
         Boca Raton Medical Associates               February 1999 (b)                  Boca Raton, FL
         Medical Office Services                     May 1999                           Flagstaff, AZ
         Family Care Center of Indiana               May 1999                           Dyer, IN
         MedGroup                                    August 1999                        Prescott, AZ
         Horizon Medical Group                       October 1999 (c)                   Columbus, GA

1998:    Berkshire Physicians & Surgeons             April 1998 (d)                     Pittsfield, MA
         Primary Medical Clinics                     May 1998                           Midland, TX
         Prime Medical Associates                    June 1998                          Hudson, NY
         Physicians' Primary Care                    July 1998                          Ft. Myers, FL
         Medical Associates of Pinellas              November 1998 (e)                  Clearwater, FL

1997:    Naples Medical Center                       March 1997                         Naples, FL
         Abilene Diagnostic Clinic                   June 1997 (f)                      Abilene, TX
         Intercoastal Medical Group                  August 1997                        Sarasota, FL
         Beacon Medical Group                        October 1997 (g)                   Harrisburg, PA
         Cowley Medical Associates (h)               November 1997                      Harrisburg, PA
         Thomas-Spann Clinic                         December 1997                      Corpus Christi, TX
         HealthStar, Inc.                            December 1997                      Morristown, TN
</TABLE>

(a)           The Company  operated El Paseo  Medical  Center  under a long-term
              service  agreement   effective   December  1,  1998.  The  Company
              completed its acquisition in January 1999.

(b)           The  Company  operated  Boca  Raton  Medical  Associates  under an
              interim service  agreement  effective October 1, 1998. The Company
              completed its  acquisition  in February  1999,  and entered into a
              long term service agreement effective February 1, 1999.

(c)           The  Company  operated  Horizon  Medical  Group  under an  interim
              service  agreement  effective July 1, 1998. The Company  completed
              its  acquisition  in October  1999,  and entered  into a long term
              service agreement effective October 1, 1999.

(d)           Berkshire  Physicians  and  Surgeons  was  operated by the Company
              under an interim service agreement effective February 1, 1998. The
              Company  completed its acquisition in April 1998, and entered into
              a long term service  agreement  with the medical  group  effective
              April 1, 1998.

(e)           Medical  Associates  of Pinellas was operated by the Company under
              an interim  service  agreement  effective May 1, 1998. The Company
              completed  its  acquisition  in October  1998 and  entered  into a
              long-term  service  agreement  with the  medical  group  effective
              November 1, 1998.

(f)           Abilene  Diagnostic  Clinic was  operated by the Company  under an
              interim service agreement  effective December 1, 1995. The Company
              completed  its  acquisition  of certain  operating  assets in June
              1997,  and entered  into a long term  service  agreement  with the
              medical group effective June 1, 1997.

(g)           Beacon  Medical Group was operated by the Company under an interim
              service  agreement  effective April 1, 1997. The Company completed
              its acquisition of certain  operating  assets in October 1997, and
              entered into a long term service  agreement with the medical group
              effective on that date.

(h)           The  physicians  of  Cowley Medical Associates  combined  with the
              Beacon Medical Group in December 1997.

The acquisitions of the operating assets and liabilities have been accounted for
by the purchase  method of accounting and,  accordingly,  the purchase price has
been allocated to the tangible assets acquired and liabilities  assumed based on
the estimated fair values at the dates of  acquisition.  Simultaneous  with each
acquisition,  the Company  entered into a long term service  agreement with each
medical  group.  In  conjunction  with  certain  acquisitions,  the  Company  is
obligated to make deferred payments to medical groups.  Such amounts,  which are
typically  funded  through  borrowings on the  revolving  credit  facility,  are
included in deferred  purchase price in the  accompanying  consolidated  balance
sheets.  In certain  cases,  the  Company is  obligated  to issue  shares of the
Company's  common stock in future  periods.  The  following  is the  preliminary
allocation  of purchase  price for the  acquisitions  completed  during the year
ended December 31, 1998 and 1999 (amounts in thousands).

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                  1998                1999
                                                                             -----------         -----------
<S>                                                                         <C>                 <C>
         Fair value of assets acquired                                       $    17,075         $    16,562

         Liabilities assumed                                                     (11,950)             (9,763)
         Intangible assets                                                        80,217              80,915
                                                                             -----------         -----------
                                                                                  85,342              87,714
         Less - Fair value of common stock issued and to be issued                 6,270                 826
         Less - Notes issued                                                       6,554               4,218
         Less - Deferred purchase price (payable in cash)                         23,218              16,598
                                                                             -----------         -----------
         Cash purchase price                                                 $    49,300         $    66,072
                                                                             ===========         ===========
</TABLE>

For certain  acquisitions  occurring  close to or at the end of the period,  the
estimated fair values are  preliminary  and,  therefore,  are subject to change.
Under the purchase  agreements,  the purchase price is adjustable by the Company
for a period  between 60 to 120 days after the  closing  of the  transaction  in
order to  finalize  the fair  values  of the  assets  acquired  and  liabilities
assumed.

Other Acquisitions

Effective  December 1, 1997,  the Company,  through a  wholly-owned  subsidiary,
completed its  acquisition  of Health Plans,  Inc.,  and renamed the company PMC
Medical Management , Inc. ("PMC").  PMC provides capitation  management services
through  risk  contracting  with HMOs and other  third-party  payors.  The total
consideration for the transaction was approximately $8.5 million which consisted
of $1.7 million cash and $6.8  million of the  Company's  common stock and stock
options.

Effective  August 1,  1999,  the  Company,  through a  wholly-owned  subsidiary,
completed its acquisition of Primergy,  Inc.,  ("Primergy").  Based in Kingston,
New York,  Primergy  is a medical  network  management  company  which  owns and
operates five IPAs in the Hudson Valley of New York and has under  contract more
than 1,000 physicians.

In November 1999, the Company  purchased an option to acquire  substantially all
of the assets of Tampa Bay Medical Research,  Inc., a regional clinical research
site management organization located in Clearwater,  Florida. This option may be
exercised at any time prior to December 2002.

Pro Forma Information

The  following   unaudited  pro  forma   information   reflects  the  effect  of
acquisitions  of  medical  groups  and other  acquisitions  on the  consolidated
results of operations of the Company assuming that the acquisitions  occurred at
January 1, 1998. Future results may differ  substantially from pro forma results
and cannot be considered indicative of future results.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                 Years Ended December 31,
                                                                           -----------------------------------
                                                                                 1998                1999
                                                                           ---------------     ---------------
                                                                              (unaudited)         (unaudited)
<S>                                                                       <C>               <C>
         Net revenue (in thousands)                                        $       292,161     $       346,692
                                                                           ===============     ===============

         Net income before extraordinary charge (in thousands)             $        13,198     $        16,622
                                                                           ===============     ===============

         Net income before extraordinary charge per share
                  Basic                                                    $          0.69     $          0.78
                                                                           ===============     ===============
                  Diluted                                                  $          0.62     $          0.72
                                                                           ===============     ===============
         Weighted average number of common shares
                  outstanding (in thousands)
                  Basic                                                             19,044              21,336
                                                                           ===============     ===============
                  Diluted                                                           21,380              23,369
                                                                           ===============     ===============
</TABLE>


4.   PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
     ----------------------

Property and equipment is summarized as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                December 31,
                                                                     -----------------------------------
                                                                          1998                1999
                                                                     ---------------    ----------------
<S>                                                                 <C>                 <C>
         Furniture, fixtures, and equipment                          $        18,430    $         29,886
         Leasehold improvements                                                2,363               5,110
                                                                     ---------------    ----------------
                                                                              20,793              34,996
         Less- Accumulated depreciation                                       (5,668)            (10,644)
                                                                     ---------------    ----------------

         Property and equipment, net                                 $        15,125    $         24,352
                                                                     ===============    ================
</TABLE>


5.   INTANGIBLE ASSETS
     -----------------

Intangible assets are summarized as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                December 31,
                                                                     -----------------------------------
                                                                          1998                1999
                                                                     ---------------    ----------------
<S>                                                                 <C>                <C>
         Service agreement rights                                    $       152,890     $       224,999
         Excess of cost of acquired assets over fair value                     6,479              15,776
                                                                     ---------------    ----------------
                                                                             159,369             240,775
         Less- Accumulated amortization                                       (5,967)            (13,769)
                                                                     ----------------   -----------------

         Intangible assets, net                                      $       153,402    $        227,006
                                                                     ===============    ================
</TABLE>

6.   LONG TERM RECEIVABLES
     ---------------------

During 1997,  the Company  entered into an agreement to lend up to $42.7 million
to an  affiliated  medical  group.  The  purpose of this loan was to provide the
medical group with liquidity to meet certain  obligations,  general  association
purposes and to strengthen the physician-association  relationships. The loan is
being funded in six advances.  As of December 31, 1999,  four advances  totaling
$31.1  million had been made.  The  remaining  two advances of $5.8 million each
will be made  annually on December 1, 2000 and 2001.  Interest is payable to the
Company  monthly  at an annual  fixed  rate of 8.0%.  The loan will be repaid in
fifteen annual  payments  beginning on November 30, 2008.  Certain assets of the
affiliated  medical group have been pledged as security  under the loan, and the
loan provides certain rights to offset against  distributions  under the service
agreement in the event of default under the loan  agreement.  As of December 31,
1999, the outstanding loan totaled $31.1 million,  and the Company estimates the
carrying value of this receivable approximates the fair value.

In November  1998,  the Company  entered into a similar  agreement with a second
medical  group to loan $8.0  million,  all of which was funded on  November  12,
1998.  The purpose of this loan was to provide the medical group with  liquidity
for general  corporate  purposes and to strengthen the physician  relationships.
Interest is payable to the Company  monthly at an annual fixed rate of 8.0%. The
loan will be repaid in 180 monthly  payments  beginning  on November  30,  2008.
Certain  assets of the  affiliated  medical  group have been pledged as security
under  the  loan,  and the  loan  provides  certain  rights  to  offset  against
distributions under the service agreement in the event of default under the loan
agreement.  As of December 31, 1999, the outstanding  loan totaled $8.0 million,
and the Company estimates the carrying value of this receivable approximates the
fair value.

In May 1999, the Company  entered into a similar  agreement with a third medical
group to loan $5.5 million,  in five equal annual advances.  The purpose of this
loan was to provide the medical  group with funds to purchase  split dollar life
insurance  policies for its  individual  physicians.  Interest is payable to the
Company  monthly at an annual fixed rate of 8.2%. The loan will be repaid in 360
monthly  payments  beginning on May 31, 2009.  Certain  assets of the affiliated
medical  group  have been  pledged  as  security  under  the loan,  and the loan
provides  certain  rights  to offset  against  distributions  under the  service
agreement in the event of default under the loan  agreement.  As of December 31,
1999, the outstanding loan totaled $1.1 million,  and the Company  estimates the
carrying value of this receivable approximates the fair value.

In  connection  with the certain  acquisitions  completed in 1998 and 1999,  the
Company entered into split-dollar life insurance  agreements with the physicians
and prior owners of certain medical groups. Under these agreements,  the Company
purchases life insurance in the name of the individual seller. Upon the death of
the  individual  seller,  the amount of the premiums paid by the Company will be
returned. In addition, these receivables are guaranteed by the individual policy
holders.  For the policies in effect as of December  31, 1999,  the total of the
premiums that will be returned to the Company is  approximately  $33.5  million.
The Company initially records the present value of future premiums receivable as
long term receivables in the allocation of purchase price, using a discount rate
of 6.75% over the estimated  actuarial life of the policy owners.  The accretion
of this receivable from the initial carrying value to the full premium amount is
recorded as a reduction of amortization expense in the accompanying consolidated
statements of  operations.  At December 31, 1998 and 1999, the carrying value of
these receivables was $5.2 million and $6.7 million, respectively.

In May 1997,  the Company  loaned  $600,000 to an officer of the  Company.  This
note,  plus  interest at 6.5%,  was repaid in March 1998.  In August  1998,  the
Company loaned an officer of the Company $2.0 million. Beginning in August 2003,
the loan will be repaid in annual installments of $200,000 plus accrued interest
of 7.0% with the remaining balance due in August 2008. This loan is secured by a
pledge of warrants for up to 620,665 shares of the Company's common stock.

7.   NOTES PAYABLE, OTHER LONG TERM LIABILITIES
     AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER CAPITAL LEASES

Notes payable are summarized as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                December 31,

                                                                           1998              1999
                                                                       -------------    -------------
<S>                                                                   <C>               <C>
         Borrowings under Revolving Credit Facility                    $      54,500    $     156,000
         Notes payable to medical group; unsecured; due in
              three annual installments in April 1998, 1999 and 2000; 9%
              interest payable annually in cash or options to purchase the
              Company's common stock                                           5,787            2,869
         Notes payable to medical group; unsecured; due in
              four  annual installments in December 1998,
              1999, 2000, and 2001; 5% interest payable
              annually                                                           867              640
         Note payable to medical group; unsecured; due in
              four equal installments of principal and 7%
              interest in May 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003                       -                   800
         Other notes payable                                                     208              828
                                                                       -------------    -------------
                                                                              61,362          161,137
         Less- Current portion                                                (3,232)         (11,463)
                                                                       --------------   --------------
         Notes payable, net                                            $      58,130    $     149,674
                                                                       =============    =============
</TABLE>

The  maturities  of notes  payable at  December  31,  1999,  are as follows  (in
thousands):

                     2000                           $      11,463
                     2001                                 148,748
                     2002                                     402
                     2003                                     357
                     2004                                      66
                     Thereafter                               101
                                                    -------------

                                                    $     161,137

Revolving Credit Facility

Effective  December  17,  1998,  the Company  entered  into a  revolving  credit
agreement  (the  "Credit  Facility")  with a  syndicate  of  banks.  The  Credit
Facility,  as amended,  provides for a three-year  commitment to fund  revolving
credit  borrowings of up to $157.5 million for  acquisitions and general working
capital  purposes.  Initial  borrowings  under the new facility of $52.5 million
were used to payoff the Company's  previous  revolving credit facility (see Note
11) and pay certain  financing  costs.  The Company paid fees and other  closing
costs of  approximately  $1.7 million which has been capitalized in other assets
in the accompanying  consolidated  balance sheets and amortized as an adjustment
to interest expense using the effective  interest  method.  At the expiration of
the revolving credit commitment, the Company can convert the outstanding balance
on the Credit  Facility to a term loan which amortizes at 5% per quarter for the
following eight quarers, with the remaining balance due on December 17, 2003.

The interest rate under the Credit Facility is set at the Company's  options and
varies based on the Company's leverage ratio, as follows:  (i) the higher of the
federal  funds rate plus 0.5% to 1.25% or the prime rate plus 0.0% to 0.75%,  or
(ii) the Eurodollar  rate plus 1.25% to 2.25%. As of December 31, 1998 and 1999,
the  effective  interest  rate  on  the  Credit  Facility  was  7.2%  and  8.5%,
respectively.  The  Credit  Facility  includes  various  restrictive  covenants,
certain of which become more restrictive over time, including limitations on the
payment of dividends as well as the  maintenance  of certain  financial  ratios,
including  fixed charge  coverage and senior debt to EBITDA,  among others.  The
Credit Facility is secured by substantially all the assets of the Company. As of
December  31,  1999,  the Company had $1.5  million  available  under the Credit
Facility subject to certain  conditions as defined by the agreement.  In January
2000,  this  availability  was  increased by $15 million from the closing of the
first stage of the Goldman Sachs Transaction (see Note 16).

Convertible Subordinated Notes Payable

In March 1996, in connection  with the  affiliation of two medical  groups,  the
Company issued $1.8 million in convertible  subordinated  notes.  The notes bear
interest of 7.0% and mature in March 2003. The notes may, at the election of the
noteholders,  be converted into shares of common stock at a conversion  price of
$9.00 per share,  subject to certain  limitations  and automatic  conversions as
defined  in  the  note  agreements.   During  1997,  one  noteholder   converted
approximately  $35,000 of notes into 3,912 shares of the Company's common stock.
During 1998,  noteholders converted  approximately $685,000 of notes into 76,093
shares  of the  Company's  common  stock.  During  1999,  noteholders  converted
approximately  $106,000  of notes into  11,736  shares of the  Company's  common
stock.

In connection  with the  affiliation of a medical group, in April 1998, and as a
result of a reconciliation of total  consideration  completed in September 1999,
the Company issued $7.6 million in  convertible  subordinated  notes.  The notes
bear interest of 4.75% paid annually on March 31, mature on March 31, 2005,  and
can be converted into shares of the Company's  common stock any time after April
17, 1999 and prior to March 31, 2005 at a conversion price of $15.35, subject to
adjustment under the note agreements.

In August 1999, in  connection  with the  affiliation  of a medical  group,  the
Company issued  convertible  subordinated notes which bear interest at a rate of
5.0% paid  annually on July 30,  mature on July 30,  2005,  and can be converted
into  shares  of the  Company's  common  stock at a  conversion  price of $5.08,
subject to adjustment under the note agreement.  Under certain conditions during
the first two years of this  agreement,  the  noteholders  may  redeem a certain
portion of the  outstanding  balance.  As of December 31,  1999,  the balance on
these notes was approximately $937,000.

Obligations Under Capital Leases

In connection with  affiliations  with medical groups and in the ordinary course
of business,  the Company  assumed the  obligation  of various  equipment  under
capital  leases.  As of December 31, 1999,  future  minimum lease payments under
capital leases are as follows (in thousands):

                           2000                                 $       535
                           2001                                         286
                           2002                                          78
                           2003                                           4
                                                                -----------
                                                                        891

                  Less- Portion attributable to interest                (72)
                                                                ------------
                  Obligations under capital leases                      819
                  Less- Current portion                                (476)
                                                                -----------
                                                                $       343

8.   STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
     --------------------

The Company has authorized the issuance of 70,000,000  shares of stock, of which
(a) 20,000,000 shares, par value $0.01 per share, are to be designated Preferred
Stock  (of  which  700,000  shares  are to be  designated  Series  A  Redeemable
Convertible  Preferred  Stock) and (b)  50,000,000  shares,  par value $0.01 per
share, are to be of a class designated Common Stock.

During  March 1997,  the Company  completed  the Initial  Offering of its common
stock. The Initial  Offering  consisted of 4,000,000 shares of common stock sold
at a price of $9.00 per share.  Gross and net proceeds from the Initial Offering
were $36.0 million and $33.5 million,  respectively.  In addition,  net proceeds
were reduced by approximately  $1.8 million of expenses  relating to the Initial
Offering.

During May 1998, the Company  completed a public offering of 6,900,000 shares of
common stock at a price of $11.00 per share (the  "Secondary  Offering").  Gross
and net  proceeds  from the  Secondary  Offering  were $75.9  million  and $72.5
million , respectively.  In addition, net proceeds were reduced by approximately
$600,000 of expenses relating to the Secondary Offering.

Redeemable Common Stock

In connection  with an acquisition in 1995, the Company issued 165,296 shares of
Redeemable Common Stock for $991,776. On the completion of the Initial Offering,
the 165,296 shares of Redeemable Common Stock were automatically  converted into
common stock.

Class B Common Stock

During 1994,  the Company  issued  1,226,150  shares of Class B Common Stock and
warrants to purchase 965,916 shares of Class B Common Stock at an exercise price
of $1.25 per share. The Company also granted an option to purchase 155,000 Class
B Common  Stock at an  exercise  price of $0.50 per unit.  Each share of Class B
Common Stock automatically  converted into common stock on the completion of the
Initial  Offering.  Similarly,  the rights to purchase  shares of Class B Common
Stock under the warrants and options were converted into warrants and options to
purchase  shares of common  stock.  The  warrants are  exercisable  on or before
September 30, 2004, and warrants to purchase 866,540 shares of common stock were
outstanding as of December 31, 1999.

Common Stock Warrants

During 1994, the Company issued warrants to purchase  1,428,998 shares of common
stock at an exercise price of $1.25 per share.  The warrants are  exercisable on
or before June 30, 2003. As of December 31, 1999,  warrants to purchase  911,061
shares of common stock were outstanding.

During 1999, in connection with the affiliation of a medical group,  the Company
issued  warrants to purchase  82,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price
of $3.125 per share. The warrants are exercisable on or before July 30, 2004. As
of December 31, 1999, all of these warrants were outstanding.

Common Stock To Be Issued

In  connection  with  acquisitions  completed  in 1998,  common  stock valued at
approximately  $2.3 million were issued in 1999.  In addition to the issuance of
common  stock,   in 1999 the Company made a cash payment of  approximately  $3.6
million to a medical group in lieu of an anticipated stock issuance.

In connection with acquisitions  completed in 1997, common stock valued at $20.1
million was issued in 1998.  The number of shares to be issued and the price per
share were fixed at the consummation date of the specific acquisitions in 1997.

Treasury Stock

The Company has authorized a common stock repurchase program whereby the Company
may  repurchase up to $10.0 million of the  Company's  common stock.  Throughout
1999, the Company purchased 781,616 shares of treasury stock at the market price
on the date of the  transaction.  An additional  191,548  shares were  purchased
through the exercise of put rights which were issued in conjunction  with a 1999
acquisition.  The average  purchase price for all treasury  shares was $3.95 per
share. All unexercised put rights expired on December 28, 1999.

In June 1999, the Company issued 228,504 shares from treasury in connection with
the  exercise  of  warrants  with an  exercise  price of $1.25  per  share.  The
resulting loss of $696,000 on the issuance of these treasury shares was recorded
as a reduction in retained earrings.

Stock Option Plans

The Company has reserved  1,500,000  shares and 3,100,000 shares of common stock
for issuance under its 1994 and 1996 Stock Option Plans (collectively the "Stock
Option Plans").  Options  granted under the Plans may be either  incentive stock
options ("ISO") or  nonqualified  stock options  ("NQSO").  The option price per
share shall not be less than the fair market value of the Company's Common stock
at the date of grant. Generally, options vest over a five-year period and expire
ten years  after the option was  issued.  As of December  31,  1999,  options to
purchase  1,488,679  shares  remain  available  for grant under the Stock Option
Plans.

The following table summarizes the activity in the Stock Option Plans:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         Weighted-Average
                                                     Outstanding    Price Per Share       Exercise Price
<S>                                               <C>             <C>                      <C>
         December 31, 1996                            1,064,400     $0.50 - $14.00             $6.85
              Granted                                   626,071     $6.00 - $12.00             $7.88
              Exercised                                  (3,100)         $6.00                 $6.00
              Canceled                                  (61,400)     $6.00 - $9.00             $6.67
                                                    -----------
         December 31, 1997                            1,625,971     $0.50 - $14.00             $6.71
              Granted                                   709,400     $4.69 - $15.00             $9.00
              Exercised                                (117,350)     $0.50 - $9.00             $5.25
              Canceled                                  (96,100)    $6.00 - $14.00             $7.02
                                                    -----------
         December 31, 1998                            2,121,921     $0.50 - $14.00             $7.69
              Granted                                 1,008,450      $2.06 - $6.13             $5.07
              Exercised                                 (44,800)         $0.50                 $0.50
              Canceled                                 (159,500)    $4.25 - $15.00             $9.19
                                                    -----------
         December 31, 1999                            2,926,071     $0.50 - $14.00             $6.82
                                                    ===========
</TABLE>

Options to purchase  shares of the  Company's  common stock are as follows as of
December 31, 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                     Options Outstanding                   Options Exercisable
                                        --------------------------------------------  ----------------------------
                                           Number of      Years to       Exercise     Number of         Exercise
         Range of Prices                    Shares       Expiration        Price          Shares          Price
         ---------------                -------------  --------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                    <C>            <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>
         $0.50                                 4,800          4.83      $    0.50            -                 n/a
         $2.06 - $2.91                        73,500          6.93           2.38           40,000     $      2.50
         $3.13 - $4.69                       130,500          9.34           4.07            5,000            4.69
         $4.81 - $7.00                     1,628,657          7.80           5.64          578,917            5.98
         $7.44 - $11.00                      976,983          7.81           8.74          310,008            8.50
         $12.00 - $14.00                     111,631          6.49          13.55           65,422           13.56
                                         -----------    ----------      ---------      -----------     -----------
                                           2,926,071          7.79      $    6.82          999,347     $      7.11
                                         ===========    ==========      =========      ===========     ===========
</TABLE>

Stock options  exercisable under the Stock Option Plans as of December 31, 1997,
1998 and 1999, totaled 653,464; 701,791; and 999,347, respectively.

In 1996, the Company entered into a credit facility which has subsequently  been
refinanced (see Note 7). In connection with the original  credit  facility,  the
Company issued 46,875  options to purchase the Company's  common stock at $10.00
per share.  These options are  outstanding  and  exercisable  as of December 31,
1999.

9.   INCOME TAXES
     ------------

The provision  (benefit) for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 1997,
1998 and 1999 consists of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                   1997             1998              1999
                                                              -------------     -------------    -------------
<S>                                                         <C>                <C>              <C>
         Current:
              Federal                                         $       2,146     $       5,821    $       8,887
              State                                                     126               765            1,388
         Deferred:
              Federal                                                   307             1,044             (402)
              State                                                      23               223              (60)
                                                              -------------     -------------    -------------
                                                              $       2,602     $       7,853    $       9,813
                                                              =============     =============    =============
</TABLE>

Total  provision for income taxes differed from the amount  computed by applying
the  U.S.  Federal  income  tax  rate  of  35%  to  earnings  before  taxes  and
extraordinary charge as a result of the following (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                   1997             1998              1999
                                                              -------------     -------------    -------------
<S>                                                           <C>               <C>              <C>
         Federal tax at statutory rate                        $       2,826     $       7,233    $       9,038

         State income taxes, net of federal income tax
                  benefit                                               422               687              899
         Change in valuation allowance                                 (992)            -               (1,216)
         Amortization of nondeductible service agreement
                  rights                                                209               188            1,345
         Accretion of future premiums receivable                       (171)             (291)            (347)
         Other                                                          308                36               94
                                                              -------------     -------------    -------------
         Total provision for income taxes                     $       2,602     $       7,853    $       9,813
                                                              =============     =============    =============
</TABLE>


Deferred  income tax assets  (liabilities)  reflect net tax effects of temporary
differences  between  the  amounts  of  assets  and  liabilities  for  financial
reporting  purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.  In connection
with  acquisitions in 1998 and 1999, the Company  recorded certain net operating
loss   carryforwards   ("NOLs")  and  other  deferred   income  tax  assets  and
liabilities,  net of a valuation allowance,  through purchase accounting.  These
NOLs  begin to expire  in 2012.  Significant  components  of the  Company's  net
deferred tax asset (liability) are as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                December 31,
                                                                           1998              1999
                                                                       -------------    -------------
<S>                                                                   <C>               <C>
         Current deferred tax assets (liabilities)
              Operating loss carryforwards                             $       3,006    $         485
              Non-deductible accrued expenses                                    295               52
                                                                       -------------    -------------
                                                                               3,301              537
              Valuation allowance                                             (1,095)           -
                                                                       --------------   -------------
                                                                               2,206              537
                                                                       --------------   -------------
         Non-current deferred tax assets (liabilities)
              Property and equipment, principally due to
                  differences in depreciation                                   (300)          (1,397)
              Service agreement rights                                        (2,024)          (1,867)
              Operating loss carryforwards                                     -                5,152
              Non-deductible accrued expenses                                  -                1,220
              Other                                                             (548)            (698)
                                                                       -------------    --------------

                                                                              (2,872)           2,410
                                                                       --------------   -------------
         Valuation allowance                                                   -               (1,417)
                                                                       -------------    --------------
                                                                              (2,872)             993
                                                                       --------------   -------------
         Net deferred tax asset (liability)                            $        (666)   $       1,530
                                                                       ==============   =============
</TABLE>

10.  CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING ESTIMATE
     -----------------------------

Effective  July 1, 1998,  the Company  changed its estimate  with respect to the
estimated life of its service  agreement rights  intangible assets to conform to
industry standards.  All existing and future service agreement rights intangible
assets will be amortized over a period not to exceed 25 years from the inception
of the respective service agreements. Had the Company adopted this policy at the
beginning of 1997,  amortization  expense would have increased by  approximately
$221,000  resulting in a decrease in diluted earnings per share of $0.01 for the
year ended  December 31, 1997. On the same basis,  amortization  expense for the
year ended 1998 would have increased by  approximately  $480,000  resulting in a
decrease in diluted earnings per share of $0.01.

11.  EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE
     --------------------

On December 17, 1998,  the Company  replaced its then existing  credit  facility
with a new  revolving  credit  facility  (see Note 7). In  connection  with this
transaction,  the Company wrote off the  unamortized  deferred  financing  costs
relating  to the prior  credit  facility.  The  resulting  extraordinary  charge
amounted  to  approximately   $611,000,   net  of  applicable  income  taxes  of
approximately $375,000.

12.  DISCLOSURES ABOUT THE FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
     ---------------------------------------------------------

As of December 31, 1998 and 1999,  the fair value of the Company's cash and cash
equivalents,  accounts  receivable,  accounts payable, due to medical groups and
accrued  expenses  approximated  their  carrying  value  because  of  the  short
maturities of those financial instruments.  The fair value of the Company's long
term debt and capital  leases also  approximates  their carrying value since the
related notes bear interest at current market rates.

As of December 31, 1998 and 1999,  the fair value of the  Company's  convertible
subordinated   notes   payable   approximates   its  carrying   value  based  on
consideration of the terms of the conversion features,  the current market price
for the Company's  common stock, and the interest rates on the notes as compared
to current market rates.

13.  SEGMENT REPORTING
     -----------------

The Company has two operating  segments:  the  management of medical  groups and
provision  of  capitation  and  medical  management  services  to IPA  networks.
However,  since the management of IPA networks  represents  less than 10% of the
Company's revenue and assets, the Company's  consolidated  financial  statements
approximate the operations and assets of the medical group  management  segment.
The Company  regularly  reviews the  operating  results of each of the different
medical groups.  However, since each of the medical groups have similar economic
characteristics,  the Company has  aggregated all of the medical groups into one
reporting segment.

The accounting  policies of the segments are the same as those  described in the
summary of significant  accounting policies (see Note 2). Intersegment sales and
transfers  are  based on the  actual  cost of  services  provided.  The  Company
evaluates  performance  based on profit or loss from  operations  before  income
taxes and extraordinary gains or losses.

The Company has no net revenues  attributed  to customers  outside of the United
States and no assets are located in foreign countries.

14.      EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

The  Company   sponsors  a  401(k)   retirement   plan  (the  "Plan")   covering
substantially  all employees.  Participants may make voluntary  contributions to
the Plan up to 15% of their compensation, as defined. Company contributions vary
by  subsidiary  and may  include a  matching  contribution  of 0% to 4.5% of the
participant's  contributions and a discretionary contribution as a percentage of
the  participant's  compensation.  The Plan  was  adopted  in late  1997 and the
Company's expense during that period was minimal. The Company recognized expense
of $1.5  million  and  $1.9  million  related  to the  Plan in  1998  and  1999,
respectively.

15.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
     -----------------------------

Leases

Operating  leases  generally  consist of short-term  leases for medical practice
office space, medical practice equipment,  corporate office space, and corporate
equipment.  Lease expense amounted to approximately $7.1 million,  $17.3 million
and $28.7 million for the years ended 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively.

The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments under noncancelable
operating leases as of December 31, 1999 (in thousands).

                    2000                  $           20,791
                    2001                              20,077
                    2002                              17,943
                    2003                              15,822
                    2004                              14,246
                    Thereafter                        27,140
                                          ------------------
                                          $          116,019
                                          ==================

Litigation

The  Company is subject to various  claims and legal  actions  that arise in the
ordinary  course  of  business.  In the  opinion  of  management,  the  ultimate
resolution  of such  matters  will not have a  material  adverse  effect  on the
Company's financial position or results of operations.

Insurance

The  Company  and the  medical  groups  are  insured  with  respect  to  medical
malpractice risks on a claims- made basis. Management is not aware of any claims
against the Company or the medical  groups that might have a material  impact on
the Company's financial position or results of operations.

16.  SUBSEQUENT EVENT
     ----------------

In January 2000, the Company  entered into a two-stage  transaction in which the
Company will issue  550,000 of  convertible  preferred  stock to  affiliates  of
Goldman,  Sachs & Co. for aggregate  gross proceeds of $55 million ("the Goldman
Sachs Transaction").  The first stage of the transaction, which was completed in
January 2000,  involved the issuance of $16 million  principal  amount of senior
subordinated  notes and 1,250,000  shares of the Company's  common stock for $16
million.  In the second stage,  which is expected to be completed in April 2000,
the investors  will  exchange the notes,  common  stock,  and an additional  $39
million  for  550,000  shares  of the  Company's  convertible  preferred  stock,
bringing the total  investment to $55 million.  The convertible  preferred stock
has a liquidation preference of $100 per share and is convertible into shares of
the Company's common stock at a conversion price of $3.25 per share,  subject to
adjustment in accordance with customary anti-dilution provisions.

In  connection  with the  completion  of the second  stage of the Goldman  Sachs
Transaction,  the Company will expand its credit  facility by up to $65 million.
This  expansion is expected to come in the form of a  combination  of additional
revolving credit commitments and six year secured term loans.




                                 CREDIT AGREEMENT

                  CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December 17, 1998, among PROMEDCO
MANAGEMENT  COMPANY, a Delaware  corporation (the "Borrower"),  the lenders from
time to time parties to this Agreement  (the  "Lenders"),  NATIONSBANK,  N.A., a
national  banking  association,   as  agent  for  the  Lenders  hereunder,   and
NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY SECURITIES LLC, as arranger (the "Arranger").

                                               Preliminary Statements

     1. The Lenders  have been  requested  to make  extensions  of credit to the
Borrower  to  finance  the  ongoing  working   capital  and  general   corporate
requirements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

     2. The Lenders have agreed to make such  extensions  of credit,  subject to
the terms and conditions set forth below.

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

                                               SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS

     1.1 Defined Terms.  As used in this  Agreement,  the following  terms shall
have the following meanings:

                  "Acquired Asset" means the Capital Stock, assets, control of a
         Physician Group or management  rights with respect to a Physician Group
         acquired  by the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  pursuant to a Permitted
         Physician Transaction.

                  "Acquired  EBITDA" means,  with respect to any Acquired Assets
         for any time  period  prior to the  acquisition  of such  assets by the
         Borrower or any  Subsidiary,  the Pro Forma ProMedCo  Distribution  for
         such period  attributable  to such assets  plus  depreciation  for such
         period attributable to such assets.

                  "Adjusted  Eurodollar Rate" means, for any Eurodollar Loan for
         any Interest Period therefor,  the rate per annum (rounded upwards,  if
         necessary,  to the nearest  1/100 of 1%)  determined by the Agent to be
         equal to the quotient  obtained by dividing (a) the Eurodollar Rate for
         such  Eurodollar  Loan  for such  Interest  Period  by (b) 1 minus  the
         Reserve Requirement for such Eurodollar Loan for such Interest Period.


<PAGE>




                                       82

DL:  1012147v8

                  "Affiliate"  means as to any Person,  any other  Person  that,
         directly or indirectly,  controls, is controlled by, or is under common
         control  with,  such Person or is a director or officer of such Person.
         For  purposes  of  this  definition,  "control"  (including  the  terms
         "controlled  by" and "under common control with") of a Person means the
         power,  directly  or  indirectly,  either to (a) vote 5% or more of the
         Capital  Stock  having  ordinary  voting  power  for  the  election  of
         directors  or other  managers of such Person or (b) direct or cause the
         direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through
         ownership, by contract or otherwise.

                  "Affiliated Provider" means any Person that employs physicians
         for the purpose of  rendering  medical care and that has entered into a
         Service Agreement with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and any
         individual physician or other licensed health care provider, including,
         but not limited to, a physician's assistant or nurse practitioner,  who
         is employed by such Person.

                  "Agent"   means   NationsBank,   N.A.,   a  national   banking
         association,  in its  capacity as the agent for the Lenders  under this
         Agreement  and  the  other  Loan  Documents,  and  its  successors  and
         permitted assigns in such capacity.

                  "Agreement"   means  this   Credit   Agreement,   as  amended,
supplemented, modified or restated from time to time.

                  "Aggregate  Outstanding  Revolving  Credit"  means  as to  any
         Lender at any time,  an  amount  equal to the sum of (a) the  aggregate
         principal  amount of all Loans made by such Lender then outstanding and
         (b) such  Lender's  Revolving  Credit  Commitment  Percentage of the LC
         Obligations then outstanding.

                  "Aggregate  Revolving Credit  Commitments" means, at any time,
         an amount equal to the sum of the Revolving  Credit  Commitments of all
         Lenders.

                  "Applicable  Lending  Office"  means,  for each Lender and for
         each  Type of Loan,  the  "Lending  Office"  of such  Lender  (or of an
         Affiliate of such Lender)  designated for such Type of Loan on Schedule
         1.1(d) or such other  office of such  Lender (or an  Affiliate  of such
         Lender) as such  Lender may from time to time  specify to the Agent and
         the Borrower by written  notice in accordance  with the terms hereof as
         the  office  by  which  its  Loans  of such  Type  are to be  made  and
         maintained.


<PAGE>



                  "Applicable  Margin" means,  for purposes of  calculating  the
         applicable interest rate for any day for Eurodollar Loans and Base Rate
         Loans and the  applicable  rate for the  Commitment Fee for any day for
         purposes of subsection  3.2(a), the appropriate  applicable  percentage
         set forth  below  corresponding  to the  Leverage  Ratio as of the most
         recent Calculation Date:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- - -------------- ------------------------- -------------------- ---------------------- --------------------
                                          Applicable Margin        Applicable            Applicable
   Pricing             Leverage                  For               Margin For            Margin For
    Level                Ratio            Eurodollar Loans       Base Rate Loans       Commitment Fees
- - -------------- ------------------------- -------------------- ---------------------- --------------------
- - -------------- ------------------------- -------------------- ---------------------- --------------------
<S>           <C>                       <C>                   <C>                   <C>
      I        < 1.000 to 1.000                1.250%                   0                   .300%
- - -------------- ------------------------- -------------------- ---------------------- --------------------

      V        $3.250 to 1.000                 2.250%                 .750%                 .500%
- - -------------- ------------------------- -------------------- ---------------------- --------------------
</TABLE>



         Each  Applicable  Margin shall be determined and adjusted  quarterly on
         each  Calculation  Date occurring after the date hereof on the basis of
         the  financial   statements  delivered  by  the  Borrower  pursuant  to
         subsection  6.1(a)  or  6.1(b),  as  applicable,   and  the  Compliance
         Certificate  delivered by the Borrower  pursuant to subsection  6.2(b);
         provided,  however,  that (a) each initial  Applicable  Margin shall be
         based on Pricing  Level IV (as shown above) and shall remain at Pricing
         Level IV until the first Calculation Date occurring subsequent to March
         31, 1999 and, thereafter,  each Applicable Margin shall be based on the
         Pricing Level (as shown above)  corresponding  to the Leverage Ratio as
         of the last day of the most  recently  ended fiscal  quarter or year of
         the Borrower  preceding the  applicable  Calculation  Date,  (b) if the
         Borrower  fails to deliver to the Agent and the Lenders such  financial
         statements  and  Compliance  Certificate  for the most  recently  ended
         fiscal  quarter  or  year  of the  Borrower  preceding  the  applicable
         Calculation  Date, each Applicable  Margin from such  Calculation  Date
         shall be based on Pricing  Level V (as shown above) until the date such
         financial  statements and Compliance  Certificate  are delivered to the
         Agent and the  Lenders,  after which each  Applicable  Margin  shall be
         based on the  Pricing  Level  (as  shown  above)  corresponding  to the
         Leverage  Ratio as of the last day of the most  recently  ended  fiscal
         quarter or year of the Borrower  preceding such  Calculation  Date, (c)
         each  Applicable  Margin  shown above shall be increased by .25% on the
         Termination Date if the Borrower shall have converted the Loans to term
         loans pursuant to Section 2.4 and (d) if and for so long as any Default
         or Event  of  Default  shall  have  occurred  and be  continuing,  each
         Applicable  Margin shall be based on Pricing  Level V (as shown above).
         Each  Applicable  Margin shall be effective from one  Calculation  Date
         until the next  Calculation  Date.  Any  adjustment  in the  Applicable
         Margins shall be applicable to all Loans then existing or  subsequently
         made.


<PAGE>



                  "Application"  means  an  application,  in  such  form  as the
         Issuing  Lender may specify from time to time,  requesting  the Issuing
         Lender to issue a Letter of Credit.

                  "Assignment and Acceptance" means an Assignment and Acceptance
substantially in the form of Exhibit L.

                  "Available  Revolving  Credit  Commitment"  means,  as to  any
         Lender at any time, an amount equal to the excess,  if any, of (a) such
         Lender's  Revolving  Credit  Commitment  at such  time,  over  (b) such
         Lender's Aggregate Outstanding Revolving Credit.

                  "Base Rate"  means,  for any day,  the rate per annum equal to
         the higher of (a) the Federal  Funds Rate for such day plus one-half of
         one  percent  (.5%) and (b) the Prime Rate for such day.  Any change in
         the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime  Rate or the  Federal  Funds
         Rate shall be  effective  on the  effective  date of such change in the
         Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Rate.

                  "Base Rate  Loans"  means  Loans that bear  interest  at rates
based upon the Base Rate.

                  "Borrowing  Date" means any Business Day specified in a notice
         pursuant to Section 2.2 as a date on which the  Borrower  requests  the
         Lenders to make Loans hereunder.

                  "Business" has the meaning specified in subsection 5.17(b).

                  "Business Day" means (a) a Domestic  Business Day and (b) with
         respect  to any  Eurodollar  Loans,  a Domestic  Business  Day on which
         dealings in Dollar  deposits  are  carried out in the London  interbank
         market.

                  "Calculation  Date" means each date on or after March 31, 1999
         that is the fifth  Business Day following  receipt by the Agent and the
         Lenders of both (a) the financial  statements  required to be delivered
         pursuant to subsection  6.1(a) or 6.1(b),  as applicable,  for the most
         recently  completed  fiscal  period of the Borrower and (b) the related
         Compliance  Certificate required to be delivered pursuant to subsection
         6.2(b).

                  "Capital Expenditures" means, as to any Person for any period,
         the   aggregate   amount  paid  or  accrued  by  such  Person  and  its
         Subsidiaries  for  rental,  lease,  purchase  (including  by way of the
         acquisition  of  securities  of a Person),  construction  or use of any
         property during such period,  the value or cost of which, in accordance
         with GAAP, would appear on such Person's  consolidated balance sheet in
         the category of property, plant or equipment at the end of such period.


<PAGE>



                  "Capital  Lease  Obligations"  means,  as to any  Person,  the
         obligations  of such Person to pay rent or other  amounts under a lease
         of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) real and/or personal
         property which  obligations are required to be classified and accounted
         for as a capital  lease on a balance  sheet of such  Person  under GAAP
         and, for  purposes of this  Agreement,  the amount of such  obligations
         shall be the capitalized amount thereof,  determined in accordance with
         GAAP.

                  "Capital Stock" means, as to any Person,  the equity interests
         in such Person, including, without limitation, the shares of each class
         of capital  stock in any Person  that is a  corporation,  each class of
         partnership interest (including,  without limitation,  general, limited
         and  preference  units) in any Person that is a  partnership,  and each
         class of member  interest  in any  Person  that is a limited  liability
         company  and any and all  warrants  or options to  purchase  any of the
         foregoing.

                  "Cash Equivalents" means with respect to the Borrower and each
         of its  Subsidiaries (a) securities with maturities of one year or less
         from the date of acquisition  issued or fully  guaranteed or insured by
         the United States Government or any agency thereof, (b) certificates of
         deposit and  eurodollar  time deposits  with  maturities of one year or
         less from the date of  acquisition  and overnight  bank deposits of any
         Lender or of any  commercial  bank having capital and surplus in excess
         of  $500,000,000,  (c)  repurchase  obligations of any Lender or of any
         commercial  bank  satisfying  the  requirements  of clause  (b) of this
         definition,  having a term of not more than thirty days with respect to
         securities  issued or fully  guaranteed or insured by the United States
         Government,  (d) commercial  paper of a domestic  issuer rated at least
         A-2 by S&P or P-2 by Moody's,  (e)  securities  with  maturities of one
         year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by
         any state,  commonwealth  or  territory  of the United  States,  by any
         political   subdivision   or  taxing   authority  of  any  such  state,
         commonwealth or territory or by any foreign government,  the securities
         of which state, commonwealth,  territory, political subdivision, taxing
         authority or foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least
         A by S&P or A by Moody's, (f) securities with maturities of one year or
         less from the date of acquisition  backed by standby  letters of credit
         issued by any Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the requirements
         of clause (b) of this  definition  or (g) shares of money market mutual
         or similar  funds which invest  exclusively  in assets  satisfying  the
         requirements of clauses (a) through (f) of this definition.


<PAGE>



                  "CHAMPUS" means the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the
         Uniformed  Service,  a program of medical benefits  covering former and
         active  members  of  the  uniformed   services  and  certain  of  their
         dependents,  financed and administered by the United States Departments
         of  Defense,   Health  and  Human  Services  and   Transportation   and
         established  pursuant to 10 USC ss.ss.  1071-1106,  and all regulations
         promulgated  thereunder  including  without  limitation (a) all federal
         statutes  (whether set forth in 10 USC ss.ss.  1071-1106 or  elsewhere)
         affecting  CHAMPUS  and (b) all rules,  regulations  (including  32 CFR
         199),  manuals,  orders  and  administrative,  reimbursement  and other
         guidelines  of  all  Governmental   Authorities   (including,   without
         limitation, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department
         of Defense,  the Department of Transportation,  the Assistant Secretary
         of Defense (Health Affairs),  and the Office of CHAMPUS,  or any Person
         succeeding  to the  functions  of any  of  the  foregoing)  promulgated
         pursuant to or in connection with any of the foregoing  (whether or not
         having the force of law), in each case as may be amended,  supplemented
         or otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "CHAMPVA" means the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the
         Department of Veteran Affairs,  a program of medical benefits  covering
         retirees  and  dependents  of a former  member of the  armed  services,
         established pursuant to 38 U.S.C. ss.ss.  7301-1713 and administered by
         the  Secretary  of Veteran  Affairs,  and all  regulations  promulgated
         thereunder  including  without  limitation  (a)  all  federal  statutes
         (whether set forth in 10 USC ss.ss.  1071-1713 or elsewhere)  affecting
         CHAMPVA,   (b)  to  the  extent  applicable  to  CHAMPVA,  the  CHAMPUS
         regulations  and (c) all rules,  regulations  (including  38 CFR ss.ss.
         17.54),  manuals,  orders and  administrative,  reimbursement and other
         guidelines  of  all  Governmental   Authorities   (including,   without
         limitation, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department
         of Defense, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Veteran
         Affairs,  the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs),  and the
         Office of CHAMPUS,  or any Person succeeding to the functions of any of
         the foregoing) promulgated pursuant to or in connection with any of the
         foregoing (whether or not having the force of law), in each case as may
         be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "Closing Date" means the date of this Agreement.

                  "Code"  means the Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended
from time to time.

                  "Collateral"  means all assets of the Loan Parties,  now owned
         or hereafter acquired,  upon which a Lien is purported to be created by
         any Security Document.

                  "Commitment  Fee"  has the  meaning  specified  in  subsection
3.2(a).

                  "Commonly  Controlled Entity" means an entity,  whether or not
         incorporated,  which is under common  control with the Borrower  within
         the  meaning  of  Section  4001 of  ERISA  or is part of a group  which
         includes the Borrower and which is treated as a single  employer  under
         Section 414 of the Code.

                  "Compliance Certificate" means a compliance certificate in the
form of Exhibit I.


<PAGE>



                  "Consolidated  EBITDA" shall mean, for any period,  the sum of
         (a) Consolidated Net Income for such period,  plus (b) an amount which,
         in the  determination of Consolidated  Net Income for such period,  has
         been  deducted  for  (i)  Consolidated  Interest  Expense,  (ii)  total
         federal,  state and local  income  taxes  and  (iii)  depreciation  and
         amortization  expense,  all as  determined  in  accordance  with  GAAP.
         Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  (and without  duplication),  (a) if an
         Acquired  Asset has not been an Acquired  Asset of the Borrower and its
         Subsidiaries for an entire fiscal quarter of the Borrower, Consolidated
         EBITDA shall include the Acquired EBITDA  attributable to such Acquired
         Asset for the entire four quarter period for which Consolidated  EBITDA
         is being  measured,  and (b) if an Acquired  Asset has been an Acquired
         Asset for one or more but less than four full  fiscal  quarters  of the
         Borrower,   Consolidated  EBITDA  for  such  Acquired  Asset  shall  be
         calculated by annualizing the actual  Consolidated  EBITDA attributable
         to such  Acquired  Asset for such period of completed  fiscal  quarters
         over a period of four fiscal quarters.

                  "Consolidated  Fixed  Charges"  means for any  period  for the
         Borrower and its  Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis, the sum of (a)
         Consolidated  Interest Expense for such period (less interest income of
         the Borrower and its Subsidiaries received in cash during such period),
         plus (b) all  required  payments of principal  of  Indebtedness  of the
         Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  during  such  period  (including  any
         redemption  or purchase of such  Indebtedness)  and discount or premium
         relating to any such Indebtedness (but excluding mandatory  prepayments
         of the Loans pursuant to subsection  3.7(b) during the Revolving Credit
         Commitment Period), plus (c) all dividends paid by the Borrower in cash
         or property during such period,  plus (d) an amount equal to 20% of the
         Aggregate  Outstanding Revolving Credit on the last day of such period,
         in each case  determined on a  consolidated  basis in  accordance  with
         GAAP.

                  "Consolidated  Interest  Expense" means,  for any period,  the
         amount of interest expense,  both expensed and capitalized,  in respect
         of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries
         outstanding  during such period (including  imputed interest on Capital
         Lease  Obligations)  determined on a  consolidated  basis in accordance
         with GAAP.

                  "Consolidated  Net  Income"  means,  for any  period,  the net
         income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,  determined on a
         consolidated  basis in accordance with GAAP, for such period;  provided
         that there shall be excluded  from such  calculation  of net income (or
         loss) (a) the  income  (if  positive)  of any Person in which any other
         Person  (other than the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries)  has any
         interest,  unless the  Borrower  has the legal right to cause  (through
         control or otherwise)  dividends or other  distributions  to be paid to
         the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  by such  Person  during such
         period in an amount equal to (i) the amount of such income,  multiplied
         by (ii) the  percentage  ownership  interest  of the  Borrower  and its
         Subsidiaries  in such  Person,  (b) the  income (or loss) of any Person
         accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower or is
         merged  into  or   consolidated   with  the  Borrower  or  any  of  its
         Subsidiaries  or the date such  Person's  assets  are  acquired  by the
         Borrower  or  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  and  (c)  the  income  of any
         Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  to the  extent  that the  declaration  or
         payment of dividends or similar  distributions  by such  Subsidiary  of
         that income is not at the time  permitted by any  Requirement of Law or
         Contractual Obligation applicable to such Subsidiary.

                  "Consolidated  Net  Worth"  means,  as  of  the  date  of  any
         determination  thereof,  the amount of the shareholders'  equity of the
         Borrower  and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries  as would be shown on the
         consolidated  balance  sheet  of  the  Borrower  and  its  Consolidated
         Subsidiaries  determined on a  consolidated  basis in  accordance  with
         GAAP.


<PAGE>



                  "Consolidated  Senior  Indebtedness" means all Indebtedness of
         the   Borrower   and  its   Subsidiaries,   except   (a)   Subordinated
         Indebtedness,  (b) any  commitment or obligation of the Borrower or any
         Subsidiary to fund or advance premiums for split-dollar  life insurance
         policies  permitted by subsection  7.8(j) and (c)  Indebtedness  of the
         type referred to in clause (m) of the definition of  "Indebtedness"  in
         this Section 1.1.

                  "Consolidated  Subsidiary" means at any date any Subsidiary or
         other entity the accounts of which, in accordance  with GAAP,  would be
         consolidated  with those of the Borrower in its consolidated  financial
         statements as of such date.

                  "Continue," "Continuation," and "Continued" shall refer to the
         continuation  pursuant to subsection  3.5(b) of a Eurodollar  Loan from
         one Interest Period to the next Interest Period.

                  "Contractual   Obligation"   means,  as  to  any  Person,  any
         provision  of any security  issued by such Person or of any  agreement,
         instrument or other  undertaking  to which such Person is a party or by
         which  it  or  any  of  its  property  is  bound,  including,   without
         limitation,   any  provision  in  any  Medicare  or  Medicaid  provider
         agreement to which such Person is a party.

                  "Convert,"  "Conversion,"  and  "Converted"  shall  refer to a
         conversion pursuant to subsection 3.5(a) or Section 3.12 of one Type of
         Loan into another Type of Loan.

                  "Debt  Issuance"  means the  issuance  by the  Borrower or any
         Subsidiary  of  indebtedness  for  borrowed  money  evidenced by notes,
         bonds,  debentures  or similar  instruments  in the private  placement,
         public  debt,  loan  or  syndicated  loan  markets,  including  without
         limitation  Subordinated  Debt  and debt  convertible  into  equity  or
         Capital Stock.

                  "Default"  means  any  Event of  Default,  whether  or not any
         requirement  for the giving of notice,  the lapse of time,  or both, or
         any other condition, has been satisfied.

                  "Deposit  Account" has the meaning  specified in the Guarantee
and Collateral Agreement.

                  "Deposit  Agreement" means a Deposit Agreement,  substantially
         in the form of Exhibit F, with such  changes or  additions to such form
         as shall be  approved by the Agent,  among a  Depository  Bank,  a Loan
         Party and the relevant Affiliated Provider.

                  "Depository  Bank"  means each bank which  shall  enter into a
         Deposit  Agreement as a  "Depository  Bank"  thereunder  and as defined
         therein,  which  shall be (a) a Lender or (b) a  Qualified  Bank.  Each
         Depository Bank and Deposit Account as of the Closing Date is listed on
         Schedule 1.1(a).

                  "Dollars"  and "$" means  dollars  in lawful  currency  of the
United States of America.


<PAGE>



                  "Domestic  Business  Day"  means  any day  except a  Saturday,
         Sunday  or other  day on which  commercial  banks in  Charlotte,  North
         Carolina, are required or authorized by law to close.

                  "Eligible  Assignee" means (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a
         Lender and (c) any other  Person  approved by the Agent and,  unless an
         Event  of  Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing  at the  time any
         assignment is effected in accordance  with Section 10.6,  the Borrower,
         such  approval  not  to be  unreasonably  withheld  or  delayed  by the
         Borrower  and such  approval to be deemed  given by the  Borrower if no
         objection  is received by the  assigning  Lender and the Agent from the
         Borrower  within  two  Business  Days  after  notice  of such  proposed
         assignment  has been provided by the assigning  Lender to the Borrower;
         provided,  however,  that  neither the Borrower nor an Affiliate of the
         Borrower shall qualify as an Eligible Assignee.

                  "Environmental  Laws"  means  any  and all  foreign,  Federal,
         state, local or municipal laws, rules, orders,  regulations,  statutes,
         ordinances,  codes,  decrees,  bases of liability,  requirements of any
         Governmental  Authority or other  Requirements of Law (including common
         law)  regulating,  relating to or imposing  liability  or  standards of
         conduct  concerning the  regulation or protection of health,  safety or
         the environment, as now or may at any time hereafter be in effect.

                  "Equity  Issuance"  means any  issuance by the Borrower or any
         Subsidiary  of  Capital  Stock  to any  Person  or the  receipt  by the
         Borrower or any  Subsidiary  of a capital  contribution  from any other
         Person.  The term "Equity  Issuance"  shall include the issuance by the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary of Capital Stock pursuant to the exercise of
         options or warrants and the conversion of any Indebtedness to equity.

                  "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of
         1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and
         rulings issued thereunder.

                  "Eurodollar  Loans"  means  Loans that bear  interest at rates
based upon the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.


<PAGE>



                  "Eurodollar  Rate"  means,  for any  Eurodollar  Loan  for any
         Interest  Period  therefor,  the rate per annum  (rounded  upwards,  if
         necessary,  to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Telerate Page 3750
         (or any  successor  page)  as the  London  interbank  offered  rate for
         deposits  in Dollars at  approximately  11:00  A.M.  (London  time) two
         Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term
         comparable to such Interest Period.  If for any reason such rate is not
         available,  the term  "Eurodollar  Rate" shall mean, for any Eurodollar
         Loan for any  Interest  Period  therefor,  the rate per annum  (rounded
         upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Reuters
         Screen LIBO Page as the London  interbank  offered rate for deposits in
         Dollars at  approximately  11:00 A.M.  (London  time) two Business Days
         prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to
         such  Interest  Period;  provided,  however,  if more  than one rate is
         specified on Reuters Screen LIBO Page, the applicable rate shall be the
         arithmetic mean of all such rates (rounded  upwards,  if necessary,  to
         the nearest 1/100 of 1%).

                  "Event  of  Default"  means  any of the  events  specified  in
         Section 8, provided that any requirement for the giving of notice,  the
         lapse of time, or both, or any other condition, has been satisfied.

                  "Exchange Act" means the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time.

                  "Existing Credit  Agreement" means that certain Second Amended
         and Restated  Credit  Agreement  dated as of April 16, 1998,  among the
         Borrower, the lenders referred to therein and NationsCredit  Commercial
         Corporation,  as agent  for the  lenders,  as the  same  may have  been
         amended or modified.

                  "Existing Subordinated Indebtedness" means all Indebtedness of
         the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  that,  as of the Closing  Date,  is
         subordinated to the prior payment in full of the Obligations.

                  "Extension of Credit" means, as to any Lender,  the making of,
         or the issuance of, or  participation  in, a Loan by such Lender or the
         issuance of, or participation in, a Letter of Credit by such Lender.

                  "Federal  Funds Rate"  means,  for any day, the rate per annum
         (rounded  upwards,  if necessary,  to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to
         the  weighted   average  of  the  rates  on  overnight   Federal  funds
         transactions  with members of the Federal  Reserve  System  arranged by
         Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal  Reserve
         Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided
         that (a) if such day is not a Business  Day, the Federal Funds Rate for
         such day shall be such rate on such  transactions on the next preceding
         Business Day as so published  on the next  succeeding  Business Day and
         (b) if no such rate is so  published on such next  succeeding  Business
         Day,  the  Federal  Funds Rate for such day shall be the  average  rate
         charged to the Agent (in its  individual  capacity) on such day on such
         transactions as determined by the Agent.

                  "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means, for any day, the ratio of
         (a)  Consolidated  EBITDA  for the  period of four  consecutive  fiscal
         quarters of the Borrower  ending on, or most recently  preceding,  such
         day, to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period.

                  "GAAP" means generally accepted  accounting  principles in the
         United States of America applied on a consistent basis,  subject to the
         terms of Section 1.3.


<PAGE>



                  "Governmental  Authority" means any nation or government,  any
         state or other political  subdivision thereof and any entity exercising
         executive,   legislative,   judicial,   regulatory  or   administrative
         functions of or pertaining to government.

                  "Governmental  Programs"  means Medicare,  Medicaid,  CHAMPUS,
         CHAMPVA and all other governmental health care benefit programs.

                  "Guarantee"  means (a) the Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement
         or (b) any other  guarantee  delivered  to the Agent  guaranteeing  the
         Obligations.

                  "Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement"  means the Guarantee and
         Collateral  Agreement to be executed and  delivered by the Borrower and
         each of its Subsidiaries substantially in the form of Exhibit D, as the
         same may be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from
         time to time.

                  "Guarantee   Obligation"   means   as  to  any   Person   (the
         "guaranteeing  person"),  any obligation of (a) the guaranteeing person
         or (b) another Person (including,  without  limitation,  any bank under
         any letter of credit) to induce the creation of which the  guaranteeing
         person  has  issued  a  reimbursement,   counterindemnity   or  similar
         obligation,  in either case guaranteeing or in effect  guaranteeing any
         Indebtedness,  leases,  dividends or other  obligations  (the  "primary
         obligations") of any other third Person (the "primary  obligor") in any
         manner, whether directly or indirectly,  including, without limitation,
         any obligation of the guaranteeing  person,  whether or not contingent,
         (i)  to  purchase   any  such  primary   obligation   or  any  property
         constituting  direct or indirect security therefor,  (ii) to advance or
         supply  funds  (A) for the  purchase  or  payment  of any such  primary
         obligation or (B) to maintain working capital, equity capital, earnings
         or other  financial  performance of the primary obligor or otherwise to
         maintain  the net worth or solvency of the  primary  obligor,  (iii) to
         purchase property,  securities or services primarily for the purpose of
         assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the
         primary  obligor to make  payment of such  primary  obligation  or (iv)
         otherwise  to assure  or hold  harmless  the owner of any such  primary
         obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the
         term Guarantee Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments
         for deposit or  collection  in the  ordinary  course of  business.  The
         amount of any Guarantee  Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be
         deemed  to be the  lower  of (a)  an  amount  equal  to the  stated  or
         determinable  amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such
         Guarantee  Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such
         guaranteeing  person  may  be  liable  pursuant  to  the  terms  of the
         instrument  embodying  such Guarantee  Obligation,  unless such primary
         obligation  and the maximum amount for which such  guaranteeing  person
         may be liable are not stated or determinable,  in which case the amount
         of  such  Guarantee  Obligation  shall  be such  guaranteeing  person's
         maximum  reasonably   anticipated   liability  in  respect  thereof  as
         determined by the Borrower in good faith.

                  "Guarantor" means any Person  delivering a Guarantee  pursuant
to this Agreement.


<PAGE>



                  "HCFA"  means the Health  Care  Financing  Administration,  an
         agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or
         any successor.

                  "Health  Care  Permit"   means  any  license,   certification,
         registration,   permit,   approval,   accreditation  or  authorization,
         including  but  not  limited  to,  any  state  medical  license,   Drug
         Enforcement   Agency    registration,    state   controlled   substance
         certificate,  Clinical  Laboratory  Improvements of 1988 identification
         number,  pharmacy permit or business license that is required  pursuant
         to any Requirement of Law to provide medical care or other professional
         health  care  services  or to own,  operate  or  manage  an  Affiliated
         Provider practice.

                  "Hedge  Agreements"  means  interest rate swap,  cap or collar
         agreements,  interest  rate future or option  contracts,  currency swap
         agreements,  currency  future or option  contracts,  and other  similar
         agreements.

                  "Highest Lawful Rate" means at the particular time in question
         the maximum  non-usurious rate of interest which, under applicable law,
         the Lenders are then  permitted  to charge on the  Obligations.  If the
         maximum rate of interest which,  under  applicable law, the Lenders are
         permitted  to charge on the  Obligations  shall  change  after the date
         hereof,  the Highest  Lawful Rate shall be  automatically  increased or
         decreased,  as the case may be,  from time to time as of the  effective
         time of each change in the Highest  Lawful Rate  without  notice to the
         Borrower.  To the extent,  if any, that Chapter 303 ("Chapter  303") of
         the  Texas  Finance  Code,  as  amended  (the  "Texas   Finance  Code")
         establishes  the Highest  Lawful Rate, the Highest Lawful Rate shall be
         the "weekly ceiling" (as defined in Chapter 303).


<PAGE>



                  "Indebtedness"  means,  with  respect to any  Person,  without
         duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b)
         all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or
         similar   instruments,   (c)  all  obligations  of  such  Person  under
         conditional  sale or  other  title  retention  agreements  relating  to
         property or assets  purchased by such Person,  (d) all  obligations  of
         such  Person for the  deferred  purchase  price of property or services
         (excluding  trade  accounts  payable not more than ninety days past due
         incurred in the ordinary course of business,  but including commitments
         or  obligations  to  advance  or fund  premiums  on  split-dollar  life
         insurance policies),  (e) all obligations of such Person secured by any
         Lien on any property or asset owned by such Person,  whether or not the
         obligations of such Person secured thereby shall have been assumed, (f)
         all Capital Lease  Obligations of such Person,  (g) all  obligations of
         such Person in respect of letters of credit,  bankers'  acceptances and
         similar  instruments,  (h) all  obligations  of such Person under Hedge
         Agreements,  (i) any "withdrawal liability" of such Person as such term
         is  defined  under Part I of  Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA,  (j) the
         principal portion of all obligations of such Person under any Synthetic
         Lease, (k) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person, (l) all Redeemable
         Securities  of  such  Person,  (m) at any  date of  determination,  all
         obligations  or  commitments of such Person to make or fund advances or
         payments  with respect to Program  Loans during the twelve month period
         following  such  date  and  (n) the  aggregate  amount  of  uncollected
         accounts  receivable  of such Person  subject at such time to a sale of
         receivables  (or  similar  transaction)   regardless  of  whether  such
         transaction is effected  without recourse to such Person or in a manner
         that would not be  reflected  on the  balance  sheet of such  Person in
         accordance with GAAP. The  Indebtedness of any Person shall include the
         Indebtedness  of any  partnership  or  unincorporated  joint venture in
         which such Person is a general partner or joint venturer.

                  "Indemnified  Party" has the meaning  specified in  subsection
10.5(c).

                  "Insolvency"  means, with respect to any  Multiemployer  Plan,
         the condition that such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section
         4245 of ERISA.

                  "Insolvent" means pertaining to a condition of Insolvency.

                  "Intellectual  Property" has the meaning  specified in Section
5.9.

                  "Interest  Payment  Date"  means (a) as to any Base Rate Loan,
         the last day of each March, June, September and December, (b) as to any
         Eurodollar  Loan having an Interest Period of three months or less, the
         last day of such  Interest  Period  and (c) as to any  Eurodollar  Loan
         having an Interest  Period longer than three months,  each day which is
         three months after the first day of such  Interest  Period and the last
         day of such Interest Period.

                  "Interest Period" means with respect to any Eurodollar Loan:

                  (i) initially,  the period commencing on the Borrowing Date or
         Conversion  date,  as the case may be, with respect to such  Eurodollar
         Loan and ending one, two, three or six months  thereafter,  as selected
         by the Borrower in its Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion,  as
         the case may be, given with respect thereto; and

                  (ii) thereafter, each period commencing on the last day of the
         next preceding  Interest Period  applicable to such Eurodollar Loan and
         ending one,  two,  three or six months  thereafter,  as selected by the
         Borrower  by  irrevocable  notice  to the  Agent  not less  than  three
         Business Days prior to the last day of the then current Interest Period
         with respect thereto;

         provided that, all of the foregoing provisions relating to Interest
         Periods are subject to the following:

                  (1) if any Interest  Period  pertaining to any Eurodollar Loan
         would  otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest
         Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day (unless in
         the case of a Eurodollar Loan, the result of such extension would be to
         carry such Interest  Period into another  calendar month in which event
         such Interest  Period shall end on the immediately  preceding  Business
         Day);


<PAGE>



                  (2) any Interest Period that would otherwise extend beyond the
         Termination  Date  or  beyond  the  Maturity  Date  shall  end  on  the
         Termination Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be;

                  (3) any Interest  Period  pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan that
         begins on the last  Business  Day of a calendar  month (or on a day for
         which there is no numerically  corresponding  day in the calendar month
         at the end of such Interest  Period) shall end on the last Business Day
         of a calendar month; and

                  (4) the Borrower  shall select  Interest  Periods so as not to
         require  a payment  or  prepayment  of any  Eurodollar  Loan  during an
         Interest Period for such Loan.

                  "Investments" has the meaning specified in Section 7.8.

                  "Issuing Lender" means NationsBank,  in its capacity as issuer
of any Letter of Credit.

                  "Joinder Agreement" means a Joinder Agreement in substantially
the form of Exhibit M.

                  "LC Commitment" means $10,000,000.

                  "LC Fee Payment Date" means the last day of each March,  June,
September and December.

                  "LC Obligations" means at any time, an amount equal to the sum
         of (a) the  aggregate  then  undrawn and  unexpired  amount of the then
         outstanding  Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings
         under Letters of Credit which have not then been reimbursed pursuant to
         subsection 2.8(a).

                  "LC  Participants"  means the collective  reference to all the
Lenders other than the Issuing Lender.

                  "Lending Party" has the meaning specified in Section 10.15.

                  "Letters of Credit"  has the  meaning set forth in  subsection
2.5(a).

                  "Leverage  Ratio" shall mean,  as of any day, the ratio of (a)
         Total Debt (less  Restricted  Cash) as of such day to (b)  Consolidated
         EBITDA  for the  period  of four  consecutive  fiscal  quarters  of the
         Borrower ending on, or most recently preceding, such day.


<PAGE>



                  "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation,  assignment,
         deposit arrangement,  encumbrance,  lien (statutory or other),  charge,
         levy, execution, seizure, attachment, garnishment, security interest or
         other  encumbrance  or  any  preference,  priority  or  other  security
         agreement or preferential  arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever
         (including,  without  limitation,  any conditional  sale or other title
         retention  agreement having  substantially  the same economic effect as
         any of the foregoing and any Synthetic Lease).

                  "Loan" has the  meaning  specified  in Section  2.1.  The term
         "Loan"  includes  any  Loan  that  has been  converted  to a term  loan
         pursuant to Section 2.4.

                  "Loan  Documents"  means this  Agreement,  the Notes,  and the
         Security Documents,  in each case as amended,  modified or supplemented
         from time to time.

                  "Loan Parties"  means the Borrower and each  Subsidiary of the
Borrower which is a party to a Loan Document.

                  "Lockbox  Account" has the meaning  specified in the Guarantee
and Collateral Agreement.

                  "Lockbox  Agreement" means a Lockbox Agreement,  substantially
         in the form of Exhibit E, with such  changes or  additions to such form
         as shall be approved by the Agent,  among a Loan Party,  a Lockbox Bank
         and the  Agent,  as the same may be  amended,  supplemented,  waived or
         otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "Lockbox  Bank"  means  each bank  which  shall  enter  into a
         Lockbox  Agreement  as the  "Lockbox  Bank"  thereunder  and as defined
         therein,  which  shall be (a) a Lender or (b) a  Qualified  Bank.  Each
         Lockbox  Bank and Lockbox  Account as of the Closing  Date is listed on
         Schedule 1.1(b).

                  "Material Adverse Effect" means any act, circumstance or event
         that (a) could be  material  and adverse to the  business,  operations,
         property,  condition  (financial  or  otherwise)  or  prospects  of the
         Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  taken  as a whole,  (b) in any  manner
         whatsoever  could  materially and adversely  affect (i) the validity or
         enforceability  of this  Agreement or any of the other Loan  Documents,
         (ii) the rights,  remedies,  powers or  privileges  of the Agent or the
         Lenders under this  Agreement or under any of the other Loan  Documents
         or  (iii)  the  Collateral,  or (c)  changes,  or could  reasonably  be
         expected to change, the  characterization  and treatment of assignments
         of Receivables  from the  Affiliated  Providers to the Borrower and its
         Subsidiaries pursuant to the Service Agreements as something other than
         true sales.

                  "Material   Contract"  means,  as  to  the  Borrower  and  its
         Subsidiaries,  (a) any Service Agreement, and (b) any supply, purchase,
         employment,  tax, tax sharing,  indemnity,  shareholder,  debt or other
         agreement  that,  under  applicable  Requirements  of  Law  (including,
         without limitation,  the rules,  regulations and interpretations of the
         Securities and Exchange Commission), is required to be disclosed to the
         public.

                  "Material Environmental Amount" means an amount payable by the
         Borrower  and/or its  Subsidiaries  in excess of $100,000  for remedial
         costs, compliance costs, compensatory damages, punitive damages, fines,
         penalties or any combination thereof.


<PAGE>



                  "Materials  of  Environmental  Concern"  means any gasoline or
         petroleum  (including crude oil) or petroleum products or any hazardous
         or toxic substances,  materials or wastes, defined, listed,  classified
         or  regulated  as such in or under any  Environmental  Law,  including,
         without   limitation,   asbestos,   petroleum  or  petroleum   products
         polychlorinated biphenyls and urea-formaldehyde insulation.

                  "Maturity   Date"   means  the  second   anniversary   of  the
Termination Date.

                  "Medicaid" means the medical assistance program established by
         Title XIX of the Social  Security Act (42 USC ss.ss.  1396 et seq.) and
         any  statutes  succeeding  thereto,  and  all  regulations  promulgated
         thereunder,  including  without  limitation  (a) all  federal  statutes
         (whether  set  forth  in  Title  XIX  of  the  Social  Security  Act or
         elsewhere)  affecting  Medicaid,  (b) all state  statutes and plans for
         medical assistance enacted in connection with such statutes and federal
         rules and  regulations  promulgated  pursuant to or in connection  with
         such  statutes  and  (c)  all  applicable   provisions  of  all  rules,
         regulations,  manuals,  orders and  administrative,  reimbursement  and
         other guidelines of all Governmental  Authorities  (including,  without
         limitation,  the  Department of Health and Human  Resources,  HCFA, the
         office of the Inspector  General for the Department of Health and Human
         Services,  or any  Person  succeeding  to the  functions  of any of the
         foregoing)  promulgated  pursuant to or in  connection  with any of the
         foregoing  (whether  or not having  the force of law),  in each case as
         amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "Medicare" means the health insurance program for the aged and
         disabled  established by Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 USC
         ss.ss.  1395 et seq.)  and any  statutes  succeeding  thereto,  and all
         regulations  promulgated  thereunder,  including without limitation (a)
         all federal  statutes  (whether  set forth in Title XVIII of the Social
         Security Act or elsewhere)  affecting  Medicare and (b) all  applicable
         provisions   of   all   rules,   regulations,   manuals,   orders   and
         administrative,  reimbursement and other guidelines of all Governmental
         Authorities  (including,  without limitation,  the Department of Health
         and Human Services,  HCFA, the office of the Inspector  General for the
         Department of Health and Human  Services,  or any Person  succeeding to
         the functions of any of the  foregoing)  promulgated  pursuant to or in
         connection  with any of the foregoing  (whether or not having the force
         of law), in each case as amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified
         from time to time.

                  "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
                   -------

                  "Multiemployer  Plan"  means a Plan  which is a  multiemployer
plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

                  "NationsBank" means NationsBank, N.A., a national banking
 association.




<PAGE>



                  "Net Cash Proceeds"  means with respect to any Equity Issuance
         or Debt Issuance, the gross amount of cash proceeds paid to or received
         by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of such Equity Issuance or
         Debt Issuance, as the case may be (including cash proceeds subsequently
         received  at any  time in  respect  of  such  Equity  Issuance  or Debt
         Issuance from non-cash consideration  initially received or otherwise),
         net of  underwriting  discounts  and  commissions  or  placement  fees,
         investment banking fees, legal fees,  consulting fees,  accounting fees
         and other customary fees and expenses directly incurred by the Borrower
         or any Subsidiary in connection  therewith (other than those payable to
         the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any such Person).

                  "Note" has the meaning specified in subsection 3.3(e).

                  "Notice of Borrowing" means a notice in substantially the form
of Exhibit A.

                  "Notice   of   Conversion/Continuation"   means  a  notice  in
substantially the form of Exhibit B.

                  "Obligations"  means  all  present  and  future  indebtedness,
         obligations  and  liabilities  of  every  type and  description  of the
         Borrower  or any  other  Loan  Party  at any time  arising  under or in
         connection  with this  Agreement  or any other Loan  Document,  whether
         fixed or contingent, due or to become due to the Agent, any Lender, any
         Person required to be indemnified  under any Loan Document or any other
         Person  and  shall  include  (a) all  liability  for  principal  of and
         interest (including post-petition interest) on the Loans, the Notes and
         Reimbursement   Obligations  and  (b)  all  liability  under  the  Loan
         Documents  for any  additional  interest,  fees,  taxes,  compensation,
         costs, losses, expense reimbursements and indemnification.

                  "Other Taxes" has the meaning specified in subsection 3.14(b).

                  "Participant" has the meaning specified in subsection 10.6(e).

                  "PBGC"  means  the  Pension   Benefit   Guaranty   Corporation
established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA.

               "Pending Physician Transactions" means the Physician Transactions
 identified on Schedule 1.1(c).




<PAGE>



                  "Permitted   Physician    Transaction"   means   a   Physician
         Transaction  that satisfies each of the following terms and conditions:
         (i) the assets  acquired,  or the business of the Physician Group whose
         Capital Stock is acquired,  relates to a line of business  permitted by
         Section  7.16,  (ii) a  Physician  Transaction  structured  as an asset
         acquisition  shall  be for the  entire  business,  division,  facility,
         operation or product line of such Physician  Group,  excluding  medical
         assets not acquired by the Borrower or a Subsidiary,  (iii) a Physician
         Transaction structured as a stock acquisition shall be effected through
         the purchase of 100% of the Capital Stock of the Physician Group by the
         Borrower  or  through a merger  between  such  Physician  Group and the
         Borrower or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower,  as the case may
         be, so that after  giving  effect to such  merger  100% of the  Capital
         Stock  of the  surviving  corporation  of such  merger  is owned by the
         Borrower or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower,  (iv) no Default
         or Event of Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing  or would
         result  from  such  Physician  Transaction  or  the  incurrence  of any
         Indebtedness in connection with such Physician  Transaction,  (v) as of
         the date of such  Physician  Transaction  (after  giving effect to such
         transaction),  the representations and warranties of each Loan Party in
         each Loan Document shall be true and correct on such date with the same
         force and  effect as if made on such  date,  (vi)  prior to the date of
         such Physician Transaction,  such Physician Transaction shall have been
         approved by the board of directors  (or other  governing  body) and, if
         applicable, the shareholders of the Physician Group whose Capital Stock
         or  assets  are  being  acquired  in  connection  with  such  Physician
         Transaction and no claim or challenge shall have been threatened by any
         shareholder or director of such Physician Group which could  reasonably
         be  expected  to have a  material  adverse  effect  on  such  Physician
         Transaction or a Material Adverse Effect,  (vii) the Transaction Amount
         for each such Physician  Transaction  shall not exceed  $10,000,000 and
         (viii) the aggregate  Transaction  Amount for all  Permitted  Physician
         Transactions (exclusive of Pending Physician Transactions)  consummated
         during any twelve  month period after the Closing Date shall not exceed
         $25,000,000;  provided,  however,  that  if the  aggregate  Transaction
         Amount  for  Permitted  Physician  Transactions  (exclusive  of Pending
         Physician  Transactions)  consummated  during any twelve  month  period
         after the Closing  Date shall be greater  than  $25,000,000  (before or
         after giving effect to the Physician Transaction in question), then the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary may consummate any Physician Transaction (1)
         involving no more than five doctors,  (2) having a  Transaction  Amount
         less than  $1,500,000,  (3) with  respect to which  clauses (i) through
         (vi) above shall be satisfied  and (4) that has not been objected to by
         the  Agent,  at the  request  of  Required  Lenders,  by  notice to the
         Borrower  within seven days after delivery by the Borrower to the Agent
         and the  Lenders  of a  Physician  Transaction  Notice/Consent  Request
         required  by  subsection  6.2(h)  with  respect  to  such  a  Physician
         Transaction.  In the  case of a  Physician  Transaction  that  does not
         satisfy  clause  (vii)  or  (viii)  above  and  is not  subject  to the
         immediately  preceding proviso, the Borrower may submit to the Agent at
         least  twenty-one  days  prior to the  consummation  of such  Physician
         Transaction a Physician Transaction  Notice/Consent  Request containing
         the items specified in subsection  6.2(h) and requesting the consent of
         the  Required  Lenders  (at their sole  discretion)  to such  Physician
         Transaction.  The Lenders shall use commercially  reasonable efforts to
         respond  to such a request  by the  Borrower  within  fourteen  days of
         receipt  by the  Lenders of the  information  described  in  subsection
         6.2(h); provided, however, that any failure by any Lender to approve or
         disapprove  such a request  during such period shall not  constitute an
         approval.

                  "Person"  means  an  individual,   partnership,   corporation,
         limited  liability  company,  limited liability  partnership,  business
         trust, joint stock company, trust,  unincorporated  association,  joint
         venture,    professional    corporation,    professional   association,
         Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature.

                  "Physician  Group" means (a) any  professional  corporation or
         professional  association  that employs or  contracts  with one or more
         licensed  physicians  for the purpose of  engaging  in the  delivery of
         medical care, and (b) any physician  practice  management company owned
         or controlled by the physician  shareholders  of any such  professional
         corporation or professional association.


<PAGE>



                  "Physician  Transaction"  means any bona fide  transaction  or
         series of related transactions,  consummated after the date thereof, by
         which the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  (i) acquires all or part of the
         assets, or a going business or division,  of a Physician Group, whether
         through  purchase of assets or  securities,  merger or otherwise,  (ii)
         directly or indirectly acquires control of any Physician Group or (iii)
         acquires the right to manage the non-medical aspects of the business of
         any  Physician  Group.  For the purpose of this  definition,  "control"
         means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
         cause the direction of management  and  non-medical  policies,  whether
         through the ownership of voting  securities,  by contract or otherwise.
         Notwithstanding the above,  "control" shall not include,  and shall not
         be construed to include,  the power to direct any physician's  practice
         of  medicine  or  the  power  to  interfere  in  any  physician/patient
         relationship.

                  "Physician Transaction  Notice/Consent Request" means a notice
         of, or request  for the  Required  Lenders to consent  to, a  Physician
         Transaction,  such notice or consent request to be substantially in the
         form of Exhibit G.

                  "Plan" means, at a particular  time, any employee benefit plan
         which is covered by ERISA and in  respect  of which the  Borrower  or a
         Commonly Controlled Entity is (or, if such plan were terminated at such
         time,  would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer"
         as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

                  "Prime Rate" means the per annum rate of interest  established
         from time to time by NationsBank as its prime rate,  which rate may not
         be the lowest rate of interest charged by NationsBank to its customers.

                  "Principal  Amortization  Date"  means  the  last  day of each
March, June, September, and December.

                  "Pro Forma ProMedCo  Distribution"  means, with respect to any
         Acquired Asset for any period, the Pro Forma ProMedCo  Distribution (as
         such  term is  defined  in  Schedule  1.1(f))  based  upon the  actual,
         historical financial performance of such Acquired Asset.

                  "Program  Loan" means a loan or advance by the Borrower or any
         Subsidiary to a Physician  Group, or a commitment to make any such loan
         or  advance,  in  connection  with such  Physician  Group  becoming  an
         Affiliated  Provider  pursuant to a Pending  Physician  Transaction,  a
         Permitted  Physician  Transaction  or any other  Physician  Transaction
         approved by the  Required  Lenders,  the proceeds of which have been or
         will be used by the  Affiliated  Provider  to make loans or advances to
         the physicians who are members of such Physician Group.

                  "Properties" has the meaning specified in Section 5.17.


<PAGE>



                  "Qualified  Bank" means any bank (a) having  combined  capital
         and surplus of at least  $50,000,000  and (b) the  deposit  accounts of
         which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance  Corporation (or any
         successor).

                  "Receivable"  means any  right to  payment  for goods  sold or
         leased or for services rendered, whether or not such right is evidenced
         by an Instrument or Chattel Paper and whether or not it has been earned
         by performance (including, without limitation, any Account).

                  "Redeemable  Securities" of any Person means any Capital Stock
         of such Person which by its terms (or by the terms of any security into
         which  it  is   convertible  or  for  which  it  is   exchangeable   or
         exercisable),  upon the happening of any event or otherwise (a) matures
         or is  mandatorily  redeemable or subject to any  mandatory  repurchase
         requirement, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (b) is
         convertible  into or exchangeable  or exercisable  for  Indebtedness or
         Redeemable Securities or (c) is redeemable or subject to any repurchase
         requirement arising at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in
         part, in each case on or prior to the first anniversary of the Maturity
         Date.

                  "Register" has the meaning specified in subsection 10.6(c).

                  "Regulation U" means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of
         the Federal Reserve System as in effect from time to time.

                  "Regulations"  means  Regulations  T, U and X of the  Board of
         Governors of the Federal Reserve System as in effect from time to time.

                  "Reimbursement   Obligation"   means  the  obligation  of  the
         Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Lender pursuant to subsection  2.8(a)
         for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit.

                  "Reorganization"  means,  with  respect  to any  Multiemployer
         Plan,  the  condition  that such plan is in  reorganization  within the
         meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA.

                  "Reportable  Event"  means  any of the  events  set  forth  in
         Section  4043(b)  of ERISA,  other  than  those  events as to which the
         thirty day notice  period is waived under  subsections  .13,  .14, .16,
         .18, .19 or .20 of PBGC Reg. ss. 2615.

                  "Required  Lenders"  means at any time Lenders having at least
         662/3% of the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit  Commitments or,
         if the Revolving Credit Commitments shall have been terminated, holding
         Extensions  of  Credit  evidencing  at least  662/3%  of the  Aggregate
         Outstanding Revolving Credit.


<PAGE>



                  "Requirement of Law" means, as to any Person,  the certificate
         of  incorporation  and  by-laws or other  organizational  or  governing
         documents of such Person, and any law, statute, ordinance, code, order,
         decree, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or
         a court or other Governmental  Authority, in each case applicable to or
         binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person
         or any of its property is subject,  including,  without limitation, all
         laws, statutes, rules, regulations,  ordinances, codes, decrees, orders
         and  guidelines   governing,   relating  or  otherwise   applicable  to
         Governmental  Programs to which such Person or its  property is subject
         or in which such Person has elected to  participate  or with which such
         Person has contracted.

                  "Reserve  Requirement" means, at any time, the maximum rate at
         which reserves (including,  without limitation, any marginal,  special,
         supplemental,  or emergency  reserves)  are  required to be  maintained
         under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of
         the Federal  Reserve  System (or any  successor) by member banks of the
         Federal Reserve System against "Eurocurrency liabilities" (as such term
         is used in Regulation D). Without limiting the effect of the foregoing,
         the Reserve Requirement shall reflect any other reserves required to be
         maintained  by such  member  banks  with  respect  to any  category  of
         liabilities  which includes deposits by reference to which the Adjusted
         Eurodollar Rate is to be determined. The Adjusted Eurodollar Rate shall
         be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change
         in the Reserve Requirement.

                  "Responsible  Officer" means the chief  executive  officer and
         the  president of the  Borrower or, with respect to financial  matters,
         the chief financial officer of the Borrower.

                  "Restricted  Cash"  means  cash  or  Cash  Equivalents  of the
         Borrower and its Subsidiaries that have been specifically escrowed in a
         manner  satisfactory  to the  Required  Lenders  for the payment of the
         split-dollar life insurance premiums permitted by subsection 7.8(j).

                  "Restricted Payment" has the meaning specified in Section 7.7.

                  "Revolving  Credit  Commitment"  means, as to any Lender,  the
         obligation of such Lender to make Loans and issue and/or participate in
         Letters  of Credit  pursuant  to  Section 2 in an  aggregate  principal
         and/or face amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding the amount
         set forth  opposite  such  Lender's  name in Schedule  1.1(d) under the
         heading  "Revolving  Credit  Commitment" or, in the case of an Eligible
         Assignee,  the  amount  specified  in  the  Assignment  and  Acceptance
         pursuant to which it assumed its Revolving  Credit  Commitment (in each
         case as such  amount  may be  adjusted  from  time to time as  provided
         herein);  collectively,  as to all the Lenders,  the "Revolving  Credit
         Commitments."

                  "Revolving  Credit  Commitment  Percentage"  means,  as to any
         Lender,  the percentage of the aggregate  Revolving Credit  Commitments
         constituted by its Revolving  Credit  Commitment  (or, if the Revolving
         Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, the percentage which (a)
         the sum of (i) such  Lender's  then  outstanding  Loans  plus (ii) such
         Lender's  interests in the aggregate LC  Obligations  then  outstanding
         then  constitutes of (b) the sum of (i) the aggregate  Loans of all the
         Lenders then  outstanding  plus (ii) the aggregate LC Obligations  then
         outstanding).


<PAGE>



                  "Revolving Credit Commitment Period" means the period from and
         including the Closing Date to but not including the  Termination  Date,
         or  such  earlier  date  as  the  Revolving  Credit  Commitments  shall
         terminate as provided herein.

                  "Security  Documents"  means the  collective  reference to the
         Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement,  the Trademark Security Agreement,
         the Lockbox  Agreements,  the Deposit Agreements and all other security
         documents  now or hereafter  delivered to the Agent  granting a Lien on
         any asset or assets of any Person to secure the Obligations or any part
         thereof.

                  "Seller Notes" means any promissory  note or other  instrument
         evidencing  a  portion  of  the  Transaction  Amount  for  a  Permitted
         Physician  Transaction  issued by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the
         Physician  Group  that is a party  to such  transaction  or any  member
         thereof.

                  "Service  Agreement" means any agreement pursuant to which the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary  provides management  services,  facilities,
         personnel,  equipment,  supplies or other services to a Physician Group
         or an  independent  physicians  association,  as such  agreement may be
         amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time.

                  "Single  Employer  Plan"  means any Plan  which is  covered by
Title IV of ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer Plan.

                  "Solvent"  means with  respect  to any Person on a  particular
         date,  the  condition  that on such  date,  (a) the  fair  value of the
         property  of  such  Person  is  greater   than  the  total   amount  of
         liabilities,  including, without limitation, contingent liabilities, of
         such Person,  (b) the present fair salable  value of the assets of such
         Person is not less than the  amount  that will be  required  to pay the
         probable  liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute
         and  matured,  (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe
         that it will,  incur debts or liabilities  beyond such Person's ability
         to pay as such debts and liabilities  mature and (d) such Person is not
         engaged in  business  or a  transaction,  and is not about to engage in
         business  or a  transaction,  for which such  Person's  property  would
         constitute an unreasonably small amount of capital.

                  "S&P" means Standard and Poor's Rating Group.
                   ---



<PAGE>



                  "Subordinated    Indebtedness"    means   (a)   the   Existing
         Subordinated  Indebtedness and (b) any other unsecured  Indebtedness of
         the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) no part of the principal of which is
         required  to  be  paid  (whether  by  way  of  scheduled  amortization,
         mandatory sinking fund, mandatory  redemption,  mandatory prepayment or
         otherwise)  prior to the Termination Date (exclusive of future loans or
         advances to pay premiums on split-dollar life insurance policies), (ii)
         the  payment  of the  principal  of and  interest  on which  and  other
         obligations  of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary in respect  thereof are
         subordinated  to the  prior  payment  in full of the  principal  of and
         interest (including  post-petition interest) on the Loans and all other
         Obligations  on terms  and  conditions  at least  as  favorable  to the
         Lenders as those contained on Schedule 1.1(e) and (iii) all other terms
         and conditions of which are  satisfactory  in form and substance to the
         Required   Lenders  (as  evidenced  by  their  prior  written  approval
         thereof).

                  "Subordinated    Indebtedness    Documentation"    means   the
         agreements,  indentures and other  documentation  pursuant to which any
         Subordinated Indebtedness is or has been issued.

                  "Subsidiary" of any Person means any corporation, partnership,
         joint  venture,  limited  liability  company,  trust or estate or other
         Person of which  shares of stock or other  ownership  interests  having
         ordinary  voting  power  (other  than  stock  or such  other  ownership
         interests  having  such  power  only by  reason of the  happening  of a
         contingency)  to elect a majority  of the board of  directors  or other
         managers of such  corporation,  partnership  or other entity are at the
         time  owned,  or the  management  of  which  is  otherwise  controlled,
         directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, or both, by
         such  Person.   Unless  otherwise   qualified,   all  references  to  a
         "Subsidiary"  or to  "Subsidiaries"  in this Agreement shall refer to a
         Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

                  "Synthetic  Lease" means any  synthetic  lease,  tax retention
         operating  lease or  off-balance  sheet  financing  product  where such
         transaction is considered  borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes
         but which is classified as an operating lease pursuant to GAAP.

                  "Taxes" has the meaning specified in subsection 3.14(a).

                  "Term Loan Election" has the meaning specified in Section 2.4.

                  "Termination Date" means December 17, 2001.

                  "Total  Debt" shall mean,  as of any day,  the total amount of
         Indebtedness  of the Borrower and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries as of
         such day.

                  "Trademark  Security  Agreement" means the Trademark  Security
         Agreement to be executed and  delivered by the Borrower to the Agent in
         substantially  the  form of  Exhibit  N, as the  same  may be  amended,
         supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "Tranche" means the collective  reference to Eurodollar  Loans
         the then current Interest Periods with respect to all of which begin on
         the same date and end on the same later date (whether or not such Loans
         shall  originally  have been  made on the same  day);  Tranches  may be
         identified as "Eurodollar Tranches," as applicable.


<PAGE>



                  "Transaction  Amount"  means,  with  respect to any  Physician
         Transaction,  the sum (without  duplication) of the following,  in each
         case  determined in accordance  with GAAP:  (a) the aggregate  original
         principal  amount of all Loans the  proceeds  of which are  utilized to
         finance such Physician Transaction, in part or in whole, (b) the amount
         of cash paid by the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  in connection  with
         such Physician Transaction, (c) the outstanding principal amount of all
         Indebtedness  incurred,  assumed or  acquired in  connection  with such
         Physician Transaction, (d) all additional purchase price amounts in the
         form of notes and other contingent obligations, (e) all amounts paid in
         consideration  of parties'  entering into  covenants not to compete and
         consulting agreements in connection with such Physician Transaction and
         (f ) the  aggregate  fair  market  value  of  all  other  consideration
         (including  Program  Loans and  commitments  to make loans or  advances
         thereunder)  given by the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  in connection
         with such Physician  Transaction  (exclusive of Capital Stock issued by
         the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  to the  seller,  but  including  any
         treasury stock reissued by the Borrower pursuant to subsection 7.7(c)).

                  "Type" means any type of Loan (i.e., a Base Rate Loan or a
         Eurodollar Loan).


                  "Uniform  Customs" means the Uniform  Customs and Practice for
         Documentary Credits (1993 Revision),  International Chamber of Commerce
         Publication No. 500, as the same may be amended from time to time.

                  "Wholly  Owned  Subsidiary"  means,  as  to  any  Person,  any
         Subsidiary  of such  Person of which  such  Person  owns,  directly  or
         indirectly  through one or more Wholly Owned  Subsidiaries,  all of the
         Capital  Stock of such  Subsidiary  other  than  directors'  qualifying
         shares or shares held by nominees.

                  "Year 2000  Compliant"  has the meaning  specified  in Section
5.20.

                  "Year 2000 Problem" has the meaning specified in Section 5.20.

     1.2 Other Definitional Provisions.  (a) Unless otherwise specified therein,
all terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in
any Notes, any other Loan Documents or any certificate or other document made or
delivered pursuant hereto.

                  (b) For purposes of computation of time periods hereunder, the
word "from" means "from and  including" and the words "to" and "until" each mean
"to but excluding."

                  (c) The words "hereof,"  "herein" and "hereunder" and words of
similar  import when used in this  Agreement  shall refer to this Agreement as a
whole  and not to any  particular  provision  of this  Agreement,  and  Section,
subsection,  Schedule  and  Exhibit  references  are to  this  Agreement  unless
otherwise specified.

                  (d)  Capitalized  terms used  herein  that are  defined in the
Uniform  Commercial  Code as  adopted by the State of Texas and in effect on the
Closing Date, unless otherwise defined herein,  shall have the meanings assigned
therein.


<PAGE>



                  (e) The  meanings  given  to  terms  defined  herein  shall be
equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

                  1.3 Accounting Terms.  Except as otherwise  expressly provided
herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, and all financial
statements and certificates  and reports as to financial  matters required to be
delivered  to the  Agent  and  the  Lenders  hereunder  shall  be  prepared,  in
accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent  basis. All  calculations  made for
the purposes of  determining  compliance  with this  Agreement  shall (except as
otherwise  expressly  provided herein) be made by application of GAAP on a basis
consistent  with  the most  recent  annual  or  quarterly  financial  statements
delivered  pursuant  to  Section  6.1 (or,  prior to the  delivery  of the first
financial  statements  pursuant  to Section  6.1,  consistent  with the  audited
financial statements described in Section 5.1); provided,  however,  that if (a)
the Borrower  shall object to determining  such  compliance on such basis at the
time of delivery of such  financial  statements due to any change in GAAP or the
rules  promulgated with respect thereto or (b) the Agent or the Required Lenders
shall so object in writing  within ninety days after  delivery of such financial
statements,  then such calculations shall be made on a basis consistent with the
most recent financial  statements delivered by the Borrower to the Lenders as to
which no such objection shall have been made.

         SECTION 2.  AMOUNT AND TERMS OF REVOLVING CREDIT COMMITMENTS

                  2.1 Revolving Credit Commitments. (a) Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement,  each Lender  severally agrees to make one or more
loans (each a "Loan") to the  Borrower  from time to time  during the  Revolving
Credit  Commitment  Period  in an  aggregate  principal  amount  at any one time
outstanding  which,  when added to such  Lender's  Revolving  Credit  Commitment
Percentage of the sum of the then  outstanding LC  Obligations,  does not exceed
the amount of such Lender's  Revolving Credit Commitment then in effect.  During
the  Revolving  Credit  Commitment  Period,  the Borrower may use the  Revolving
Credit  Commitments  by borrowing,  prepaying the Loans in whole or in part, and
reborrowing, all in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof.

                  (b) The Loans  shall be made in  Dollars  and may from time to
time be (i)  Eurodollar  Loans,  (ii)  Base  Rate  Loans or (iii) a  combination
thereof,  as  determined by the Borrower and notified to the Agent in accordance
with  Sections 2.2 and 3.5,  provided that no Loan shall be made as a Eurodollar
Loan after the day that is one month prior to the Termination Date.


<PAGE>



                  2.2 Procedure for Revolving Credit Borrowing. The Borrower may
borrow  under the  Revolving  Credit  Commitments  during the  Revolving  Credit
Commitment Period on any Business Day, provided that the Borrower shall give the
Agent an irrevocable  notice in the form of a Notice of Borrowing  (which notice
must be received by the Agent prior to (a) 12:00 Noon (Charlotte, North Carolina
time) at least three Business Days prior to the requested Borrowing Date, if all
or any part of the requested Loans are to be initially  Eurodollar Loans, or (b)
prior to 12:00 Noon (Charlotte,  North Carolina time) on the requested Borrowing
Date, if the requested  Loans are to be initially  Base Rate Loans),  specifying
(i) the amount to be borrowed,  (ii) the requested Borrowing Date, (iii) whether
the borrowing is to be of Eurodollar  Loans,  Base Rate Loans,  or a combination
thereof and (iv) if the  borrowing  is to be  entirely  or partly of  Eurodollar
Loans,  the  respective  amounts  of each such  Type of Loan and the  respective
lengths of the initial  Interest  Periods  therefor.  Each  borrowing  under the
Revolving Credit  Commitments  shall be in an amount equal to (x) in the case of
Base Rate Loans,  $1,000,000 or a whole  multiple of $500,000 in excess  thereof
(or,  if  the  then  Available   Revolving  Credit  Commitments  are  less  than
$1,000,000,  such  lesser  amount)  and  (y) in the  case of  Eurodollar  Loans,
$5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.  Upon receipt of
any such notice from the Borrower,  the Agent shall promptly  notify each Lender
thereof.  Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions  precedent  specified in
Section 4, each Lender will make the amount of its Revolving  Credit  Commitment
Percentage of each borrowing of Loans  available to the Agent for the account of
the Borrower at the office of the Agent  specified in Section 10.2 prior to 2:00
P.M.  (Charlotte,  North  Carolina  time) on the Borrowing Date requested by the
Borrower  in Dollars  and in funds  immediately  available  to the  Agent.  Such
borrowing will then be made available to the Borrower by the Agent  crediting an
account of the  Borrower at such office with the  aggregate  of the amounts made
available  to the Agent by the  Lenders  and in like  funds as  received  by the
Agent.

                  2.3 Termination or Reduction of Revolving Credit  Commitments.
The  Borrower  shall  have the  right,  upon not less  than five  Business  Days
irrevocable  notice to the Agent, to terminate the Revolving Credit  Commitments
or, from time to time, to reduce the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments,
provided  that no such  termination  or reduction  shall be permitted  if, after
giving effect thereto and to any  prepayments of the Loans made on the effective
date thereof,  the Aggregate  Outstanding  Revolving Credit of all Lenders would
exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect. Any such reduction shall
be in an amount equal to $5,000,000 or a whole  multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof and shall reduce  permanently the Revolving  Credit  Commitments then in
effect.

                  2.4 Term Loan  Election.  The Borrower may upon written notice
given to the Agent not earlier than ninety or later than sixty days prior to the
Termination  Date,  elect (the "Term Loan Election") to convert all of the Loans
outstanding  on the  Termination  Date into term loans which the Borrower  shall
repay in full in accordance with subsection 3.3(a); provided,  however, the Term
Loan  Election may not be exercised if a Default or Event of Default  shall have
occurred and be continuing on the date the notice of Term Loan Election is given
to the Agent or on the  Termination  Date.  Such notice by the Borrower shall be
irrevocable on the part of Borrower once given. In connection with any Term Loan
Election, the Borrower shall pay the fee required by subsection 3.2(b).

                  2.5 LC  Commitment.  (a)  Subject to the terms and  conditions
hereof,  the Issuing Lender,  in reliance on the agreements of the other Lenders
set forth in subsection  2.7(a)  agrees to issue letters of credit  ("Letters of
Credit")  for the  account  of the  Borrower  on any  Business  Day  during  the
Revolving Credit  Commitment Period in such form as may be approved from time to
time by the  Issuing  Lender;  provided  that the Issuing  Lender  shall have no
obligation  to issue any  Letter  of  Credit  if,  after  giving  effect to such
issuance,  (i) the LC  Obligations  would exceed the LC  Commitment  or (ii) the
Available Revolving Credit Commitment would be less than zero.


<PAGE>



                  (b)      Each Letter of Credit shall:

                           (i) be denominated in Dollars and shall be either (1)
         a standby  letter  of  credit  issued  to  support  obligations  of the
         Borrower  or  any of  its  Subsidiaries,  contingent  or  otherwise  (a
         "Standby  Letter  of  Credit"),  or (2) a  commercial  letter of credit
         issued in respect of the  purchase of goods or services by the Borrower
         and its  Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business (a "Commercial
         Letter of Credit");

                           (ii)    expire no later than the Termination Date and

                           (iii) unless otherwise agreed to by the Agent, expire
         no later  than  365 days  after  the  date of  issuance  in the case of
         Standby  Letters of Credit,  and 180 days after the date of issuance in
         the case of Commercial Letters of Credit.

                  (c)      Each Letter of Credit shall be subject to the Uniform
Customs.

                  (d) The Issuing  Lender  shall not at any time be obligated to
issue any Letter of Credit  hereunder if such issuance  would  conflict with, or
cause the Issuing  Lender or any LC Participant to exceed any limits imposed by,
any Requirement of Law.

                  2.6 Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit.  The Borrower
may from time to time request  that the Issuing  Lender issue a Letter of Credit
by delivering to the Issuing Lender at its address for notices  specified herein
an Application  therefor,  completed to the  satisfaction of the Issuing Lender,
and such other  certificates,  documents and other papers and information as the
Issuing Lender may request. Upon receipt of any Application,  the Issuing Lender
will process such Application and the  certificates,  documents and other papers
and information  delivered to it in connection  therewith in accordance with its
customary  procedures and shall  promptly  issue the Letter of Credit  requested
thereby  (but in no event  shall the  Issuing  Lender be  required  to issue any
Letter of Credit  earlier  than three  Business  Days  after its  receipt of the
Application therefor and all such other certificates, documents and other papers
and  information  relating  thereto) by issuing  the  original of such Letter of
Credit to the  beneficiary  thereof or as otherwise may be agreed by the Issuing
Lender and the Borrower.  The Issuing Lender shall furnish a copy of such Letter
of Credit to the Borrower promptly following the issuance thereof.


<PAGE>



                  2.7 LC  Participations.  (a) The  Issuing  Lender  irrevocably
agrees to grant and hereby  grants to each LC  Participant,  and,  to induce the
Issuing  Lender  to issue  Letters  of  Credit  hereunder,  each LC  Participant
irrevocably  agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from
the Issuing Lender, on the terms and conditions  hereinafter stated, for such LC
Participant's  own  account  and  risk an  undivided  interest  equal to such LC
Participant's  Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage (determined on the date of
issuance of the relevant Letter of Credit) in the Issuing  Lender's  obligations
and rights under each Letter of Credit  issued  hereunder and the amount of each
draft paid by the Issuing Lender thereunder. Each LC Participant unconditionally
and  irrevocably  agrees with the Issuing  Lender that, if a draft is paid under
any Letter of Credit for which the Issuing  Lender is not  reimbursed in full by
the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such LC Participant
shall pay to the Issuing Lender upon demand at the Issuing  Lender's address for
notices  specified  herein an amount  equal to such LC  Participant's  Revolving
Credit  Commitment  Percentage of the amount of such draft, or any part thereof,
which is not so reimbursed.

                  (b) If any amount required to be paid by any LC Participant to
the Issuing Lender pursuant to subsection  2.7(a) in respect of any unreimbursed
portion of any payment made by the Issuing  Lender under any Letter of Credit is
paid to the  Issuing  Lender  within  three  Business  Days  after the date such
payment is due, such LC Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender on demand an
amount  equal to the product of (i) such  amount,  times (ii) the daily  average
Federal Funds Rate during the period from and including the date such payment is
required  to the date on which such  payment  is  immediately  available  to the
Issuing  Lender,  times (iii) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of
days that elapse during such period and the  denominator of which is 360. If any
such amount  required to be paid by any LC  Participant  pursuant to  subsection
2.7(a)  is not in  fact  made  available  to  the  Issuing  Lender  by  such  LC
Participant  within three  Business Days after the date such payment is due, the
Issuing Lender shall be entitled to recover from such LC Participant, on demand,
such amount with interest thereon  calculated from such due date at the rate per
annum  applicable to Base Rate Loans  hereunder.  A  certificate  of the Issuing
Lender  submitted to any LC Participant  with respect to any amounts owing under
this subsection shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

                  (c)  Whenever,  at any time after the Issuing  Lender has made
payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any LC Participant  its
pro rata share of such payment in accordance with subsection 2.7(a), the Issuing
Lender receives any payment  related to such Letter of Credit (whether  directly
from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of collateral applied thereto
by the Issuing  Lender),  or any payment of  interest  on account  thereof,  the
Issuing Lender will, if such payment is received prior to 1:00 P.M.  (Charlotte,
North  Carolina time) on a Business Day,  distribute to such LC Participant  its
pro rata share  thereof  prior to the end of such Business Day and otherwise the
Issuing Lender will distribute such payment on the next succeeding Business Day;
provided,  however,  that in the event  that any such  payment  received  by the
Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by the Issuing  Lender,  such LC
Participant  shall return to the Issuing Lender the portion  thereof  previously
distributed by the Issuing Lender to it.

                  2.8 Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower. (a) The Borrower
shall  reimburse the Issuing  Lender upon receipt by the Borrower of notice from
the Issuing Lender of the date and amount of a draft  presented under any Letter
of Credit  and paid by the  Issuing  Lender  for the amount of (i) such draft so
paid and (ii) any taxes,  fees,  charges or other costs or expenses  incurred by
the Issuing Lender in connection  with such payment.  Each such payment shall be
made to the  Issuing  Lender at its  address  for  notices  specified  herein in
Dollars and in  immediately  available  funds,  on the Business Day  immediately
following the date on which the Borrower receives such notice.

                  (b) Interest shall be payable on any and all amounts remaining
unpaid by the Borrower  under this Section 2.8 from the date such amounts become
payable (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) until payment
in full at the rate which  would be payable on any  outstanding  Base Rate Loans
which were then overdue.


<PAGE>



                  2.9 Obligations Absolute. (a) The Borrower's obligations under
Sections 2.5 through 2.8 shall be absolute and  unconditional  under any and all
circumstances  and  irrespective  of any  set-off,  counterclaim  or  defense to
payment which the Borrower may have or have had against the Issuing Lender,  any
LC Participant or any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit.

                  (b) The Borrower also agrees with the Issuing  Lender that the
Issuing  Lender shall not be responsible  for, and the Borrower's  Reimbursement
Obligations  under  subsection  2.8(a)  shall not be  affected  by,  among other
things,  (i) the validity or  genuineness  of  documents or of any  endorsements
thereon,  even  though  such  documents  shall  in  fact  prove  to be  invalid,
fraudulent  or forged,  (ii) any dispute  between or among the  Borrower and any
beneficiary  of any Letter of Credit or any other  party to which such Letter of
Credit may be transferred or (iii) any claims whatsoever of the Borrower against
any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such transferee.

                  (c) Neither the Issuing Lender nor any LC Participant shall be
liable for any error, omission, interruption or delay in transmission,  dispatch
or delivery of any message or advice,  however  transmitted,  in connection with
any Letter of Credit,  except for errors or  omissions  caused by such  Person's
gross negligence or willful misconduct.

                  (d) The  Borrower  agrees that any action  taken or omitted by
the  Issuing  Lender  under or in  connection  with any  Letter of Credit or the
related  drafts or  documents,  if done in the  absence or gross  negligence  or
willful misconduct and in accordance with the standards of care specified in the
Uniform  Customs,  shall be binding on the  Borrower and shall not result in any
liability of the Issuing Lender or any LC Participant to the Borrower.

                  2.10  Letter  of  Credit  Payments.  If  any  draft  shall  be
presented  for  payment  under any Letter of Credit,  the Issuing  Lender  shall
promptly notify the Borrower of the date and amount thereof.  The responsibility
of the Issuing Lender to the Borrower in connection with any draft presented for
payment under any Letter of Credit shall, in addition to any payment  obligation
expressly  provided for in such Letter of Credit, be limited to determining that
the documents  (including  each draft)  delivered under such Letter of Credit in
connection with such presentment are in conformity with such Letter of Credit.

                  2.11  Application.  To the extent  that any  provision  of any
Application  related to any Letter of Credit is inconsistent with the provisions
of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall apply.

                  SECTION 3..       GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO
                                    LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

     3.1 Interest Rates and Payment Dates.  (a) Each  Eurodollar Loan shall bear
interest for each day during each Interest Period with respect thereto at a rate
per annum equal to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Margin.



<PAGE>



                  (b) Each Base Rate Loan shall bear  interest for each day that
it is  outstanding  at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate for such day plus
the Applicable Margin.

                  (c) Upon the  occurrence,  and during the  continuance,  of an
Event of Default,  the  principal of and, to the extent  permitted by applicable
law,  interest on the Loans and any other amounts  owing  hereunder or under the
other Loan Documents  shall bear  interest,  at a per annum rate equal to (a) in
the case of principal of any Loan, the rate  applicable to such Loan during such
period  pursuant  to Section  3.1,  plus 2%, (b) in the case of  interest on any
Loan,  the Base Rate plus 2% and (c) in the case of any other  amount,  the Base
Rate plus 2%.

                  (d)  Interest  shall be payable  in  arrears on each  Interest
Payment Date, the Termination Date and, if the Loans have been converted to term
loans  pursuant to Section 2.4, on the Maturity  Date;  provided  that  interest
accruing  pursuant to subsection  3.1(c),  shall be payable from time to time on
demand.

                  3.2 Commitment  Fee; Other Fees. (a) The Borrower shall pay to
the Agent for the account of each Lender a Commitment Fee (the "Commitment Fee")
for the  period  from  and  including  the  first  day of the  Revolving  Credit
Commitment Period to the Termination Date, computed at a rate per annum equal to
the  Applicable  Margin  for  Commitment  Fees on the  amount  of the  Available
Revolving  Credit  Commitment of such Lender during the period for which payment
is made,  payable  quarterly  in  arrears on the last day of each  March,  June,
September and December and on the  Termination  Date or such earlier date as the
Revolving Credit  Commitments  shall terminate or be reduced as provided herein,
commencing on the first of such dates to occur after the date hereof.

                  (b) In the event that the Borrower elects to convert the Loans
to term loans  pursuant to Section 2.4, the Borrower  shall pay to the Agent for
the account of each Lender a  conversion  fee in an amount  equal to .25% of the
outstanding  Loans of such  Lender that will be  converted  to term loans on the
Termination  Date.  Such  fee  shall  be due and  payable  on the  Business  Day
immediately preceding the Termination Date and shall be nonrefundable.

                  (c) The Borrower shall pay to the Agent and the Arranger, each
for its own account,  the fees on the dates and in the amounts  specified in the
letter agreement dated October 2, 1998, among the Borrower, the Arranger and the
Agent. Such fees shall be nonrefundable.

                  (d) The Borrower  shall pay to the Issuing Lender with respect
to each Letter of Credit issued by it under this  Agreement,  for the account of
the Issuing  Lender,  a fronting fee with respect to the period from the date of
issuance of such Letter of Credit to the expiration or termination  date of such
Letter of Credit,  computed  at a rate of .125% per annum on the face  amount of
such Letter of Credit during the period for which such fee is  calculated.  Such
fronting fee shall be payable in arrears on each LC Fee Payment  Date  occurring
after the issuance of such Letter of Credit and on the  Termination  Date (or on
such  earlier date as the  Revolving  Credit  Commitments  terminate as provided
herein) and shall be nonrefundable.


<PAGE>



                  (e) The  Borrower  shall pay to the Agent,  for the account of
the LC Participants,  a letter of credit  commission with respect to each Letter
of Credit issued under this  Agreement  with respect to the period from the date
of issuance of such Letter of Credit to the  expiration or  termination  date of
such  Letter of Credit,  computed  at a rate per annum  equal to the  Applicable
Margin in  respect  of Loans  which are  Eurodollar  Loans  from time to time in
effect on the face amount of such  Letter of Credit  during the period for which
such fee is  calculated.  Such  commission  shall be shared ratably among the LC
Participants in accordance with their  respective  Revolving  Credit  Commitment
Percentages.  Such commission shall be payable in arrears on each LC Fee Payment
Date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit and on the Termination
Date  (or on  such  earlier  date  as the  Revolving  Credit  Commitments  shall
terminate as provided herein) and shall be nonrefundable.

                  (f) In addition to the  foregoing  fees and  commissions,  the
Borrower shall pay or reimburse the Issuing Lender for such normal and customary
costs and expenses as are incurred or charged by the Issuing  Lender in issuing,
effecting payment under,  transferring,  amending or otherwise administering any
Letter of Credit.

                  3.3  Repayment  of Loans;  Evidence of Debt.  (a) The Borrower
hereby  unconditionally  promises  to pay to the Agent for the  account  of each
Lender (i) the then unpaid  principal  amount of each Loan of such Lender on the
Termination Date (or such earlier date on which the Loans become due and payable
pursuant  to  Section  8) unless  the Loans  outstanding  on such date have been
converted  into term loans  pursuant  to Section 2.4 and (ii) if the Loans shall
have been  converted  to term loans  pursuant to Section  2.4, the Loans of such
Lender outstanding on the Termination Date in consecutive quarterly installments
of principal,  the first such  installment  being payable on the first Principal
Amortization  Date  following  the  Termination  Date,  and  on  each  Principal
Amortization Date thereafter,  with all outstanding principal of the Loans being
due and payable on the  Maturity  Date (or such  earlier date on which the Loans
become  due and  payable  pursuant  to  Section  8).  Except  for the  principal
installment due on the Maturity Date,  each such  installment of principal shall
be in an amount  equal to 5% of the  outstanding  principal  of the Loans on the
Termination  Date.  The Borrower  hereby  further  agrees to pay interest on the
unpaid principal amount of the Loans from time to time outstanding from the date
hereof until  payment in full thereof at the rates per annum,  and on the dates,
set forth in Section 3.1.

                  (b) Each Lender shall  maintain in  accordance  with its usual
practice an account or accounts evidencing  indebtedness of the Borrower to such
Lender resulting from each Loan of such Lender from time to time,  including the
amounts of principal  and interest  payable and paid to such Lender from time to
time under this Agreement.

                  (c)  The  Agent  shall  maintain  the  Register   pursuant  to
subsection 10.6(c),  and a subaccount therein for each Lender, in which shall be
recorded  (i) the  amount  of each Loan  hereunder,  the Type  thereof  and each
Interest Period, if any, applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or
interest  due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each
Lender  hereunder  and (iii)  both the amount of any sum  received  by the Agent
hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender's share thereof.


<PAGE>



                  (d) The entries  made in the Register and the accounts of each
Lender  maintained  pursuant to subsection 3.3(b) shall, to the extent permitted
by applicable  law, be prima facie  evidence of the existence and amounts of the
obligations  of the  Borrower  therein  recorded;  provided,  however,  that the
failure of any Lender or the Agent to maintain the Register or any such account,
or any error  therein,  shall not in any  manner  affect the  obligation  of the
Borrower to repay (with  applicable  interest) the Loans made to the Borrower by
such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

                  (e) The  Borrower  agrees that it will  execute and deliver to
each Lender on or before the Closing  Date,  a  promissory  note of the Borrower
dated the date hereof evidencing the Loans of such Lender,  substantially in the
form of Exhibit C, with a  principal  amount  equal to such  Lender's  Revolving
Credit Commitment (each, as amended,  modified,  extended,  renewed, or replaced
from time to time, a "Note").

                  3.4  Computation of Interest and Fees. (a) Interest,  whenever
it is calculated on the basis of the Base Rate, shall be calculated on the basis
of a 365 (or 366,  as the case may be) day  year for the  actual  days  elapsed.
Interest,  whenever it is  calculated  on the basis of the  Adjusted  Eurodollar
Rate, the Commitment Fee and all other fees and  commissions  hereunder shall be
calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed. The Agent
shall  as soon as  practicable  notify  the  Borrower  and the  Lenders  of each
determination  of the Adjusted  Eurodollar Rate. Any change in the interest rate
on a Loan or any other obligation  hereunder resulting from a change in the Base
Rate, the Federal Funds Rate, the Applicable  Margin or the Reserve  Requirement
shall  become  effective  as of the opening of business on the day on which such
change  becomes  effective.  The Agent shall as soon as  practicable  notify the
Borrower  and the  Lenders  of the  effective  date and the  amount of each such
change in interest rate.

                  (b)  Each  determination  of an  interest  rate  by the  Agent
pursuant to any provision of this  Agreement  shall be conclusive and binding on
the Borrower and the Lenders in the absence of manifest error.  The Agent shall,
at the request of the Borrower,  deliver to the Borrower a statement showing the
quotations  used by the Agent in  determining  any  interest  rate  pursuant  to
Section 3.1.

                  3.5 Conversion and Continuation  Options. (a) The Borrower may
by notice to the Agent in accordance with  subsection  3.5(c) elect from time to
time to Convert  Eurodollar  Loans to Base Rate  Loans and to Convert  Base Rate
Loans to Eurodollar  Loans. All or any part of outstanding  Eurodollar Loans and
Base Rate Loans may be Converted as provided  herein,  provided that (i) no Base
Rate Loan may be Converted  into a Eurodollar  Loan when any Default or Event of
Default has occurred  and is  continuing  and, in the case of any  Default,  the
Agent has given notice to the Borrower  that such a Conversion  may not be made,
(ii) no Base Rate Loan may be Converted  into a  Eurodollar  Loan after the date
that is one month  prior to the  Termination  Date or,  if the  Loans  have been
converted to term loans pursuant to Section 2.4, the Maturity Date and (iii) any
Conversion of Eurodollar  Loans may only be made on the last day of the Interest
Period with respect thereto.


<PAGE>



                  (b) Any  Eurodollar  Loans may be  Continued  as such upon the
expiration  of the then  current  Interest  Period with  respect  thereto by the
Borrower  giving  notice  to  the  Agent,  in  accordance  with  the  applicable
provisions of the term "Interest Period" set forth in Section 1.1 and subsection
3.5(c),  of the  length of the next  Interest  Period to be  applicable  to such
Loans,  provided that no  Eurodollar  Loan may be Continued as such (i) when any
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is  continuing  and, in the case of
any Default, the Agent has given notice to the Borrower that such a Continuation
may  not be  made or  (ii)  after  the  date  that  is one  month  prior  to the
Termination  Date or, if the Loans have been converted to term loans pursuant to
Section 2.4, the Maturity Date, and provided, further, in the case of Eurodollar
Loans, if the Borrower shall fail to give any required notice as described above
in this  paragraph  or if such  Continuation  is not  permitted  pursuant to the
preceding  proviso,  such Eurodollar Loans shall be  automatically  Converted to
Base Rate Loans on the last day of such then expiring Interest Period.

                  (c) The Borrower  shall  deliver  notices of  Conversions  and
Continuations  to the Agent in the form of a Notice  of  Conversion/Continuation
prior to 12:00 Noon (Charlotte, North Carolina time) at least (i) three Business
Days prior to the requested date of  Continuation,  if Loans are to be Continued
as Eurodollar  Loans,  (ii) three  Business Days prior to the requested  date of
Conversion,  if Base Rate Loans are to be Converted  into  Eurodollar  Loans and
(iii) one Business Day prior to the requested date of  Conversion,  if Loans are
to be Converted into Base Rate Loans, specifying:

     (A) the proposed date of Conversion or Continuation;

     (B) the aggregate amount of Loans to be Converted or Continued;

     (C)  the  Type  of  Loans   resulting  from  the  proposed   Conversion  or
Continuation; and

     (D) except for  Conversions  into the Base Rate Loans,  the duration of the
requested Interest Period.

                  (d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
during the existence of a Default or an Event of Default and upon the request of
the Required Lenders, all or any part of any outstanding  Eurodollar Loans shall
be Converted into Base Rate Loans.  The Agent will promptly  notify the Borrower
and the Lenders of any such Conversion request.


<PAGE>



                  3.6 Pro Rata  Treatment  and Payments.  (a) Each  borrowing of
Loans by the Borrower from the Lenders  hereunder,  each payment by the Borrower
of the Commitment Fee and any reduction of the Revolving  Credit  Commitments of
the Lenders, shall be made pro rata according to the respective Revolving Credit
Commitment  Percentages of the Lenders. Each payment (including each prepayment)
by the  Borrower on account of  principal  of and interest on the Loans shall be
made pro rata according to the respective  outstanding  principal amounts of the
Loans then held by the Lenders. All payments (including  prepayments) to be made
by the Borrower  under this Agreement and the other Loan  Documents,  whether on
account  of  principal,  interest,  fees or  otherwise,  shall  be made  without
set-off, deduction, recoupment,  counterclaim or other defense and shall be made
prior to 2:00 P.M.  (Charlotte,  North Carolina time) on the due date thereof to
the Agent,  for the account of the Lenders,  at the Agent's office  specified in
Section 10.2, in Dollars and in immediately  available funds.  Payments received
by the Agent  after such time shall be deemed to have been  received on the next
Business Day. The Agent shall  distribute  such payments to the Lenders,  if any
such payment is received prior to 12:00 Noon (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on
a Business Day, in like funds as received  prior to the end of such Business Day
and otherwise the Agent shall distribute such payment to the Lenders on the next
succeeding  Business Day. If any payment  hereunder becomes due and payable on a
day other  than a Business  Day,  such  payment  shall be  extended  to the next
succeeding  Business Day and,  with respect to payments of  principal,  interest
thereon  shall be payable at the then  applicable  rate during  such  extension,
unless the result of such extension would be to extend such payment into another
calendar  month,  in which event,  such payment shall be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day.

                  (b) Unless the Agent  shall have been  notified  in writing by
any Lender  prior to a  borrowing  of a Loan that such  Lender will not make the
amount that would constitute its Revolving Credit Commitment  Percentage of such
borrowing  available  to the  Agent,  the Agent may assume  that such  Lender is
making such amount  available to the Agent,  and the Agent may, in reliance upon
such  assumption,  make available to the Borrower in respect of such borrowing a
corresponding  amount.  If such amount is not made available to the Agent by the
required  time on the  Borrowing  Date  therefor,  such Lender  shall pay to the
Agent,  on demand,  such  amount  with  interest  thereon at a rate equal to the
Federal Funds Rate until such Lender makes such amount immediately  available to
the Agent.  A certificate  of the Agent  submitted to any Lender with respect to
any amounts  owing under this Section 3.6 shall be  conclusive in the absence of
manifest error. If such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment  Percentage of such
borrowing  is not made  available  to the  Agent  by such  Lender  within  three
Business  Days of such  Borrowing  Date,  the Agent  shall also be  entitled  to
recover such amount with interest thereon calculated from such Borrowing Date at
the rate per annum equal to the Base Rate.

                  3.7 Optional and Mandatory Prepayments.  (a) The Borrower may,
at any time  and  from  time to time,  prepay  the  Loans,  in whole or in part,
without  premium or penalty,  upon at least one Business Days prior  irrevocable
notice to the Agent,  specifying  the date and amount of prepayment  and whether
the  prepayment  is of  Eurodollar  Loans,  Base Rate  Loans,  or a  combination
thereof,  and, if a combination thereof, the principal amount allocable to each.
Upon receipt of any such  notice,  the Agent shall  promptly  notify each Lender
thereof.  If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall
be due and  payable on the date  specified  therein,  together  with any amounts
payable  pursuant to Section  3.13 and, in the case of  prepayments  of the term
loans, accrued interest to such date on the amount prepaid.  Partial prepayments
shall be in an aggregate  principal  amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof.


<PAGE>



                  (bi  Concurrently  with the receipt of Net Cash  Proceeds from
any Debt Issuance  (other than the issuance of Seller Notes) or Equity  Issuance
(other than from the exercise of stock  options held by employees of Borrower or
its  Subsidiaries  or the issuance of Capital Stock to a Physician  Group or any
physician  associated  with a  Physician  Group as a portion of the  Transaction
Amount for a Permitted Physician Transaction) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary,
the  Borrower  shall use,  or cause such  Subsidiary  to use,  all such Net Cash
Proceeds to prepay the Loans.  If the Loans being so repaid have been  converted
into term loans  pursuant to Section 2.4,  then the Net Cash  Proceeds  shall be
applied  to  payment  of the  principal  installments  in the  inverse  order of
maturity  (after payment of all accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and any
accrued and unpaid fees).

                  (ci To the extent that any prepayment of a Eurodollar  Loan is
made on a date  other than the last day of its  Interest  Period,  the  Borrower
shall compensate each Lender in accordance with Section 3.13. Amounts prepaid on
account of the term loans may not be reborrowed.

                  3.8 Minimum Amounts and Maximum Number of Eurodollar Tranches.
All  borrowings,  Conversions  and  Continuations  of  Loans  hereunder  and all
selections of Interest  Periods  hereunder  shall be in such amounts and be made
pursuant to such elections so that,  after giving effect thereto,  the aggregate
principal amount of the Loans comprising each Eurodollar  Tranche shall be equal
to $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess  thereof.  In no event
shall there be more than eight Eurodollar Tranches outstanding at any time.

                  3.9 Increased Cost and Reduced Return.  (a) If, after the date
hereof, the adoption of any Requirement of Law, or any change in any Requirement
of Law, or any change in the  interpretation  or  administration  thereof by any
Governmental  Authority,  central bank, or  comparable  agency  charged with the
interpretation  or administration  thereof,  or compliance by any Lender (or its
Applicable  Lending Office) with any request or directive (whether or not having
the  force  of  law)  of any  such  Governmental  Authority,  central  bank,  or
comparable agency:

                           (i0 shall  subject  such  Lender  (or its  Applicable
         Lending  Office) to any tax,  duty or other  charge with respect to any
         Eurodollar  Loans, its Note or its obligation to make Eurodollar Loans,
         or change the basis of taxation  of any amounts  payable to such Lender
         (or its Applicable  Lending Office) under this Agreement or its Note in
         respect  of any  Eurodollar  Loans  (other  than  taxes  imposed on the
         overall  net income of such  Lender by the  jurisdiction  in which such
         Lender has its principal office or such Applicable Lending Office);

                           (ii0 shall impose,  modify,  or deem  applicable  any
         reserve,  special deposit,  assessment,  or similar  requirement (other
         than the  Reserve  Requirement  utilized  in the  determination  of the
         Adjusted Eurodollar Rate) relating to any extensions of credit or other
         assets of, or any deposits with or other liabilities or commitments of,
         such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office), including the Revolving
         Credit Commitment of such Lender hereunder; or

                           (iii0 shall impose on such Lender (or its  Applicable
         Lending Office) or on the London  interbank  market any other condition
         affecting this Agreement,  its Note or any of such extensions of credit
         or liabilities or commitments;


<PAGE>



and the result of any of the  foregoing  is to increase  the cost to such Lender
(or its Applicable Lending Office) of making,  Converting into,  Continuing,  or
maintaining any Eurodollar  Loans or to reduce any sum received or receivable by
such Lender (or its Applicable  Lending Office) under this Agreement or its Note
with respect to any Eurodollar Loans, then the Borrower shall pay to such Lender
on demand  such  amount or  amounts  as will  compensate  such  Lender  for such
increased cost or reduction. If any Lender requests compensation by the Borrower
under this subsection 3.9(a), the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a
copy to the Agent),  suspend the  obligation  of such Lender to make or Continue
Eurodollar Loans, or to Convert Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Loans, until the
event or condition  giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which
case the  provisions  of Section 3.12 shall be  applicable);  provided that such
suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation
so requested.

                  (bi  If,  after  the  date  hereof,   any  Lender  shall  have
determined  that  the  adoption  of any  Requirement  of Law  regarding  capital
adequacy  or any  change  therein  or in the  interpretation  or  administration
thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged
with the interpretation or administration  thereof,  or any request or directive
regarding  capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such
Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the
effect  of  reducing  the rate of return on the  capital  of such  Lender or any
corporation   controlling   such  Lender  as  a  consequence  of  such  Lender's
obligations  hereunder  to  a  level  below  that  which  such  Lender  or  such
corporation  could  have  achieved  but for such  adoption,  change,  request or
directive  (taking  into  consideration  its  policies  with  respect to capital
adequacy),  then from time to time upon  demand the  Borrower  shall pay to such
Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such
reduction.

                  (ci Each Lender  shall  promptly  notify the  Borrower and the
Agent of any event of which it has knowledge,  occurring  after the date hereof,
which will entitle such Lender to compensation  pursuant to this Section 3.9 and
will designate a different  Applicable  Lending Office if such  designation will
avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such  compensation and will not, in
the judgment of such  Lender,  be  otherwise  disadvantageous  to it. Any Lender
claiming  compensation  under this Section 3.9 shall furnish to the Borrower and
the Agent a statement  setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid
to it hereunder  which shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest  error. In
determining  such  amount,  such  Lender may use any  reasonable  averaging  and
attribution methods.

                  (di  Failure  or  delay on the part of any  Lender  to  demand
compensation  pursuant to this Section 3.9 shall not constitute a waiver of such
Lender's right to demand such compensation; provided, however, that the Borrower
shall not be required to compensate any Lender  pursuant to this Section 3.9 for
any  increased  costs or  reduction in amounts  receivable  or rate of return on
capital  incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies
the Borrower of the event or occurrence  giving rise to such increased  costs or
reductions  and of such  Lender's  intention  to  claim  compensation  therefor;
provided, further that, if the event or occurrence giving rise to such increased
costs or reductions is  retroactive,  then the 180-day period  referred to above
shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.


<PAGE>



     3.10  Limitation on Types of Loans.  If on or prior to the first day of any
Interest Period for any Eurodollar Loan:

                  (ai  the  Agent  determines  (which   determination  shall  be
conclusive)  that by reason of  circumstances  affecting  the  relevant  market,
adequate and reasonable  means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate
for such Interest Period; or

                  (bi the Required Lenders determine (which  determination shall
be conclusive)  and notify the Agent that the Adjusted  Eurodollar Rate will not
adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lender of funding Eurodollar Loans
for such Interest Period;

then the Agent shall give the Borrower  prompt  notice  thereof,  and so long as
such  condition  remains in effect,  the Lenders shall be under no obligation to
make Eurodollar Loans,  Continue Eurodollar Loans, or to Convert Base Rate Loans
into  Eurodollar  Loans and the Borrower  shall,  on the last day(s) of the then
current Interest Period(s) for the outstanding  Eurodollar Loans,  either prepay
such Loans or Convert  such  Loans into Base Rate Loans in  accordance  with the
terms of this Agreement.

                  3.11 Illegality.  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this
Agreement,  in the  event  that  it  becomes  unlawful  for  any  Lender  or its
Applicable Lending Office to make, maintain, or fund Eurodollar Loans hereunder,
then such Lender shall  promptly  notify the Borrower  thereof and such Lender's
obligation to make or Continue  Eurodollar  Loans and to Convert Base Rate Loans
into  Eurodollar  Loans  shall be  suspended  until such time as such Lender may
again make, maintain, and fund Eurodollar Loans (in which case the provisions of
Section 3.12 shall be applicable).

                  3.12  Treatment of Affected  Loans.  If the  obligation of any
Lender to make  Eurodollar  Loans or to Continue,  or to Convert Base Rate Loans
into Eurodollar  Loans shall be suspended  pursuant to Section 3.9 or 3.11, such
Lender's Eurodollar Loans shall be automatically  Converted into Base Rate Loans
on the last day(s) of the then current Interest  Period(s) (or, in the case of a
Conversion  required by Section  3.11,  on such  earlier date as such Lender may
specify to the  Borrower  with a copy to the Agent)  and,  unless and until such
Lender  gives  notice as  provided  below that the  circumstances  specified  in
Section 3.9 or 3.11 that gave rise to such Conversion no longer exists:

                  (ai to the extent  that such  Lender's  Eurodollar  Loans have
been so  Converted,  all  payments  and  prepayments  of  principal  that  would
otherwise be applied to such Lender's  Eurodollar Loans shall be applied instead
to its Base Rate Loans; and

                  (bi all Loans that would  otherwise  be made or  Continued  by
such Lender as Eurodollar Loans shall be made or Continued  instead as Base Rate
Loans,  and all Loans of such  Lenders that would  otherwise  be Converted  into
Eurodollar Loans shall be Converted  instead into (or shall remain as) Base Rate
Loans.


<PAGE>



If such Lender gives notice to the Borrower  (with a copy to the Agent) that the
circumstances  specified in Section 3.9 or 3.11 that gave rise to the Conversion
of such Lender's  Eurodollar Loans pursuant to this Section 3.12 no longer exist
(which such  Lender  agrees to do promptly  upon such  circumstances  ceasing to
exist) at a time when  Eurodollar  Loans made by other Lenders are  outstanding,
such Lender's  Base Rate Loans shall be  automatically  Converted,  on the first
day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding Eurodollar
Loans, to the extent necessary so that,  after giving effect thereto,  all Loans
held by the  Lenders  holding  Eurodollar  Loans and by such Lender are held pro
rata (as to principal  amounts,  Types, and Interest Periods) in accordance with
their respective Revolving Credit Commitments.

                  3.13  Compensation.  Upon  the  request  of  any  Lender,  the
Borrower  shall pay to such Lender such amount or amounts as shall be sufficient
(in the reasonable  opinion of such Lender) to compensate it for any loss, cost,
or expense  (including loss of anticipated  profits)  incurred by it as a result
of:

                  (ai any payment,  prepayment,  or  Conversion  of a Eurodollar
Loan for any reason  (including,  without  limitation,  the  acceleration of the
Loans  pursuant to Section 8) on a date other than the last day of the  Interest
Period for such Loan; or

                  (bi any  failure by the  Borrower  for any reason  (including,
without limitation,  the failure of any condition precedent specified in Section
4 to be satisfied) to borrow,  Convert,  Continue or prepay a Eurodollar Loan on
the date for such borrowing, Conversion, Continuation or prepayment specified in
the relevant notice of borrowing,  prepayment,  Continuation or Conversion under
this Agreement.

                  3.14 Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by the Borrower to or for
the  account  of any  Lender or the  Agent  hereunder  or under  any other  Loan
Document  shall be made free and clear of and without  deduction for any and all
present  or future  taxes,  duties,  levies,  imposts,  deductions,  charges  or
withholdings,  and all liabilities with respect, thereto, excluding, in the case
of each Lender and the Agent,  taxes imposed on its income,  and franchise taxes
imposed on it, by the  jurisdiction  under the laws of which such Lender (or its
Applicable Lending Office) or the Agent (as the case may be) is organized or any
political  subdivision  thereof (all such non-excluded  taxes,  duties,  levies,
imposts,  deductions,  charges,  withholdings and liabilities  being hereinafter
referred to as "Taxes").  If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any
Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable  under this  Agreement  or any other
Loan Document to any Lender or the Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be increased
as necessary so that after making all required deductions  (including deductions
applicable  to  additional  sums payable under this Section 3.14) such Lender or
the Agent receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such
deductions  been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such  deductions,  (iii) the
Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant  taxation  authority
or other authority in accordance with applicable law and (iv) the Borrower shall
furnish to the Agent,  at its address  referred to in Section 10.2, the original
or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof.


<PAGE>



                  (bi In  addition,  the  Borrower  agrees  to pay  any  and all
present or future  stamp or  documentary  taxes and any other excise or property
taxes or charges or similar  levies which arise from any payment made under this
Agreement  or any other Loan  Document or from the  execution or delivery of, or
otherwise   with  respect  to,  this   Agreement  or  any  other  Loan  Document
(hereinafter referred to as "Other Taxes").

                  (ci THE BORROWER AGREES TO INDEMNIFY EACH LENDER AND THE AGENT
FOR THE FULL AMOUNT OF TAXES AND OTHER TAXES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY
TAXES OR OTHER TAXES IMPOSED OR ASSERTED BY ANY  JURISDICTION ON AMOUNTS PAYABLE
UNDER THIS  SECTION  3.14) PAID BY SUCH LENDER OR THE AGENT (AS THE CASE MAY BE)
AND  ANY  LIABILITY  (INCLUDING  PENALTIES,   INTEREST,  AND  EXPENSES)  ARISING
THEREFROM OR WITH RESPECT THERETO.

                  (di Each  Lender  organized  under the laws of a  jurisdiction
outside the United States, on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery
of this  Agreement  in the case of each  Lender  listed on the  signature  pages
hereof  and on or prior to the date on which it  becomes a Lender in the case of
each other Lender,  and from time to time  thereafter if requested in writing by
the Borrower or the Agent (but only so long as such Lender remains lawfully able
to do so),  shall  provide the Borrower and the Agent with (i) Internal  Revenue
Service Form 1001 or 4224, as  appropriate,  or any successor form prescribed by
the  Internal  Revenue  Service,  certifying  that such  Lender is  entitled  to
benefits  under an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party which
reduces the rate of withholding  tax on payments of interest or certifying  that
the income receivable  pursuant to this Agreement is effectively  connected with
the conduct of a trade or business in the United States,  (ii) Internal  Revenue
Service Form W-8 or W-9, as appropriate, or any successor form prescribed by the
Internal Revenue Service and (iii) any other form or certificate required by any
taxing  authority  (including any  certificate  required by Sections  871(h) and
881(c) of the Code),  certifying  that such Lender is  entitled to an  exemption
from or a reduced rate of tax on payments  pursuant to this  Agreement or any of
the other Loan Documents.

                  (ei For any period  with  respect to which a Lender has failed
to provide the  Borrower  and the Agent with the  appropriate  form  pursuant to
subsection  3.14(d)  (unless such failure is due to a change in treaty,  law, or
regulation  occurring  subsequent  to the  date on which a form  originally  was
required to be provided),  such Lender shall not be entitled to  indemnification
under  subsection  3.14(a) with respect to Taxes  imposed by the United  States;
provided,  however,  that  should a Lender,  which is  otherwise  exempt from or
subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax, become subject to Taxes because of
its failure to deliver a form required  hereunder,  the Borrower shall take such
steps as such Lender shall  reasonably  request to assist such Lender to recover
such Taxes.

                  (fi If the Borrower is required to pay  additional  amounts to
or for the account of any Lender pursuant to this Section 3.14, then such Lender
will  agree  to  use  reasonable  efforts  to  change  the  jurisdiction  of its
Applicable  Lending  Office so as to  eliminate  or reduce  any such  additional
payment  which may  thereafter  accrue if such  change,  in the judgment of such
Lender, is not otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.


<PAGE>



                  (gi Within  thirty days after the date of any payment of Taxes
or Other  Taxes,  the  Borrower  shall  furnish to the Agent the  original  or a
certified copy of a receipt evidencing such payment.

                  (hi Without  prejudice to the survival of any other  agreement
of the  Borrower  hereunder,  the  agreements  and  obligations  of the Borrower
contained in this Section 3.14 shall  survive the  termination  of the Revolving
Credit Commitments and the payment in full of the Notes.

                  3.15  Replacement  of  Lenders.  In the event  (a) any  Lender
requests  compensation pursuant to Section 3.9, (b) any Lender delivers a notice
to the Borrower  pursuant to Section 3.11 or (c) the Borrower is required to pay
any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental  Authority on account of
any Lender  pursuant to Section 3.14,  the Borrower may, at its sole expense and
effort (including with respect to the processing and recordation fee referred to
in subsection  10.6(b)(iv)),  upon notice to such Lender and the Agent,  require
such Lender to transfer and assign,  without  recourse (in  accordance  with and
subject to the  restrictions  contained in Section 10.6),  all of its interests,
rights and  obligations  under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to an
Eligible  Assignee that shall assume such assigned  obligations  (which assignee
may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such  assignment),  provided that (i)
such assignment  shall not conflict with any Requirement of Law, (ii) no Default
or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (iii) the Borrower
or such Eligible  Assignee shall have paid to the affected Lender in immediately
available  funds  an  amount  equal to the sum of 100% of the  principal  of and
interest  accrued  to the date of such  payment  on the  outstanding  Loans  and
Reimbursement Obligations of such Lender, respectively, plus all Commitment Fees
and other amounts  accrued for the account of such Lender  hereunder  (including
any amounts under Sections 3.9, 3.13 and 3.14);  provided  further that if prior
to any such assignment the circumstances or event that resulted in such Lender's
request or notice  under  Section 3.9 or 3.11 or demand for  additional  amounts
under  Section  3.14,  as the case  may be,  shall  cease  to  exist  or  become
inapplicable  for any reason or if such Lender shall waive its rights in respect
of such  circumstances or event under Section 3.9, 3.11 or 3.14, as the case may
be, then such Lender shall not be required to make such assignment hereunder.

                 SECTION 4.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

                  4.1 Conditions to Initial  Extension of Credit.  The agreement
of each Lender to make the initial  Extension of Credit  requested to be made by
it is subject to the satisfaction, immediately prior to or concurrently with the
making of such Extension of Credit,  of the following  conditions  precedent (in
form and substance acceptable to the Agent and the Lenders):

     (ai Loan  Documents.  The Agent  shall have  received  the  following  Loan
Documents, duly executed and delivered as required below:

     (i0 this Agreement,  executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of
the Borrower, with a counterpart for each Lender;



<PAGE>



                           (ii0  a  Note,  executed  and  delivered  by  a  duly
         authorized officer of the Borrower, payable to the order of each Lender
         and in a principal amount for each Lender equal to its Revolving Credit
         Commitment;

                           (iii0  the   Guarantee  and   Collateral   Agreement,
         executed and delivered by duly authorized  officers of the Borrower and
         each of its  Subsidiaries,  with a counterpart  or a conformed copy for
         each Lender;

                           (iv0 the Lockbox  Agreements  and Deposit  Agreements
         required  by the  Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement,  executed  and
         delivered by duly authorized officers of the Loan Parties,  the Lockbox
         Banks,  the  Depository  Banks,  and  the  Affiliated   Providers,   as
         applicable; and

                           (v0 the Trademark Security  Agreement,  executed by a
         duly  authorized  officer  of  the  Borrower,  with  a  counterpart  or
         conformed copy for each Lender.

                  (bi Corporate Proceedings of the Loan Parties. The Agent shall
have received, with a counterpart for each Lender, a copy of the resolutions, in
form and substance  satisfactory to the Agent, of the Board of Directors of each
of the Loan Parties  authorizing (i) the execution,  delivery and performance of
the Loan  Documents to which it is a party and (ii) with respect to the Borrower
only, the borrowings  contemplated  hereunder,  certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of such Loan Party as of the Closing Date, which certificate
shall be in form and  substance  satisfactory  to the Agent and shall state that
the resolutions  thereby certified have not been amended,  modified,  revoked or
rescinded.

                  (ci  Incumbency  Certificate.  The Agent shall have  received,
with a counterpart for each Lender, a certificate of each Loan Party,  dated the
Closing  Date, as to the  incumbency  and signature of the officers of such Loan
Party executing any Loan Document to which such Loan Party is a party,  executed
by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of such Loan Party.

                  (di Corporate Documents. The Agent shall have received, with a
counterpart for each Lender,  true and complete copies of (i) the certificate of
incorporation and by-laws (or other similar governing documents serving the same
purpose) of each Loan Party and (ii)  certificates of good standing or existence
for each Loan Party  issued by the  appropriate  Governmental  Authority  in its
state of  incorporation  as of a recent date,  each  certified as of the Closing
Date,  as complete and correct  copies  thereof by the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of such Loan Party.

                  (ei Fees.  The Agent shall have  received  payment of all fees
and expenses owed to it by the Borrower, including, without limitation, the fees
to be received on or before the Closing Date pursuant to subsection 3.2(c).

     (fi Legal Opinions.  The Agent shall have received,  with a counterpart for
each Lender, the following executed legal opinions:



<PAGE>



     (i0 the executed legal opinion of Boult,  Cummings,  Conners & Berry,  PLC,
counsel  to the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries,  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit H-1; and

                           (ii0 the  executed  legal  opinion of Liddell,  Sapp,
         Zivley,  Hill & LaBoon, LLP, special Texas counsel for the Borrower and
         its Subsidiaries, substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2.

Each  such  legal  opinion  shall  cover  such  other  matters  incident  to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement as the Agent may reasonably require.

                  (gi Actions to Perfect  Liens Under  Security  Documents.  The
Agent shall have received evidence in form and substance satisfactory to it that
all filings,  recordings,  registrations and other actions,  including,  without
limitation,  the filing of duly executed financing statements on form UCC-1, the
delivery of certificates  representing  shares of stock pledged  pursuant to any
Security  Document,  together with undated stock powers, and the delivery of the
promissory  notes pledged  pursuant to any Security  Document,  each endorsed in
blank, necessary or, in the opinion of the Agent, desirable to perfect the Liens
created by the Security Documents shall have been completed, and all agreements,
statements and other documents  relating  thereto shall be in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agent.

                  (hi  Actions  to  Perfect  Assignments  of  Receivables  Under
Service Agreements. The Agent shall have received evidence in form and substance
satisfactory  to it that (i) all filings,  recordings,  registrations  and other
actions,  including,  without limitation,  the filing of financing statements on
form UCC-1,  necessary, or in the opinion of the Agent, desirable to perfect the
ownership  interest of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  in all  Receivables
assigned to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from Affiliated Providers pursuant
to the Service Agreements,  shall have been completed and (ii) all such filings,
recordings,  registrations and other actions have been assigned of record to the
Agent.

                  (ii Lien  Searches.  The Agent shall have received the results
of a recent  search  by a  Person  satisfactory  to the  Agent,  of the  Uniform
Commercial  Code,  judgment and tax lien filings  which may have been filed with
respect  to  personal  property  of  the  Borrower,  its  Subsidiaries  and  the
Affiliated  Providers in any of the  jurisdictions set forth in Schedule 4.1(i),
and the results of such search shall be satisfactory to the Agent.

     (ji Lien  Releases.  The Agent shall have received such Lien releases as it
may request with respect to Liens on assets of the  Borrower,  its  Subsidiaries
and the Affiliated Providers.

                  (ki Insurance.  The Agent shall have received evidence in form
and substance  satisfactory to it that all of the requirements of Section 5.3 of
the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall have been satisfied.


<PAGE>



                  (li  Financial  Information.  The Lenders  shall have received
photocopies  of and  shall be  satisfied,  in form and  substance,  with (i) the
audited  consolidated  income  statements,  balance  sheets  and  statements  of
shareholders'  equity  and  cash  flows  of the  Borrower  and its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries for fiscal years ended on December 31, 1995, December 31, 1996, and
December 31, 1997, in each case  accompanied by a report of Arthur Anderson LLP,
and (ii) the unaudited  consolidated  balance  sheet and unaudited  consolidated
statements of income and retained earnings and of cash flows of the Borrower and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries for each quarterly period ended after December 31,
1997, for which such statements are available.

                  (mi Related Agreements.  The Agent shall have received, with a
copy for each Lender,  true and correct copies,  certified as to authenticity by
the Borrower,  of each Service  Agreement in effect on the Closing Date and each
agreement or instrument evidencing Existing Subordinated Indebtedness.

                  (ni Receivables  Report.  The Agent shall have received a copy
of the  receivables  report  required to be delivered by the Borrower  under the
Existing  Credit  Agreement with respect to Receivables  outstanding on November
30, 1998.

                  (oi  Due  Diligence.  The  completion  of due  diligence  with
respect  to the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  in  scope  and  determination
satisfactory to the Agent in its sole discretion, including, without limitation,
due diligence with respect to historical financial information, litigation, tax,
accounting,  labor, insurance, pension liabilities (actual or contingent),  real
estate  leases,   Material  Contracts,   agreements   evidencing   Indebtedness,
contingent liabilities,  property ownership, and compliance with Requirements of
Law.

                  (pi No  Disruption  of Financial  Markets.  The absence of any
disruption or adverse change in the financial or capital markets generally which
the  Agent,  in its sole  discretion,  deems  material  in  connection  with the
syndication of the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement.

     (qi Termination of Lockbox Agreements under Existing Credit Agreement.  The
Agent shall have received evidence of the termination of all lockbox  agreements
under the Existing Credit Agreement.

     (ri Form of  Service  Agreement.  A copy of the form of  Service  Agreement
being used by the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries on the Closing Date,  certified
by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower.

                  4.2 Conditions to Each Extension of Credit.  The obligation of
each Lender to make any Extension of Credit (including,  without limitation, its
initial  Extension of Credit) is subject to the  satisfaction  of the  following
conditions precedent:

                  (ai    Representations    and   Warranties.    Each   of   the
representations and warranties made by any of the Loan Parties in or pursuant to
the  Loan  Documents  shall be true  and  correct  on and as of the date of such
Extension of Credit as if made on and as of such date.


<PAGE>



     (bi No Default.  No Default or Event of Default  shall have occurred and be
continuing  immediately  before  or after  giving  effect to such  Extension  of
Credit.

                  (ci Additional  Matters.  All corporate and other  proceedings
and all documents,  instruments  and other legal matters in connection  with the
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall
be  satisfactory  in form and  substance to the Agent,  and the Agent shall have
received  such other  documents  and legal  opinions in respect of any aspect or
consequence  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or  thereby  as it shall
reasonably request.

Each  Extension  of Credit  hereunder  shall  constitute  a  representation  and
warranty by the Borrower as of the date thereof that the conditions contained in
this Section 4.2 have been satisfied.

                                     SECTION 5.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                  To  induce  the  Agent  and the  Lenders  to enter  into  this
Agreement and to make the Extensions of Credit,  the Borrower hereby  represents
and warrants to the Agent and each Lender that:


<PAGE>



                  5.1  Financial  Condition.  The audited  consolidated  balance
sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at December 31, 1997,
and the related audited consolidated  statements of income and of cash flows for
the fiscal year ended on such date,  reported on by Arthur  Andersen LLP, copies
of which have heretofore been furnished to each Lender, are complete and correct
and present fairly the consolidated  financial condition of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as at such date, and the consolidated results of their
operations and their consolidated cash flows for the fiscal year then ended. The
unaudited  consolidated  balance  sheet  of the  Borrower  and its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries  as at June  30,  1998,  and  the  related  unaudited  consolidated
statements  of income and of cash flows for the six month  period  ended on such
date, certified by a Responsible  Officer,  copies of which have heretofore been
furnished  to each  Lender,  are  complete  and correct  and present  fairly the
consolidated   financial   condition  of  the  Borrower  and  its   Consolidated
Subsidiaries as at such date, and the  consolidated  results of their operations
and their  consolidated  cash flows for the six month period then ended (subject
to normal year-end audit adjustments). All such financial statements,  including
the related  schedules and notes thereto,  have been prepared in accordance with
GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods involved (except as approved by
such  accountants or Responsible  Officer,  as the case may be, and as disclosed
therein).  Neither the Borrower nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries had, at
the date of the most  recent  balance  sheet  referred  to above,  any  material
Guarantee  Obligation,  contingent  liability  or  liability  for taxes,  or any
long-term lease or unusual forward or long-term commitment,  including,  without
limitation,  any interest rate or foreign currency swap or exchange transaction,
which is not  reflected in the  foregoing  statements  or in the notes  thereto.
Except as set forth on Schedule  5.1,  during the period from December 31, 1997,
to and  including  the date  hereof,  there has been no sale,  transfer or other
disposition  by the  Borrower  or any of its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries  of any
material  part of its business or property and no purchase or other  acquisition
of any business or property  (including  any Capital  Stock of any other Person)
material in relation to the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries at December 31, 1997.

     5.2 No  Change;  Solvent.  Since  December  31,  1997,  there  has  been no
development  or event  which has had or could  reasonably  be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.  The Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,
are Solvent.

                  5.3  Corporate  Existence;  Compliance  with Law.  Each of the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  and, to the best of its  knowledge,  each of the
Affiliated  Providers  (a) is  duly  organized,  validly  existing  and in  good
standing under the laws of the  jurisdiction  of its  organization,  (b) has the
corporate  power and  authority,  and the legal  right,  to own and  operate its
property,  to lease the  property  it  operates  as lessee  and to  conduct  the
business in which it is currently  engaged,  (c) is duly  qualified as a foreign
corporation and in good standing under the laws of each  jurisdiction  where its
ownership,  lease or  operation  of  property  or the  conduct  of its  business
requires  such  qualification,  except where failure to so qualify or be in good
standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (d)
has  all  licenses,  accreditations,   authorizations,   permits,  consents  and
approvals (including,  without limitation, all accreditations and certifications
as  a  provider  of  health  care  services  eligible  to  receive  payment  and
compensation under, and to participate in, any Governmental Program) required to
carry on its business as now  conducted,  except where  failure to have the same
could not,  individually  or in the aggregate,  reasonably be expected to have a
Material  Adverse Effect and (e) is in compliance with all  Requirements of Law,
except  to  the  extent  that  the  failure  to  comply   therewith  could  not,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  reasonably  be  expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

                  5.4 Corporate Power;  Authorization;  Enforceable Obligations.
The Borrower has the  corporate  power and  authority,  and the legal right,  to
execute,  deliver and perform the Loan  Documents  to which it is a party and to
borrow  Loans  hereunder,  and has  taken  all  necessary  corporate  action  to
authorize the Loans on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Notes and
each other Loan Document to which it is a party and to authorize the  execution,
delivery  and  performance  of the Loan  Documents  to  which it is a party.  No
consent  or  authorization  of,  filing  with,  notice  to or other act by or in
respect of, any  Governmental  Authority  or any other  Person is required to be
obtained  or made  by or on  behalf  of the  Borrower  in  connection  with  the
Extensions of Credit  hereunder or with the  execution,  delivery,  performance,
validity or  enforceability  of the Loan  Documents  to which the  Borrower is a
party.  This  Agreement has been,  and each other Loan Document to which it is a
party will be, duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Borrower.  Each Loan
Document  to which the  Borrower is a party when  executed  and  delivered  will
constitute,  a legal, valid and binding  obligation of the Borrower  enforceable
against the Borrower in accordance with its terms,  except as enforceability may
be limited by the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,  moratorium
and other similar laws relating to or affecting  creditors' rights generally and
general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).


<PAGE>



                  5.5 No Legal Bar. The execution,  delivery and  performance of
the Loan  Documents to which the Borrower is a party,  the  Extensions of Credit
hereunder  and  the  use of the  proceeds  thereof  (a)  will  not  violate  any
Requirement  of Law or  Contractual  Obligation of the Borrower and (b) will not
result in, or require,  the creation or  imposition of any Lien on any of its or
its  Subsidiaries'  respective  properties  or  revenues  pursuant  to any  such
Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation.

                  5.6 No Material  Litigation.  Except as  disclosed in Schedule
5.6, no litigation,  investigation  or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or
Governmental  Authority  is  pending  or,  to the  knowledge  of  the  Borrower,
threatened by or against the Borrower,  any  Subsidiary or against any of its or
their  respective  properties  or revenues  (a) with  respect to any of the Loan
Documents or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (b) which
could  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  Except as
disclosed  in  Schedule  5.6 and to the  best of the  Borrower's  knowledge,  no
litigation,   investigation  or  proceeding  of  or  before  any  arbitrator  or
Governmental  Authority is pending or  threatened  by or against any  Affiliated
Provider or against any of its properties or revenues (a) with respect to any of
the Loan Documents or Service Agreements or any of the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby or (b) which could  reasonably  be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

                  5.7 No Default.  Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary  nor,
to the best of the Borrower's  knowledge,  any of the Affiliated Providers is in
default  under or with  respect  to any of its  Contractual  Obligations  in any
respect which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

                  5.8 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries  has good record and marketable  title in fee simple to, or a valid
leasehold  interest  in,  all its real  property,  and good title to, or a valid
leasehold  interest  in, all its other  property,  and none of such  property is
subject to any Lien except as  permitted  by Section  7.3.  Schedule  5.8 hereto
lists all of the real  property  owned in fee or leased by the  Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on the Closing Date.

                  5.9  Intellectual  Property.  The  Borrower  and  each  of its
Subsidiaries  owns,  or is licensed to use,  all patents,  patent  applications,
trademarks, trademark applications, tradenames, copyrights, technology, know-how
and processes  necessary for the conduct of its business as currently  conducted
or as proposed to be conducted (the "Intellectual  Property"),  except for those
the failure to own or license  which could not  reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. No claim has been asserted and is pending by any Person
challenging  or  questioning  the use of any such  Intellectual  Property or the
validity  or  effectiveness  of any  such  Intellectual  Property,  nor does the
Borrower  know  of any  valid  basis  for  any  such  claim.  The  use  of  such
Intellectual  Property by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries does not infringe on
the rights of any Person,  except for such claims and infringements that, in the
aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


<PAGE>



                  5.10 No  Burdensome  Restrictions.  No  Requirement  of Law or
Contractual  Obligation  of  the  Borrower  or any  of  its  Subsidiaries  could
reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  Schedule 5.10 sets
forth a complete  and  accurate  list as of the  Closing  Date of each  Material
Contract to which the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  is a party or by which it or
any of its assets are bound or subject.  All of the  Material  Contracts  are in
full force and effect, and neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default
under any Material  Contract  and no other Person that is a party  thereto is in
default  under  any  Material  Contract,  except  for  defaults  that  could not
reasonably be expected to have,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  a Material
Adverse Effect.

                  5.11 Taxes.  Each of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  has
filed or caused to be filed all tax returns  which are  required to be filed and
has paid all  material  taxes shown to be due and payable on said  returns or on
any  material  assessments  made against it or any of its property and all other
material  taxes,  fees or other charges  imposed on it or any of its property by
any Governmental  Authority  (other than those taxes,  fees or other charges the
amount or  validity  of which are  currently  being  contested  in good faith by
appropriate  proceedings diligently conducted and with respect to which reserves
in  conformity  with GAAP have been provided on the books of the Borrower or its
Subsidiaries,  as the case may be) and no tax Lien has been filed,  and no claim
is being asserted, with respect to any such tax, fee or other charge.

                  5.12 Federal Regulations.  No part of the proceeds of any Loan
will be used for  "purchasing"  or  "carrying"  any  "margin  stock"  within the
respective meanings of each of the quoted terms under the Regulations, including
without limitation,  Regulation U. The Borrower is not engaged principally or as
one of its  important  activities  in the business of  extending  credit for the
purpose of  purchasing or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of any of
the  Regulations.  No  more  than  25% of the  assets  of the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries are margin stock. None of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries nor any
agent  acting on their  behalf,  have taken or will take any action  which might
cause the Borrower,  the Lenders,  this  Agreement or any other Loan Document to
violate any  regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve System
or to violate the Exchange Act, in each case as in effect now or as the same may
hereafter be in effect.  Neither the making of any Loans nor the  application of
any proceeds  thereof will violate,  or be inconsistent  with, the provisions of
any of the  Regulations.  If requested by any Lender or the Agent,  the Borrower
will furnish to the Agent and each Lender a statement to the foregoing effect in
conformity with the requirements of FR Form U-1 referred to in Regulation U.


<PAGE>



                  5.13 ERISA.  Schedule  5.13 sets forth a complete and accurate
list as of the  Closing  Date of all Plans.  Neither a  Reportable  Event nor an
"accumulated  funding deficiency" (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code
or Section 302 of ERISA) has occurred  during the five-year  period prior to the
date on which this  representation  is made or deemed  made with  respect to any
Plan that could  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect,  and
each Plan has complied in all material  respects with the applicable  provisions
of ERISA and the Code.  No  termination  of a Single  Employer Plan has occurred
that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and no Lien
on the property of the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries in favor of the PBGC
or a Plan has arisen, during such five-year period. Neither the Borrower nor any
Commonly  Controlled  Entity has had a complete or partial  withdrawal  from any
Multiemployer  Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, and neither the Borrower nor any Commonly Controlled Entity would become
subject to any liability under ERISA that could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect if the Borrower or any such Commonly  Controlled  Entity
were to withdraw  completely  from all  Multiemployer  Plans as of the valuation
date most closely  preceding  the date on which this  representation  is made or
deemed made. No such Multiemployer Plan is in Reorganization or Insolvent. There
have been no transactions  that resulted or could result in any liability to the
Borrower  or any  Commonly  Controlled  Entity  under  Section  4069 of ERISA or
Section  4212(c) of ERISA that could  reasonably  be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

                  5.14 Investment Company Act; Other  Regulations.  The Borrower
is not an  "investment  company," or a company  "controlled"  by an  "investment
company," within the meaning of the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended.
The Borrower is not subject to regulation  under any Federal or State statute or
regulation  (other than  Regulation  X of the Board of  Governors of the Federal
Reserve System) which limits its ability to incur Indebtedness.

                  5.15   Subsidiaries.   Schedule   5.15  sets   forth  all  the
Subsidiaries  of the  Borrower at the date  hereof,  the  jurisdiction  of their
incorporation  and the direct or indirect  ownership  interest  of the  Borrower
therein.

                  5.16 Purpose of Loans. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used
by the  Borrower  to pay in full the  Indebtedness  of the  Borrower  under  the
Existing  Credit  Agreement  and for working  capital  purposes in the  ordinary
course of business and Permitted Physician Transactions.

          5.17     Environmental Matters.  Except as set forth on Schedule 5.17:

                  (ai To the best knowledge of the Borrower,  the facilities and
properties owned,  leased or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
(the  "Properties")  do not  contain,  and have not  previously  contained,  any
Materials  of  Environmental  Concern  in amounts  or  concentrations  which (i)
constitute or  constituted a violation of, or (ii) could  reasonably be expected
to give rise to liability  under,  any  Environmental  Law except in either case
insofar as such  violation or  liability,  or any  aggregation  thereof,  is not
reasonably likely to result in the payment of a Material Environmental Amount.

                  (bi To the best knowledge of the Borrower,  the Properties and
all operations at the Properties are in compliance,  and at all times during the
last five years  have been in  compliance,  in all  material  respects  with all
applicable  Environmental Laws, and there is no contamination at, under or about
the  Properties  or  violation  of any  Environmental  Law with  respect  to the
Properties or the business  operated by the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries
(the  "Business")  which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.  The  Borrower  has  not  assumed  any  liability  of any  Person  under
Environmental Laws.

                  (ci  Neither  the  Borrower  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has
received or is aware of any claim or any notice of violation, alleged violation,
non-compliance, liability or potential liability regarding environmental matters
or compliance  with  Environmental  Laws with regard to any of the Properties or
the Business, nor does the Borrower have knowledge or reason to believe that any
such claim or notice will be received or is being  contemplated,  considered  or
threatened except insofar as such claim or notice or threatened claim or notice,
or any aggregation thereof,  does not involve a matter or matters that is or are
reasonably likely to result in the payment of a Material Environmental Amount.


<PAGE>



                  (di To the best  knowledge of the Borrower  after due inquiry,
Materials of Environmental Concern have not been transported or disposed of from
the  Properties  in  violation  of, or in a manner or to a location  which could
reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under, any  Environmental  Law,
nor have any Materials of Environmental Concern been generated,  treated, stored
or disposed of at, on or under any of the  Properties  in violation  of, or in a
manner that could  reasonably be expected to give rise to liability  under,  any
applicable  Environmental  Law except insofar as any such violation or liability
referred to in this  paragraph,  or any aggregation  thereof,  is not reasonably
likely to result in the payment of a Material Environmental Amount.

                  (ei No judicial  proceeding or governmental or  administrative
action or  investigation  is pending or, to the best  knowledge  of the Borrower
after due inquiry,  contemplated or threatened,  under any  Environmental Law to
which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is or will be named as a party with respect
to the  Properties or the Business,  nor are there any consent  decrees or other
decrees,  consent  orders,  administrative  orders  or  other  orders,  or other
administrative or judicial requirements  outstanding under any Environmental Law
with  respect  to  the  Properties  or  the  Business  except  insofar  as  such
proceeding,  action,  decree,  order or other  requirement,  or any  aggregation
thereof,  is not  reasonably  likely  to  result in the  payment  of a  Material
Environmental Amount.

                  (fi To the best  knowledge of the Borrower  after due inquiry,
there has been no release or threat of release  of  Materials  of  Environmental
Concern at or from the Properties,  or arising from or related to the operations
of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with the Properties or otherwise
in connection  with the  Business,  in violation of or in amounts or in a manner
that could  reasonably  give rise to liability under  Environmental  Laws except
insofar as any such violation or liability referred to in this paragraph, or any
aggregation  thereof,  is not  reasonably  likely to result in the  payment of a
Material Environmental Amount.

                  5.18  No  Material  Misstatements.  The  written  information,
reports, financial statements,  exhibits and schedules furnished by or on behalf
of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  to the  Lender in  connection  with the
negotiation  of any Loan  Document or  included  therein or  delivered  pursuant
thereto,  taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact and
do not omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the  circumstances  under which they were made,  not  materially
misleading.

                  5.19 Labor  Matters.  Except as  disclosed  in Schedule  5.19,
there are no collective  bargaining  agreements  covering the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date. There are no strikes pending or, to the
knowledge  of  the  Borrower,  threatened  against  the  Borrower  or any of its
Subsidiaries  which,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  could  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect.  The hours worked and payments made
to  employees  of the  Borrower  and each of its  Subsidiaries  have not been in
violation of any applicable  Requirements  of Law,  except where such violations
could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


<PAGE>



                  5.20 Year 2000  Compliance.  The Borrower has (a)  initiated a
review  and  assessment  of all  material  areas  within  its  and  each  of its
Subsidiaries'  business and operations  (including  those affected by suppliers,
vendors  and  customers  that  could be  adversely  affected  by the "Year  2000
Problem" (that is, the risk that computer  applications  used by the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries  (or suppliers,  vendors and customers) may be unable to
recognize and perform properly date-sensitive  functions involving certain dates
prior to and any  date  after  December  31,  1999),  (b)  developed  a plan and
timeline for addressing the Year 2000 Problem on a timely basis and (c) to date,
implemented that plan in accordance with that timetable. Based on the foregoing,
the Borrower  believes that all computer  applications  (including  those of its
suppliers,  vendors  and  customers)  that  are  material  to  its or any of its
Subsidiaries'  business and operations are reasonably expected on a timely basis
to be able to perform properly date-sensitive functions for all dates before and
after January 1, 2000 (that is, be "Year 2000 Compliant"),  except to the extent
that a failure  to do so could not  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

                  5.21 Debt Instruments.  Schedule 5.21 sets forth a correct and
complete  list,  as of  the  Closing  Date,  of  each  instrument  or  agreement
evidencing  Indebtedness  of  the  Borrower  or  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  and
identifies all such Indebtedness that is Existing Subordinated Indebtedness.

                  5.22 Health Care Permits. (a) (i) The Borrower and each of the
Subsidiaries  and,  to  the  best  of its  knowledge,  each  of  the  Affiliated
Providers, now have, and have no reason to believe that they will not be able to
maintain in effect,  all Health Care Permits  necessary for the conduct of their
respective  businesses or operations in accordance with all Requirements of Law,
(ii) all such Health Care Permits are in full force and effect and have not been
amended or  otherwise  modified,  canceled,  terminated,  rescinded,  revoked or
suspended,  (iii) neither the Borrower nor any of its  Subsidiaries  nor, to the
best of its knowledge,  any of the Affiliated Providers, is in default under, or
in violation  of, any such Health Care Permit (and to the best  knowledge of the
Borrower, no event has occurred, and no condition exists, which, with the giving
of notice or passage of time or both, would  constitute a default  thereunder or
violation  thereof) that has caused or could reasonably be expected to cause the
loss  of any  such  Health  Care  Permit,  (iv)  neither  the  Borrower  nor any
Subsidiary  nor,  to the best of its  knowledge,  any  Affiliated  Provider  has
received  any notice of a violation  of any  Requirement  of Law or  Contractual
Obligation  which has caused or could  reasonably  be expected to cause any such
Health Care Permit to be modified, canceled,  terminated,  rescinded, revoked or
suspended,  (v) no condition exists or event has occurred which could reasonably
be expected to result in the suspension, cancellation,  termination, revocation,
impairment,  forfeiture or  non-renewal  of any such Health Care Permit and (vi)
the  continuation,  validity and  effectiveness  of all such Health Care Permits
will not in any way be adversely  affected by the  transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement, except for such instances that could not reasonably be expected,
individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.


<PAGE>



                  (b)  Each  Affiliated  Provider  is  (i)  fully  qualified  to
participate in, receive payment under,  and in compliance with the conditions of
participation in each Governmental Program in which such Affiliated Provider has
elected to participate or with which such  Affiliated  Provider has  contracted,
and (ii) fully qualified and eligible to receive  reimbursement from private and
commercial payors, including, but not limited to employers,  insurers and health
maintenance organizations,  except where the loss of the right to participate in
or receive  payments  under such  Governmental  Programs  or from such payors or
organizations  could not reasonably be expected to have,  individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

                  5.23  Fraud  and  Abuse.  Neither  (i)  the  Borrower  nor any
Subsidiary, (ii) nor any of their respective shareholders,  officers,  directors
or employees, (iii) nor, to the best of the Borrower's knowledge, any Affiliated
Provider,  has engaged in or is being investigated  (exclusive of routine audits
in the ordinary course of business) for any activities that are prohibited under
the Federal False Claims Act (31 U.S.C.  ss.ss. 3729 - 3733), 42 U.S.C. 1395 nn,
18 U.S.C. ss. 1347 or the federal fraud and abuse laws (42 U.S.C. ss.ss. 1320a -
7a or 1320a - 7b), or the regulations  promulgated  pursuant to such statutes or
similar state or local statutes or regulations, or which are prohibited by rules
of  professional  conduct,  including,  but not limited to, the  following:  (a)
knowingly  presenting or causing to be presented a false claim for payment,  (b)
knowingly  presenting  or causing  to be  presented  a false  record in order to
receive payment for a claim, (c) knowingly and willfully making or causing to be
made a false statement or  representation  of a material fact in any application
for any benefit or payment,  (d) knowingly and willfully making or causing to be
made  any  false  statement  or  representation  of a  material  fact for use in
determining rights to any benefit or payment,  (e) failing to disclose knowledge
by a claimant of the occurrence of any event  affecting the initial or continued
right to any benefit or payment on its own behalf or on behalf of another,  with
intent to secure  such  benefit  or  payment  fraudulently,  (f)  knowingly  and
willfully  soliciting or receiving  any  remuneration  (including  any kickback,
bribe or rebate),  directly or  indirectly,  overtly or covertly,  in cash or in
kind or  offering  to pay such  remuneration  (i) in  return  for  referring  an
individual to a Person for the furnishing or arranging for the furnishing of any
item or service for which  payment may be made in whole or in part by  Medicare,
Medicaid or other third party payors, or (ii) in return for purchasing,  leasing
or ordering or arranging for or recommending the purchasing, leasing or ordering
of any good, facility, service or item for which payment may be made in whole or
in part by Medicare,  Medicaid or other  third-party  payors, or (g) referring a
patient for "designated  health services" to a Person with which a physician has
a financial  relationship,  except for such  instances of prohibited  activities
that could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate,
a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary or Affiliated
Provider,  nor any of their  respective  officers or directors has been excluded
from participation in any Governmental Program.

                  5.24  Reimbursement  from Third Party Payors.  The Receivables
assigned to the Borrower and each  Subsidiary by the  Affiliated  Providers have
been and will  continue to be  adjusted  so as to comply with the  reimbursement
policies of Government  Programs and third party payors such as Blue  Cross/Blue
Shield, private insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, preferred
provider organizations,  alternative delivery systems, and managed care systems.
The Receivables so assigned do not and shall not exceed in any material  respect
the amounts that the relevant  Affiliated  Providers are entitled to receive for
their services under any capitation arrangement, fee schedule, discount formula,
cost-based  reimbursement or other adjustment or limitation to the usual charges
of such Affiliated Providers.


<PAGE>



                  5.25  Title  to  Receivables.  Upon  the  assignment  of  each
Receivable of an Affiliated Provider to the Borrower or a Subsidiary pursuant to
a Service Agreement,  the Borrower or the relevant  Subsidiary shall acquire all
of the right,  title and interest of the Affiliated  Provider in such Receivable
free and clear of any Lien or adverse  claim and shall have a  perfected,  first
priority  ownership  interest  in such  Receivable  (except  for  Liens  created
pursuant to the Security  Documents).  Each  assignment  of a  Receivable  by an
Affiliated  Provider  to the  Borrower  or a  Subsidiary  pursuant  to a Service
Agreement will constitute a true and absolute  assignment (and not an assignment
for security purposes) under the laws of all relevant jurisdictions, and no such
assigned  Receivable will constitute  property of such Affiliated  Provider.  No
financing  statement or other instrument  similar in effect covering all or part
of any  Receivable  assigned  by an  Affiliated  Provider  to the  Borrower or a
Subsidiary is on file in any filing or recording office, except as may have been
filed in favor of the Agent  pursuant to the  Security  Documents or in favor of
the Borrower or a Subsidiary (with the Agent named as assignee)  pursuant to the
relevant Service Agreement.

                                          SECTION 6.  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

                  The  Borrower  hereby  agrees that,  so long as the  Revolving
Credit Commitments remain in effect, any Note remains  outstanding and unpaid or
any other Obligation is owing to any Lender or the Agent, the Borrower shall and
(except in the case of delivery of financial  information,  reports and notices)
shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

           6.1      Financial Statements.  Furnish to the Agent and each Lender:

                  (a) as soon as  available,  but in any event  within  100 days
after the end of each fiscal year of the  Borrower,  a copy of the  consolidated
balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of
such  year and the  related  consolidated  statements  of  income  and  retained
earnings  and of cash  flows  for  such  year,  setting  forth  in each  case in
comparative form the figures for the previous year, reported on without a "going
concern" or like qualification or exception, or qualification arising out of the
scope of the audit, by Arthur Andersen LLP or other independent certified public
accountants  of nationally  recognized  standing  acceptable to the Agent in its
reasonable judgment; and

                  (b) as soon as  available,  but in any event not later than 50
days after the end of each of the first three  quarterly  periods of each fiscal
year of the Borrower,  the unaudited  consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower
and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter and the related
unaudited  consolidated  statements of income and retained  earnings and of cash
flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such quarter and the
portion of the fiscal year  through the end of such  quarter,  setting  forth in
each case in comparative form the figures for the previous year,  certified by a
Responsible  Officer as being fairly stated in all material respects (subject to
normal year-end audit adjustments);

all such  financial  statements  shall be complete  and correct in all  material
respects and shall be prepared in reasonable detail and in accordance with GAAP.

6.2      Certificates; Other Information.  Furnish to the Agent and each Lender:



<PAGE>



                  (a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements
referred to in subsection  6.1(a),  a certificate of the  independent  certified
public accountants reporting on such financial statements stating that in making
the examination  necessary  therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Default or
Event of Default, except as specified in such certificate;

                  (b) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements
referred to in subsections 6.1(a) and (b), a Compliance  Certificate signed by a
Responsible  Officer (i) stating that, to the best of such officer's  knowledge,
no  Default or Event of Default  exists,  or if any  Default or Event of Default
does  exist,  specifying  the  nature  and extent  thereof  and what  action the
Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth in reasonable
detail the  calculations  required to determine (A) compliance with Section 7.1,
and (B) the  Applicable  Margin  that will take effect on the  Calculation  Date
immediately  following  the  date  on  which  such  Compliance   Certificate  is
delivered,  (iii) stating that no Subsidiary has been formed or acquired (or, if
any Subsidiary  has been formed or acquired,  the Borrower has complied with the
requirements of Section 6.10 with respect thereto) and (iv) neither the Borrower
nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has  changed  its  name,  its  principal  place of
business,  its chief  executive  office or the location of any material  item of
tangible  Collateral  without  complying  with  the  requirements  of  the  Loan
Documents with respect thereto;

                  (c) as soon as  available,  but in any event  not  later  than
thirty days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, (i) a copy of the
projections  by the  Borrower  of the  operating  budget,  cash flow  budget and
capital budget of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  for the succeeding  fiscal
year,  such  projections  to be  accompanied  by a certificate  of a Responsible
Officer to the effect that such  projections  have been prepared on the basis of
sound financial planning practice and that such officer has no reason to believe
they are incorrect or  misleading in any material  respect and (ii) in the event
that the budgeted  Capital  Expenditures  of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries
contained  in  such  projections  exceed  the  amount  of  Capital  Expenditures
permitted by Section 7.10, a request in the form of Exhibit J for the consent of
the  Required  Lenders  (at their  sole  discretion)  to such  budgeted  Capital
Expenditures;

                  (d) within  five days  after  receipt  thereof,  a copy of any
report or  "management  letter"  submitted  by  independent  accountants  to the
Borrower or any  Subsidiary  in connection  with any annual,  interim or special
audit of the books of such Person;

                  (e) within  five days  after the same are sent,  copies of all
financial  statements and reports which the Borrower sends to its  stockholders,
and  within  five  days  after  the  same are  filed,  copies  of all  financial
statements  and  reports  which  the  Borrower  may make to, or file  with,  the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission or any successor or analogous  Governmental
Authority;

                  (f) within  five days after the same are filed,  copies of all
registration  statements  and any  amendments  and exhibits  thereto,  which the
Borrower may file with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission or any successor
or analogous Governmental Authority,  and such other documents or instruments as
may be reasonably requested by the Agent in connection therewith;


<PAGE>



                  (g) within one day after the issuance thereof,  a copy of each
press release and other statement that the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall make
available generally to the public;

                  (h) not less than fourteen days prior to the  consummation  of
any Permitted  Physician  Transaction,  a Physician  Transaction  Notice/Consent
Request  containing the following items,  each in form and substance  reasonably
satisfactory to the Agent:

                  (i)      a description of the Physician Group practice whose
         Capital Stock or assets are to be acquired ("Practice");

                  (ii) a  description  of the material  terms of such  Permitted
         Physician  Transaction  (including,  without  limitation,  the purchase
         price,  method and structure of payment,  and proposed  closing  date),
         provided that a description of any additional or changed material terms
         of such Permitted Physician Transaction shall be disclosed to the Agent
         within three (3) days of such addition or change;

                  (iii) projected revenue and Consolidated  EBITDA  contribution
         levels  with  respect to the  Practice  to be  acquired,  prepared on a
         quarterly basis for the two-year period  following the  consummation of
         such Permitted Physician Transaction, in reasonable detail;

                  (iv)   confirmation,    supported   by   reasonably   detailed
         calculations,  of projected  covenant  compliance over the four quarter
         period  following such  Permitted  Physician  Transaction  after giving
         effect to the pro forma  consolidation  of the  Practice to be acquired
         with the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and

                  (v)      a description of any Liens to be incurred or assumed
         in connection with such Permitted Physician Transaction;

                  (i) within  thirty  days after the  closing of each  Physician
Transaction,  a copy of each material Physician Transaction document,  including
any acquisition  agreement,  merger agreement,  master transaction  agreement or
Service Agreement relating to such Physician Transaction;

                  (j)  within  thirty  days  after  the last day of each  fiscal
quarter of the Borrower,  an Accounts  Receivable Aging Report, in substantially
the form of Exhibit K, certified by a Responsible Officer;

                  (k) within  ninety  days after the Closing  Date,  a copy of a
corporate  compliance  program (covering,  among other matters,  compliance with
applicable  healthcare and securities laws)  satisfactory to the Agent which has
been adopted by the board of directors of the Borrower for implementation by the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and

                  (l) promptly,  such additional financial and other information
as the Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.


<PAGE>



                  6.3  Payment  of  Obligations.  Pay,  discharge  or  otherwise
satisfy at or before maturity or before they become delinquent,  as the case may
be, all its obligations of whatever nature,  except where the amount or validity
thereof is currently  being  contested in good faith by appropriate  proceedings
and reserves in conformity  with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on
the books of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be.

                  6.4 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence. Continue
to engage in business of the same  general type as conducted by the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date and preserve,  renew and keep in full force
and  effect  its  corporate  existence  and  maintain  all  rights,  privileges,
licenses,  accreditations,  authorizations,  permits and franchises necessary or
desirable  in the  normal  conduct  of the  business  of the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries,  except as otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 7.5; and comply
with all Contractual  Obligations  and  Requirements of Law except to the extent
that failure to comply  therewith  could not, in the  aggregate,  be  reasonably
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  6.5  Maintenance  of  Property;  Insurance.  Keep all property
useful and  necessary in the business of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  in
good working order and condition;  maintain with financially sound and reputable
insurance  companies  insurance on all its property in at least such amounts and
against  at least  such  risks (but  including  in any event  public  liability,
product  liability and business  interruption  insurance) as are usually insured
against in the same general  area by companies  engaged in the same or a similar
business; and furnish to each Lender, upon written request,  information in full
detail as to the insurance carried.

                  6.6  Inspection of Property;  Books and Records;  Discussions.
Keep proper books of records and account in which full, true and correct entries
in  conformity  with  GAAP  and all  Requirements  of Law  shall  be made of all
dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities; and permit
representatives  of any Lender to visit and  inspect any of its  properties  and
examine and make  abstracts from any of its books and records and to discuss the
business,  operations,  properties  and  financial  and other  condition  of the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  with  officers and employees of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries and with its independent certified public accountants,  in each
case at any reasonable time and as often as may reasonably be desired.

                  6.7      Notices.  Promptly give notice to the Agent and each
Lender of:

                  (a)      as soon as possible and in any event within five days
after the occurrence thereof, any Default or Event of Default;

                  (b) as soon as  possible  and in any  event  within  five days
after the Borrower knows or reasonably  should know thereof,  any (i) default or
event of default under any Contractual  Obligation of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or (ii) litigation,  investigation or proceeding which may exist at
any time between the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  and any  Governmental
Authority, which in either case, if not cured or if adversely determined, as the
case may be, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;


<PAGE>



                  (c) as soon as possible and in any event within two days after
the  Borrower  knows or  reasonably  should  know  thereof,  any  litigation  or
proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in which the amount
involved  is  $5,000,000  or more  and not  covered  by  insurance  or in  which
injunctive or similar relief is sought;

                  (d) any of the  following  events,  as soon as possible and in
any event  within  thirty  days after the  Borrower  knows or has reason to know
thereof:  (i) the occurrence or expected occurrence of any Reportable Event with
respect to any Plan, a failure to make any required  contribution to a Plan, the
creation of any Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan or any  withdrawal  from, or
the termination, Reorganization or Insolvency of, any Multiemployer Plan or (ii)
the  institution of proceedings or the taking of any other action by the PBGC or
the Borrower or any Commonly  Controlled Entity or any  Multiemployer  Plan with
respect to the withdrawal from, or the terminating, Reorganization or Insolvency
of, any Plan;

                  (e) any of the  following  events,  as soon as possible and in
any event  within  thirty  days after the  Borrower  knows or has reason to know
thereof:  (i) any release or discharge by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary of any
Materials of Environmental  Concern required to be reported under  Environmental
Laws to any Governmental Authority, (ii) any condition, circumstance, occurrence
or event that could result in liability under  Environmental  Laws in a Material
Environmental  Amount  or could  result in the  imposition  of any Lien or other
restriction on the title, ownership or transferability of any Property and (iii)
any  proposed  action to be taken by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  that could
subject the Borrower or any  Subsidiary to any material  additional or different
requirements or liabilities under Environmental Law;

                  (f) as soon as  possible  and in any  event  within  five days
after the occurrence  thereof,  the termination,  cancellation or repudiation of
any Service Agreement by any party thereto;

                  (g) any of the  following  events,  as soon as possible and in
any event within five days,  after the Borrower knows or reasonably  should know
thereof,  (i) notice of the  occurrence  of any event that is or would (with the
passage of time, notice or both) be a default under or a violation of any Health
Care Permit  necessary  for the lawful  conduct of the business or operations of
the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliated Provider that could reasonably be
expected  to  have  a  Material  Adverse  Effect,  (ii)  any  violation  of  any
Requirement  of Law that could  reasonably  be expected to cause any such Health
Care Permit to be modified,  suspended,  canceled,  terminated,  or rescinded or
revoked,  and (iii) any  investigation  of the Borrower,  any  Subsidiary or any
Affiliated  Provider or its business by the Office of the  Inspector  General of
the United  States  Department of Health and Human  Services,  the United States
Department of Justice, or any other Governmental Authority;

                  (h) as soon as  possible  and in any  event  within  five days
after  receipt  thereof  by the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary,  notice  from any
Governmental  Authority of a violation by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary of any
Requirement of Law; and


<PAGE>



                  (i) as soon as  possible  and in any  event  within  five days
after the Borrower knows or reasonably  should know thereof,  any development or
event which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice  pursuant to this Section 6.7 shall be accompanied by a statement of
a  Responsible  Officer  setting  forth  details of the  occurrence  referred to
therein  and  stating  what action the  Borrower  proposes to take with  respect
thereto.

                  6.8 Environmental Laws. (a) Comply with, and ensure compliance
by all tenants and subtenants,  if any, with all applicable  Environmental  Laws
and  obtain and comply  with and  maintain,  and  ensure  that all  tenants  and
subtenants obtain and comply with and maintain, any and all licenses, approvals,
notifications,  registrations  or permits  required by applicable  Environmental
Laws except to the extent that failure to do so could not be reasonably expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (b) Conduct and complete all investigations, studies, sampling
and  testing,  and all  remedial,  removal  and  other  actions  required  under
Environmental  Laws and promptly comply with all lawful orders and directives of
all Governmental  Authorities regarding  Environmental Laws except to the extent
that the same are being  contested in good faith by appropriate  proceedings and
the  pendency of such  proceedings  could not be  reasonably  expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

                  6.9  Further  Assurances.  Upon  the  request  of  the  Agent,
promptly  perform or cause to be performed any and all acts and execute or cause
to be executed  any and all  documents,  instruments  and  agreements  which are
necessary  or  advisable  to  carry  out the  provisions  and  purposes  of this
Agreement and the Security Documents.

                  6.10  Additional  Collateral;  Service  Agreements.  (a)  With
respect to any assets  acquired after the Closing Date by the Borrower or any of
its  Subsidiaries,  promptly  (and in any event  within  twenty  days  after the
acquisition  thereof):  (i) execute and deliver to the Agent such  amendments to
the relevant Security  Documents or such other documents as the Agent shall deem
necessary or  advisable to grant to the Agent,  for the benefit of the Agent and
the Lenders, a Lien on such assets, (ii) take all actions necessary or advisable
to cause  such  Lien to be duly  perfected  in  accordance  with all  applicable
Requirements  of Law,  including,  without  limitation,  the filing of financing
statements in such  jurisdictions  as may be requested by the Agent,  (iii) with
respect to real property,  deliver to the Agent such title  insurance  policies,
surveys,  environmental  reports and other  documents  as the Agent may require,
(iv) take all actions  necessary or advisable to perfect its ownership  interest
in all  Receivables  assigned to it from time to time by an Affiliated  Provider
pursuant to a Service  Agreement or otherwise in accordance  with all applicable
Requirements of Law, including, without limitation, the filing of such financing
statements in such  jurisdictions  as may be requested by the Agent, (v) deliver
to the Agent  Uniform  Commercial  Code and other Lien searches  confirming  the
perfection and priority of the Liens created pursuant to this subsection 6.10(a)
and (vi) if requested by the Agent, deliver to the Agent legal opinions relating
to the matters  described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iv)  immediately  preceding,
which  opinions  shall be in form and  substance,  and from counsel,  reasonably
satisfactory to the Agent.


<PAGE>



                  (b) With respect to any Person that, subsequent to the Closing
Date,  becomes a Subsidiary,  promptly (and in any event within twenty days afer
such Person becomes a Subsidiary): (i) execute and deliver to the Agent, for the
benefit of itself and the Lenders,  a new pledge agreement or such amendments to
the  Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement as the Agent shall deem  necessary or
advisable to grant to the Agent,  for the benefit of the Lenders,  a Lien on the
Capital  Stock of such  Subsidiary  which is owned by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries,  (ii)  deliver  to the Agent the  certificates  representing  such
Capital  Stock,  together  with undated  stock powers  executed and delivered in
blank by a duly authorized  officer of the Borrower or such  Subsidiary,  as the
case may be,  (iii)  cause  such  new  Subsidiary  (A) to  become a party to the
Guarantee and Collateral Agreement,  by execution and delivery to the Agent of a
Joinder  Agreement,  (B) to take all actions necessary or advisable to cause the
Lien created by the Guarantee and  Collateral  Agreement to be duly perfected in
accordance  with  all  applicable   Requirements  of  Law,  including,   without
limitation,  the filing of financing  statements in such jurisdictions as may be
requested  by the Agent,  (C) to take all  actions  necessary  or  advisable  to
perfect such Subsidiary's  ownership  interest in all Receivables  assigned from
time to time to such Subsidiary by an Affiliated  Provider pursuant to a Service
Agreement or otherwise in accordance  with all applicable  Requirements  of Law,
including,  without  limitation,  the  filing of  financing  statements  in such
jurisdictions  as may be  requested  by the  Agent,  (D)  to  take  all  actions
necessary or advisable to create and perfect a Lien in favor of the Agent on all
other assets of such Subsidiary,  (E) with respect to real property,  deliver to
the Agent such title  insurance  policies,  surveys,  and other documents as the
Agent may require and (F) to execute and deliver such documents and certificates
as the Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization,
existence  and  good  standing  of such  Subsidiary,  the  authorization  of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby and by the other Loan  Documents  relating to
such Subsidiary and any other legal matters  relating to such Subsidiary and the
Loan Documents to which it is or is to become a party, all in form and substance
satisfactory  to the Agent and its counsel,  (iv)  deliver to the Agent  Uniform
Commercial  Code and other Lien searches  confirming the perfection and priority
of the Liens created  pursuant to clause (iii) above and (v) if requested by the
Agent,  deliver to the Agent legal opinions relating to the matters described in
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii)  immediately  preceding,  which opinions shall be in
form and substance, and from counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

                  (c) With respect to each Service Agreement entered into by the
Borrower or any  Subsidiary  after the Closing Date,  promptly (and in any event
within twenty days after the execution and delivery thereof): (i) deliver to the
Agent a copy of such  Service  Agreement  and (ii)  exercise its best efforts to
deliver to the Agent a copy of a legal  opinion  issued to the  Borrower or such
Subsidiary  by  counsel  for the  Affiliated  Provider  that is a party  to such
Service Agreement regarding the due organization and existence of the Affiliated
Provider,  the due  authorization  of its  execution and delivery of the Service
Agreement,  the enforceability of the Service  Agreement,  and the perfection of
the  ownership  interest  of the  Borrower  or such  Subsidiary  in  Receivables
assigned to it  thereunder;  provided,  however,  that the Borrower shall not be
required to deliver such a legal opinion with respect to a Physician Transaction
involving no more than three physicians.


<PAGE>



                  (d) Each Service Agreement entered into by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary  with an  Affiliated  Provider  after the Closing Date shall  contain
terms and  conditions  substantially  the same as those  contained  in  Sections
3.1.10, 7, and 12.12 of the form of Service Agreement being used by the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date.

                  6.11 Year 2000  Compliance.  Promptly  notify the Agent in the
event  the  Borrower  discovers  or  determines  that any  computer  application
(including  those of its suppliers,  vendors and customers)  that is material to
its or any of its Subsidiaries' or Affiliated Providers' business and operations
will not be Year 2000  Compliant,  except to the extent that such failure  could
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                                           SECTION 7.  NEGATIVE COVENANTS

                  The  Borrower  hereby  agrees that,  so long as the  Revolving
Credit Commitments remain in effect, any Note remains  outstanding and unpaid or
any other  Obligation  is owing to any Lender or the Agent,  the Borrower  shall
not,  and  (except  with  respect  to  Section  7.1) shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

                  7.1      Financial Covenants.
                           -------------------

                  (a) Consolidated Net Worth.  Permit  Consolidated Net Worth as
of the  last day of any  fiscal  quarter  of the  Borrower  to be less  than the
"Minimum   Compliance   Level".   The   Minimum   Compliance   Level   shall  be
$152,634,900.00  on the Closing Date,  and shall be increased as of the last day
of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower ending after the Closing Date, commencing
with the fiscal quarter ending  December 31, 1998, by an amount equal to the sum
of (i) 75% of Consolidated  Net Income (if positive) for such fiscal quarter and
(ii) 75% of the amount of any Equity  Issuance  (net of  reasonable  transaction
costs) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary  during such fiscal quarter (other than
any capital contribution by the Borrower or any of its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries
to any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower).  The foregoing increases in the
Minimum  Compliance  Level shall be fully  cumulative  and no  reduction  in the
Minimum  Compliance  Level shall be made to reflect  negative  Consolidated  Net
Income for any period.

                  (b) Fixed Charge  Coverage.  Permit the Fixed Charge  Coverage
Ratio, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower, to be less than
1.20 to 1.0.

                  (c) Ratio of Consolidated  Senior Indebtedness to Consolidated
EBITDA.  Permit at any time the ratio of (i)  Consolidated  Senior  Indebtedness
(less  Restricted  Cash) to (ii)  Consolidated  EBITDA  for the  period  of four
consecutive  fiscal  quarters  of the  Borrower  ending  on,  or  most  recently
preceding, the date of determination, to be greater than 3.0 to 1.0.

                  (d) Ratio of Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA.  Permit at any
time the ratio of (i) Total Debt  (less  Restricted  Cash) to (ii)  Consolidated
EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending
on, or most recently  preceding,  the date of determination,  to be greater than
3.75 to 1.0.


<PAGE>



                  (e) Minimum Consolidated  EBITDA.  Permit Consolidated EBITDA,
determined  as of the last day of each  calendar  month,  for the  twelve  month
period ending on the date of determination, to be less than $19,000,000.

                  7.2  Limitation  on  Indebtedness.  Create,  incur,  assume or
suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

                  (a)      Indebtedness of the Borrower under this Agreement;

                  (b)  Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any
Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;

                  (c)  Indebtedness of the Borrower and any of its  Subsidiaries
incurred to finance the acquisition of fixed or capital assets (whether pursuant
to a loan, a Synthetic  Lease,  a Capital  Lease  Obligation or otherwise) in an
aggregate principal amount not exceeding as to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
$10,000,000 at any time outstanding, provided that such Indebtedness is incurred
simultaneously with such acquisition;

                  (d)  Indebtedness  of  the  Borrower  under  Hedge  Agreements
incurred in the  ordinary  course of business and not for  speculative  purposes
that have been  approved by the  Borrower's  board of directors and that have an
aggregate  notional amount not to at any time exceed, at the time any such Hedge
Agreement is entered into (and after giving effect to such Hedge Agreement), the
lesser of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 50% of the aggregate  principal amount of the
Extensions of Credit outstanding at such time;

                  (e) Indebtedness  outstanding on the date hereof and listed on
Schedule 7.2 and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof on
financial and other terms, in the reasonable  judgment of the Required  Lenders,
no more onerous to the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  than the  financial
and  other  terms  of  such  Indebtedness;  provided  that  the  amount  of such
Indebtedness  is not  increased  at the  time  of such  refinancing,  refunding,
renewal or extension;

                  (f) to the  extent  that any  Guarantee  Obligation  permitted
under Section 7.4 constitutes Indebtedness, such Indebtedness;

                  (g)  Indebtedness of a Person which becomes a Subsidiary after
the  date  hereof  in  accordance  with  Section  7.17,  provided  that (i) such
indebtedness  existed at the time such Person  became a  Subsidiary  and was not
created in anticipation  thereof and (ii) immediately after giving effect to the
acquisition  of such  corporation by the Borrower no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing;

                  (h)      unsecured Subordinated Indebtedness;

                  (i)  Indebtedness  of  the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  with
respect to (x)  split-dollar  life  insurance  policies  permitted by subsection
7.8(j) and (y) Program Loans permitted by subsection 7.8(k); and


<PAGE>



                  (j) additional unsecured  Indebtedness of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries  not otherwise  permitted by the preceding  clauses of this Section
7.2 not  exceeding  $1,000,000  in  aggregate  principal  amount at any one time
outstanding.

                  7.3 Limitation on Liens.  Create,  incur,  assume or suffer to
exist any Lien upon any of its property,  assets or revenues,  whether now owned
or hereafter acquired, except for:

                  (a) Liens  for taxes not yet due or which are being  contested
in good faith by appropriate  proceedings  diligently  conducted,  provided that
adequate  reserves  with  respect  thereto  are  maintained  on the books of the
Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in conformity with GAAP;

                  (b)   carriers',   warehousemen's,   landlords',   mechanics',
materialmen's, repairmen's or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of
business  securing amounts which are not overdue for a period of more than sixty
days or which are  being  contested  in good  faith by  appropriate  proceedings
diligently conducted;

                  (c)  pledges,  deposits  or  other  Liens in  connection  with
workers'   compensation,   unemployment  insurance  and  other  social  security
benefits, including, without limitation,  pledges or deposits securing liability
to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements;

                  (d)  deposits  to  secure  the  performance  of  bids,   trade
contracts  (other than for  Indebtedness),  obligations  for utilities,  leases,
statutory  obligations  (except  pursuant  to  ERISA  and  Environmental  Laws),
performance  bonds  and  other  obligations  of a like  nature  incurred  in the
ordinary course of business;

                  (e)    easements,    zoning    restrictions,    rights-of-way,
restrictions and other similar  encumbrances  incurred in the ordinary course of
business which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount and which do not
in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or
materially  interfere with the ordinary  conduct of the business of the Borrower
or such Subsidiary;

                  (f) Liens in existence  on the date hereof  listed on Schedule
7.3, securing Indebtedness permitted by subsection 7.2(e), provided that no such
Lien is spread to cover any additional  property after the Closing Date and that
the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased;

                  (g)  Liens  securing  Indebtedness  of the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries  permitted by subsection 7.2(c) incurred to finance the acquisition
of fixed or  capital  assets,  provided  that (i) such  Liens  shall be  created
substantially  simultaneously  with the  acquisition  of such  fixed or  capital
assets,  (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the
property financed by such Indebtedness, (iii) the amount of Indebtedness secured
thereby is not increased and (iv) the principal  amount of Indebtedness  secured
by any such Lien shall at no time exceed 100% of the original  purchase price of
such property at the time it was acquired;


<PAGE>



                  (h) Liens on the property or assets of a Person which  becomes
a Subsidiary after the date hereof securing Indebtedness permitted by subsection
7.2(g),  provided  that (i) such Liens  existed at the time such Person became a
Subsidiary and were not created in anticipation  thereof,  (ii) any such Lien is
not spread to cover any  property or assets of such  corporation  after the time
such  corporation  becomes a  Subsidiary  and (iii) the  amount of  Indebtedness
secured thereby is not increased; and

                  (i)      Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents.

                  7.4 Limitation on Guarantee Obligations. Create, incur, assume
or suffer to exist any Guarantee Obligation except:

                  (a) Guarantee Obligations incurred after the date hereof in an
aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

                  (b)  Guarantee  Obligations  with respect to Hedge  Agreements
permitted by subsection 7.2(d);

                  (c) Guarantee  Obligations  incurred in the ordinary course of
business  by the  Borrower  with  respect to  obligations  of its  Subsidiaries,
provided that such obligations of the Subsidiaries are otherwise permitted under
this Agreement; and

                  (d)      the Guarantees.

                  7.5 Limitation on Fundamental Changes.  Enter into any merger,
consolidation  or  amalgamation,  or liquidate,  wind up or dissolve  itself (or
suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer
or otherwise dispose of, all or substantially  all of its property,  business or
assets,  or make  any  material  change  in its  present  method  of  conducting
business, except:

                  (a) any Subsidiary may be merged or consolidated  with or into
the Borrower  (provided  that the Borrower  shall be the continuing or surviving
entity) or with or into a Wholly Owned  Subsidiary  (provided  that (i) a Wholly
Owned  Subsidiary  shall be the  continuing  or  surviving  entity  and (ii) the
surviving  entity must be a Guarantor if any merged or consolidated  entity is a
Guarantor);

                  (b) the  Borrower  may merge with and into any other Person to
effect a Permitted Physician  Transaction so long as the surviving entity is the
Borrower;

                  (c) any  Subsidiary  may sell,  lease,  transfer or  otherwise
dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to
the  Borrower  or any  other  Wholly  Owned  Subsidiary,  provided  that  if the
Subsidiary whose assets are sold,  leased,  transferred or otherwise disposed of
is  a  Guarantor,  any  Subsidiary  to  which  such  assets  are  sold,  leased,
transferred or otherwise disposed of must also be a Guarantor; and


<PAGE>



                  (d) any  Subsidiary  may be merged  with any  other  Person to
effect a Permitted Physician  Transaction so long as the surviving entity is the
Subsidiary.

                  7.6 Limitation on Sale of Assets. Convey, sell, lease, assign,
transfer  or  otherwise  dispose  of any of its  property,  business  or  assets
(including,  without limitation,  receivables and leasehold interests),  whether
now owned or hereafter  acquired,  or, in the case of any  Subsidiary,  issue or
sell any shares of such Subsidiary's  Capital Stock to any Person other than the
Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, except:

                  (a) the  sale or other  disposition  of  obsolete  or worn out
property  in the  ordinary  course of  business,  provided  that if the net cash
proceeds from any transaction or series of related transactions exceed $500,000,
then the Borrower shall immediately repay the Loans by the amount of the excess;

                  (b) the sale or other  disposition of any property (other than
Receivables  or  property of the type  described  in clauses (a) and (c) of this
Section 7.6) in the ordinary  course of business,  provided  that the  aggregate
book  value  of all  assets  so sold or  disposed  of in any  period  of  twelve
consecutive  months shall not exceed 5% of  consolidated  tangible assets of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the beginning of such twelve-month period;

                  (c) the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

                  (d)  the  sale  or  discount   without  recourse  of  accounts
receivable  arising in the ordinary  course of business in  connection  with the
compromise or collection thereof; and

                  (e)      as permitted by subsection 7.5(c).

                  7.7  Limitation  on  Restricted  Payments.  Declare or pay any
dividend (other than dividends  payable solely in Capital Stock of the Borrower)
on, or make any  payment  on  account  of, or set apart  assets for a sinking or
other analogous fund for, the purchase,  redemption,  defeasance,  retirement or
other acquisition of, any Capital Stock of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any
warrants or options to purchase any such Capital Stock, whether now or hereafter
outstanding,  or make any other distribution in respect thereof, either directly
or indirectly,  whether in cash or property or in obligations of the Borrower or
any  Subsidiary  (such  declarations,   payments,   setting  apart,   purchases,
redemptions,  defeasances,  retirements,  acquisitions and  distributions  being
herein called "Restricted Payments"), except:

                  (a)  any  Subsidiary  may  declare  and pay  dividends  to the
Borrower or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary;



<PAGE>



                  (b) the Borrower may repurchase,  redeem or otherwise  acquire
or retire for value any Capital  Stock of the Borrower  held by employees of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any employee equity subscription
agreement, stock option agreement or stock ownership arrangement,  provided that
(i) the aggregate  price paid for all such  repurchased,  redeemed,  acquired or
retired  Capital  Stock during any fiscal year of the Borrower  shall not exceed
$1,000,000  and (ii) no Default or Event of Default  shall have  occurred and be
continuing or would result therefrom; and

                  (c) the redemption or repurchase by the Borrower of its common
stock,  provided  that (i) any common stock so redeemed or  repurchased  must be
held  by the  Borrower  as  treasury  stock  or  reissued  as a  portion  of the
consideration for Permitted Physician Transactions,  (ii) any such stock held in
treasury may not be canceled, (iii) the aggregate amount paid for the redemption
or  repurchase  of any  such  stock  held in  treasury  by the  Borrower  at any
particular  time shall not exceed  $5,000,000,  and (iv) no common  stock of the
Borrower may be redeemed or  repurchased  if a Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom.

                  7.8 Limitation on  Investments,  Loans and Advances.  Make any
advance,  loan,  extension of credit or capital contribution to, or purchase any
stock,  bonds,   notes,   debentures  or  other  securities  of  or  any  assets
constituting  a business  unit of, or make any other  investment  in, any Person
(each an "Investment"), except:

                  (a)  extensions  of trade  credit  in the  ordinary  course of
business;

                  (b) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;

                  (c) Pending  Physician  Transactions  that close within ninety
days after the Closing Date;

                  (d) Permitted Physician Transactions;

                  (e) Investments  existing on the Closing Date and described on
Schedule 7.8, setting forth the respective amounts of such Investments as of the
Closing Date;

                  (f) loans and advances to officers,  directors or employees of
the  Borrower  or its  Subsidiaries  in the  ordinary  course of  business in an
aggregate amount for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not to exceed  $2,500,000
at any one time  outstanding  (inclusive of any such loans or advances listed on
Schedule 7.8),  provided that (i) all such loans and advances shall be evidenced
by recourse  promissory  notes, (ii) such promissory notes shall not contain any
restriction  on  assignment  or  transfer  and (iii) the Agent,  for the ratable
benefit of itself and the other Lenders, shall hold a perfected,  first priority
security  interest in all such promissory notes and related security pursuant to
the Security Documents;


<PAGE>



                  (g) loans and advances to physicians  in  connection  with the
recruitment or retention of such  physicians by Affiliated  Providers,  provided
that (i) the  aggregate  principal  amount of all such loans and advances at any
time  outstanding  shall not exceed  $5,000,000  (inclusive of any such loans or
advances  listed on Schedule 7.8),  (ii) the aggregate loans and advances to any
physician  shall not  exceed  $300,000,  (iii) no loan or  advance  shall have a
maturity  greater  than three years,  (iv) all such loans and advances  shall be
evidenced by recourse  promissory  notes,  (v) such  promissory  notes shall not
contain any  restriction  on assignment or transfer and (vi) the Agent,  for the
ratable benefit of itself and the other Lenders,  shall hold a perfected,  first
priority  security  interest in all such promissory  notes and related  security
pursuant to the Security Documents;

                  (h)  Investments  by  the  Borrower  in its  Subsidiaries  and
investments by such Subsidiaries in the Borrower and in other Subsidiaries;

                  (i) Investments of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under the
Hedge Agreements permitted by subsection 7.2(d);

                  (j) advances of premiums  under  split-dollar  life  insurance
policies,  provided  that  (i) the  owner of each  such  policy  is a  physician
employed by an Affiliated Provider, (ii) such split-dollar life insurance policy
was purchased as partial consideration for the employment of the physician by an
Affiliated  Provider in connection with a Physician  Transaction  involving such
Affiliated  Provider  and (iii) the  insurance  policy has been  assigned to the
Borrower  or a  Subsidiary  to secure  premium  advances  on such  policy by the
Borrower or such Subsidiary and reassigned to the Agent, for the ratable benefit
of itself and the Lenders, pursuant to the Security Documents; and

                  (k) Program  Loans by the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  to
Affiliated  Providers  pursuant to Service  Agreements,  provided  that (i) each
Program Loan shall be evidenced by a recourse  promissory  note,  (ii) each such
promissory  note shall not contain any restriction on assignment or transfer and
(iii) the Agent shall hold a perfected,  first priority security interest in all
Program Loans and all security  therefor,  for the ratable benefit of itself and
the Lenders, pursuant to the Security Documents.

                  7.9 Limitation on Optional  Payments and Modifications of Debt
Instruments.  (a) Make any optional payment or prepayment of principal of or any
redemption, purchase or defeasance of any Indebtedness (other than the Loans and
Reimbursement Obligations),  (b) make any payment of principal of or interest on
or any other amount with respect to any Subordinated Indebtedness if any Default
or Event of Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing,  or would  result
therefrom,  (c) amend,  modify or change,  or consent or agree to any amendment,
modification  or  change  to any  of  the  terms  relating  to any  Subordinated
Indebtedness (other than any such amendment,  modification or change which would
extend the maturity or reduce the amount of any payment of principal  thereof or
which would reduce the rate or extend the date for payment of interest  thereon)
or  (d)  amend  the  subordination  provisions  contained  in  the  Subordinated
Indebtedness Documentation.


<PAGE>



                  7.10  Limitation  on Capital  Expenditures.  Make or commit to
make a Capital  Expenditure,  except Capital Expenditures in the ordinary course
of business not exceeding, in the aggregate for the Company and its Subsidiaries
during  any  fiscal  year of the  Borrower,  an  amount  in  excess of (a) 5% of
consolidated  tangible  assets of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries on the last
day of the immediately  preceding  fiscal year or (b) such greater amount as may
be approved for such fiscal year by the Required  Lenders  pursuant to a request
by the Borrower under subsection 6.2(c)(ii); provided, however, that in addition
to the Capital Expenditures permitted by clauses (a) and (b) above (which may be
used for information technology investments),  the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
may make Capital  Expenditures  for investments in information  technology in an
additional aggregate amount not to at any time exceed $5,000,000 during the term
of this Agreement.

                  7.11 Limitation on Transactions  with  Affiliates.  Enter into
any transaction,  including,  without limitation,  any purchase,  sale, lease or
exchange of property or the rendering of any service,  with any Affiliate unless
such  transaction is (a) otherwise  permitted under this  Agreement,  (b) in the
ordinary  course of the  Borrower's or such  Subsidiary's  business and (c) upon
fair and reasonable  terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary,
as the  case  may  be,  than  it  would  obtain  in a  comparable  arm's  length
transaction with a Person which is not an Affiliate.

                  7.12  Limitation  on  Sales  and  Leasebacks.  Enter  into any
arrangement  with any Person  providing  for the leasing by the  Borrower or any
Subsidiary  of real or  personal  property  which  has  been or is to be sold or
transferred  by the Borrower or such  Subsidiary  to such Person or to any other
Person to whom  funds  have  been or are to be  advanced  by such  Person on the
security  of  such  property  or  rental  obligations  of the  Borrower  or such
Subsidiary, except the sale and leaseback of equipment in the ordinary course of
business  where the  Borrower or a Subsidiary  (a)  transfers to such Person its
right to purchase such  equipment  within ninety days after the Borrower or such
Subsidiary  has entered  into an agreement to purchase  such  equipment  and (b)
leases the equipment from such Person.

                  7.13  Limitation on Changes in Fiscal Year.  Permit the fiscal
year of the Borrower to end on a day other than December 31.

                  7.14  Limitation on Negative  Pledges.  Enter into,  assume or
become  subject  to any  agreement  prohibiting  or  otherwise  restricting  the
creation or  assumption of any Lien upon its  properties or assets,  whether now
owned or hereafter  acquired,  or  requiring  the grant of any security for such
obligation if security is given for some other  obligation,  except (a) pursuant
to this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents or (b) pursuant to any document
or instrument governing  Indebtedness  incurred pursuant to subsection 7.2(c) or
7.2(g), provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the
asset or assets acquired in connection therewith.

                  7.15 Limitation on Restricted Actions. Enter into or permit to
exist or become  effective any  consensual  encumbrance  or  restriction  on the
ability of any  Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or make any other  distributions
on its Capital Stock,  (b) pay any  Indebtedness or other obligation owed to the
Borrower or any other Subsidiary,  (c) make loans or advances to the Borrower or
any other  Subsidiary,  (d) sell,  lease or transfer  any of its  properties  or
assets to the Borrower or any other  Subsidiary or (e) act as a Guarantor  under
the Loan Documents,  except for such  encumbrances or restrictions that exist in
the Loan Documents.

                  7.16 Limitation on Lines of Business. Enter into any business,
either   directly  or  through  any  Subsidiary  or  joint  venture  or  similar
arrangement,  except  for  those  businesses  in  which  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries  are engaged on the date of this  Agreement  or which are  directly
related thereto.


<PAGE>



                  7.17  Limitations  on  Acquisitions.  Acquire by  purchase  or
otherwise  all or a  substantial  part of the  business or assets of, or Capital
Stock or other evidences of beneficial  ownership of, or any line of business or
division of, any Person, other than (a) Permitted Physician  Transactions or (b)
Pending  Physician  Transactions that close within ninety days after the Closing
Date.

                  7.18 Health Care Permits and Approvals.  Engage, or permit any
Affiliated  Provider to engage,  in any activity that (a) is or could reasonably
be expected to result in a default  under or violation of any Health Care Permit
necessary for the lawful  conduct of the business or operations of the Borrower,
any Subsidiary or any Affiliated Provider or (b) could reasonably be expected to
cause the loss by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliated Provider of the
right to participate in, and receive  payment under,  any  Governmental  Program
with which it has  contracted or in which it has elected to  participate,  or to
receive  reimbursement from private and commercial payors and health maintenance
organizations,  except where the loss of such Health Care  Permit(s) or right(s)
to participate in or receive payments under such  Governmental  Programs or from
such payors or organizations  could not reasonably be expected,  individually or
in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.


<PAGE>



                  7.19  Fraud  and  Abuse.  Engage,  or  permit  any  Affiliated
Provider or any of the  shareholders,  officers,  directors  or employees of the
Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliated Provider to engage, in any activities
that are prohibited under the Federal False Claims Act (31 U.S.C.  ss.ss. 3729 -
3733), 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395 nn, 18 U.S.C. 1347 or the federal fraud and abuse laws
(42 U.S.C.  ss.ss.  1320a - 7a or 1320a - 7b),  or the  regulations  promulgated
pursuant to such statutes or similar state or local statutes or regulations,  or
which  are  prohibited  by rules of  professional  conduct,  including,  but not
limited to, the following: (a) knowingly presenting or causing to be presented a
false claim for payment,  (b) knowingly  making or using a false record in order
to receive payment for a claim, (c) knowingly and willfully making or causing to
be  made  a  false  statement  or  representation  of a  material  fact  in  any
application  for any benefit or payment,  (d) knowingly and willfully  making or
causing to be made any false statement or  representation of a material fact for
use in  determining  rights to any benefit or  payment,  (e) failing to disclose
knowledge by a claimant of the occurrence of any event  affecting the initial or
continued  right to any  benefit  or  payment  on its own behalf or on behalf of
another,  with  intent to secure  such  benefit  or  payment  fraudulently,  (f)
knowingly and willfully soliciting or receiving any remuneration  (including any
kickback, bribe or rebate), directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash
or in kind or offering to pay such  remuneration  (i) in return for referring an
individual to a Person for the furnishing or arranging for the furnishing of any
item or service for which  payment may be made in whole or in part by  Medicare,
Medicaid or other third party payors or (ii) in return for  purchasing,  leasing
or ordering or arranging for or recommending the purchasing, leasing or ordering
of any good, facility, service or item for which payment may be made in whole or
in part by any Governmental Program or other third party payors or (g) referring
a patient for "designated  health services" to a Person with which the referring
physician has a financial relationship,  except for such instances of prohibited
activities that could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary or
Affiliated  Provider,  nor  any  of  their  respective  officers,  directors  or
employees  shall take any  action or omit to take any action  that will have the
effect of excluding the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliated Provider from
contracting with or participating in any Governmental Program.

         7.20 Limitation on Modification of Other Agreements. Modify, terminate,
amend, supplement, or waive, or permit any modification, termination, amendment,
supplement  or waiver  of (a) any  Material  Contract,  (b) the  certificate  of
incorporation or bylaws (or analogous constitutional  documents) of the Borrower
of  any  Subsidiary  or (c)  any  Health  Care  Permit,  if  any  of  the  same,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  could  reasonably  be  expected  to  have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         7.21 Accounting for  Assignments of Receivables.  Prepare any financial
statements,  tax returns or schedules  which shall account for the assignment of
any  Receivable  by an  Affiliated  Provider to the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary
pursuant to a Service  Agreement or otherwise in any manner other than as a true
sale thereof,  or in any other respect  account for or treat any such assignment
in any manner  other than as a true sale of such  Receivable  by the  Affiliated
Provider to the Borrower or a Subsidiary.

                                            SECTION 8.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT

                  If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing:

                  (a) The Borrower  shall fail to pay any  principal of any Loan
or  Reimbursement  Obligation  when due in accordance  with the terms thereof or
hereof;  or the  Borrower  shall  fail  to pay  any  interest  on  any  Loan  or
Reimbursement  Obligation,  or any other amount payable hereunder,  within three
days after any such interest or other amount becomes due in accordance  with the
terms thereof or hereof; or

                  (b) Any  representation or warranty made or deemed made by the
Borrower or any other Loan Party  herein or in any other Loan  Document or which
is  contained  in any  certificate,  document or  financial  or other  statement
furnished by it at any time under or in  connection  with this  Agreement or any
such other Loan  Document  shall prove to have been  incorrect  in any  material
respect on or as of the date made or deemed made; or

                  (c) The Borrower or any other Loan Party shall  default in the
observance or performance  of any agreement  contained in Section 6.1 or 6.2, or
Section 7; or

                  (d) The Borrower or any other Loan Party shall  default in the
observance or performance of any other agreement  contained in this Agreement or
any other Loan Document (other than as provided in paragraphs (a) through (c) of
this  Section 8), and such default  shall  continue  unremedied  for a period of
thirty days; or


<PAGE>



                  (e) The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  shall (i) default
in any payment of principal of or interest of any  Indebtedness  (other than the
Loans  or  Reimbursement  Obligations)  or (ii)  default  in the  observance  or
performance  of  any  other   agreement  or  condition   relating  to  any  such
Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or
relating thereto,  or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect
of which  default  or other  event or  condition  is to cause,  or to permit the
holder or holders of such  Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such
holder or  holders)  to cause,  with the  giving  of  notice if  required,  such
Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; provided, however, that
no Default or Event of  Default  shall  exist  under this  paragraph  unless the
aggregate  amount of Indebtedness in respect of which any default or other event
or condition referred to in this paragraph shall have occurred shall be equal to
at least $5,000,000; or

                  (f) (i) The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall commence
any case, proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future law of any
jurisdiction,   domestic  or  foreign,   relating  to  bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered
with  respect to it, or seeking to  adjudicate  it a bankrupt or  insolvent,  or
seeking  reorganization,   arrangement,   adjustment,  winding-up,  liquidation,
dissolution,  composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts or (B)
seeking  appointment  of a receiver,  trustee,  custodian,  conservator or other
similar  official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets or the
Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  shall make a general  assignment  for the
benefit of its creditors;  or (ii) there shall be commenced against the Borrower
or any of its  Subsidiaries  any case,  proceeding  or other  action of a nature
referred  to in clause (i) above  which (A) results in the entry of an order for
relief or any such  adjudication  or  appointment  or (B)  remains  undismissed,
undischarged  or unbonded  for a period of sixty  days;  or (iii) there shall be
commenced  against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries any case,  proceeding
or  other  action  seeking  issuance  of a  warrant  of  attachment,  execution,
distraint or similar process  against all or any substantial  part of its assets
which  results in the entry of an order for any such relief which shall not have
been vacated,  discharged or stayed or bonded  pending  appeal within sixty days
from the entry thereof;  or (iv) the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  shall
take any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or
acquiescence  in, any of the acts set forth in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above;
or (v) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  shall generally not, or shall be
unable to, or shall  admit in writing  its  inability  to, pay its debts as they
become due; or

                  (g)  (i)  Any   Person   shall   engage  in  any   "prohibited
transaction"  (as defined in Section  406 of ERISA or Section  4975 of the Code)
involving any Plan,  (ii) any  "accumulated  funding  deficiency" (as defined in
Section 302 of ERISA),  whether or not waived,  shall exist with  respect to any
Plan or any Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan shall arise on the assets of the
Borrower or any Commonly Controlled Entity, (iii) a Reportable Event shall occur
with respect to, or proceedings shall commence to have a trustee appointed, or a
trustee shall be appointed,  to administer or to terminate,  any Single Employer
Plan,  which Reportable Event or commencement of proceedings or appointment of a
trustee is, in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders,  likely to result
in the  termination  of such Plan for  purposes  of Title IV of ERISA,  (iv) any
Single Employer Plan shall terminate for purposes of Title IV of ERISA,  (v) the
Borrower or any Commonly  Controlled Entity shall, or in the reasonable  opinion
of the Required  Lenders is likely to, incur any liability in connection  with a
withdrawal from, or the Insolvency or Reorganization of, a Multiemployer Plan or
(vi) any other event or  condition  shall occur or exist with respect to a Plan;
and in each case in clauses (i) through  (vi)  above,  such event or  condition,
together with all other such events or conditions,  if any, involve an aggregate
amount in excess of $5,000,000; or


<PAGE>



                  (h) One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered  against
the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  involving in the aggregate a liability
(not paid or fully covered by  insurance)  of  $5,000,000 or more,  and all such
judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated,  discharged,  stayed or bonded
pending appeal within sixty days from the entry thereof; or

                  (i) (i) Any of the Security  Documents  shall  cease,  for any
reason,  to be in full force and effect, or the Borrower or any other Loan Party
which is a party to any of the  Security  Documents  shall so assert or (ii) the
Lien  created by any of the  Security  Documents  shall cease to be perfected or
enforceable and of the same effect as to perfection and priority purported to be
created thereby; or

                  (j)  Any  Loan  Document  (other  than  any  of  the  Security
Documents)  shall cease,  for any reason,  to be in full force and effect or any
Loan Party shall so assert; or

                  (k) (i) Any Person or "group"  (within  the meaning of Section
13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) (A) shall have acquired beneficial ownership
of 30% or more of any outstanding  class of Capital Stock having ordinary voting
power in the  election of  directors  or other  managers of the  Borrower or (B)
shall  obtain the power  (whether or not  exercised)  to elect a majority of the
Borrower's  directors or (ii) the Board of  Directors of the Borrower  shall not
consist of a majority of Continuing Directors; "Continuing Directors" shall mean
the  directors of the Borrower on the Closing Date and each other  director,  if
such other  director's  nomination for election to the Board of Directors of the
Borrower is recommended by a majority of the then Continuing Directors; or

                  (l) Any Service Agreement(s),  with respect to which more than
15% of the management fee revenue of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  for the
immediately  preceding fiscal year was attributable,  shall be (i) determined to
be  illegal or invalid  or not  binding  on one or more  parties  thereto by any
arbitrator or  Governmental  Authority and such Service  Agreement(s)  shall not
have  been  amended,   modified  or  restated   within  sixty  days  after  such
determination  in  a  manner  that  corrects  such  illegality,   invalidity  or
nonbinding effect, or (ii) terminated or repudiated by any party thereto, except
pursuant to a termination  permitted by the relevant Service  Agreement(s) where
the relevant Affiliated  Provider(s)  repurchase for cash in accordance with the
terms  of  such  Service   Agreement(s)  all  assets  sold  by  such  Affiliated
Provider(s)  to the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  for an  amount  equal  to the
repurchase price specified in the relevant Service Agreement(s); or

                  (m) Any  Service  Agreement  shall  for any  reason  cease  to
evidence the true and absolute assignment and transfer by an Affiliated Provider
to the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  (or any of their  respective  assignees  or
transferees)  of the full legal and  equitable  title to, and ownership of, each
Receivable assigned thereunder; or

                  (n) Any change  shall  occur in any  Requirement  of Law or in
Governmental  Program  reimbursement  rates or payment  methodologies that could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;


<PAGE>



then, and in any such event, (A) if such event is an Event of Default  specified
in clause  (i) or (ii) of  paragraph  (f) of this  Section  with  respect to the
Borrower,  automatically the Revolving Credit  Commitments  (including,  without
limitation,  the  obligation  of the Issuing  Lender to issue Letters of Credit)
shall  immediately  terminate and the Loans  hereunder  (with  accrued  interest
thereon) and all other  amounts  owing under this  Agreement  and the other Loan
Documents shall immediately  become due and payable and (B) if such event is any
other Event of Default,  either or both of the  following  actions may be taken:
(i) with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Agent may, or upon the request
of the Required Lenders,  the Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower declare the
Revolving Credit Commitments to be terminated  (including,  without  limitation,
the  obligation  of the Issuing  Lender to issue  Letters of Credit)  forthwith,
whereupon the Revolving Credit Commitments shall immediately  terminate and (ii)
with the consent of the Required Lenders,  the Agent may, or upon the request of
the Required  Lenders,  the Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower,  declare the
Loans  hereunder  (with  accrued  interest  thereon) and all other amounts owing
under  this  Agreement  and the  other  Loan  Documents  to be due  and  payable
forthwith, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable.

                  With  respect to all Letters of Credit  with  respect to which
presentment  for honor shall not have  occurred  at the time of an  acceleration
pursuant to the preceding paragraph,  the Borrower shall at such time deposit in
a cash  collateral  account opened by the Agent an amount equal to the aggregate
then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letters of Credit. The Borrower hereby
grants  to  the  Agent,  for  the  benefit  of the  Issuing  Lender  and  the LC
Participants,  a  security  interest  in such  cash  collateral  to  secure  the
Obligations.  The  Borrower  shall  execute  and  deliver to the Agent,  for the
account of the Issuing Lender and the LC  Participants,  such further  documents
and instruments as the Agent may request to evidence the creation and perfection
of such security interest in such cash collateral account.  Amounts held in such
cash  collateral  account shall be applied by the Agent to the payment of drafts
drawn under such Letters of Credit,  and the unused  portion  thereof  after all
such  Letters of Credit  shall have  expired or been fully drawn  upon,  if any,
shall be  applied  to repay the other  Obligations.  After all such  Letters  of
Credit  shall  have  expired  or  been  fully  drawn  upon,  all   Reimbursement
Obligations  shall have been satisfied and all other Obligations shall have been
paid in full,  the balance,  if any, in such cash  collateral  account  shall be
returned to the Borrower.

                  Except  as  expressly   provided  above  in  this  Section  8,
presentment,  demand,  protest,  notice of acceleration or intent to accelerate,
and all other notices and formalities of any kind are hereby expressly waived by
the Borrower.

                                                SECTION 9.  THE AGENT



<PAGE>



                  9.1 Appointment,  Powers,  and Immunities.  Each Lender hereby
irrevocably  appoints  and  authorizes  the Agent to act as its agent under this
Agreement and the other Loan  Documents  with such powers and  discretion as are
specifically delegated to the Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other
Loan  Documents,  together with such other powers as are  reasonably  incidental
thereto.  The Agent (which term as used in this  sentence and in Section 9.5 and
the first  sentence of Section 9.6 shall include its  Affiliates and its own and
its Affiliates' officers, directors,  employees, and agents): (a) shall not have
any  duties  or  responsibilities  except  those  expressly  set  forth  in this
Agreement and shall not be a trustee or fiduciary for any Lender,  (b) shall not
be responsible  to the Lenders for any recital,  statement,  representation,  or
warranty  (whether  written  or  oral)  made in or in  connection  with any Loan
Document or any certificate or other document referred to or provided for in, or
received by any of them under,  any Loan Document,  or for the value,  validity,
effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability, or sufficiency of any Loan Document,
or any other document  referred to or provided for therein or for any failure by
any Loan Party or any other Person to perform any of its obligations thereunder,
(c) shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, or
verify the  performance or observance of any covenants or agreements by any Loan
Party or the satisfaction of any condition or to inspect the property (including
the  books  and  records)  of any  Loan  Party  or any  of its  Subsidiaries  or
Affiliates,  (d) shall not be required to initiate or conduct any  litigation or
collection proceedings under any Loan Document except pursuant to the request of
the Required Lenders (but subject to Sections 9.2 and 9.3), and (e) shall not be
responsible  for any  action  taken  or  omitted  to be  taken by it under or in
connection  with any Loan  Document,  except  for its own  gross  negligence  or
willful misconduct.  The Agent may employ agents and attorneys-in-fact and shall
not be  responsible  for the  negligence  or  misconduct  of any such  agents or
attorneys-in-fact  selected by it with reasonable care. The Issuing Lender shall
act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to Letters of Credit issued under this
Agreement and the documents  associated  therewith.  It is understood and agreed
that the Issuing  Lender (a) shall have all of the benefits and  immunities  (i)
provided to the Agent in this  Section 9 with respect to acts taken or omissions
suffered by the Issuing Lender in connection with Letters of Credit issued under
this  Agreement and the documents  associated  therewith as fully as if the term
"Agent" as used in this  Section 9 included  the Issuing  Lender with respect to
such acts or omissions and (ii) as provided  elsewhere in this Agreement and (b)
shall have all of the benefits of the  provisions  of Section 9.5 as fully as if
the term "Agent" as used in Section 9.5 included the Issuing Lender.

                  9.2 Reliance by the Agent. The Agent shall be entitled to rely
upon any certification,  notice,  instrument,  writing,  or other  communication
(including,  without limitation,  any thereof by telephone or telecopy) believed
by it to be genuine and correct and to have been  signed,  sent or made by or on
behalf of the proper Person or Persons,  and upon advice and statements of legal
counsel (including  counsel for any Loan Party),  independent  accountants,  and
other experts  selected by the Agent.  The Agent may deem and treat the payee of
any Note as the holder  thereof  for all  purposes  hereof  unless and until the
Agent receives and accepts an Assignment  and Acceptance  executed in accordance
with  Section  10.6.  As to any  matters  not  expressly  provided  for by  this
Agreement,  the Agent shall not be required to exercise any  discretion  or take
any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be
fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of
the  Required  Lenders,  and such  instructions  shall be  binding on all of the
Lenders;  provided,  however,  that the Agent  shall not be required to take any
action that  exposes the Agent to personal  liability or that is contrary to any
Loan Document or  Requirement  of Law or unless it shall first be indemnified to
its  satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which
may be incurred by it by reason of taking any such action.


<PAGE>



                  9.3 Defaults.  The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge
or notice of the  occurrence  of any  Default  or Event of Default  (other  than
nonpayment   of  principal  of  or  interest  on  the  Loans  or   Reimbursement
Obligations)  unless the Agent has received  written notice from a Lender or the
Borrower  specifying  such  Default or Event of Default  and  stating  that such
notice is a "Notice of  Default."  In the event that the Agent  receives  such a
notice of the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default or an Event or Default
occurs as a result of a failure of the Borrower to pay when due any principal of
or  interest  on the Loans or  Reimbursement  Obligations,  the Agent shall give
prompt notice  thereof to the Lenders.  The Agent shall (subject to Section 9.2)
take such  action  with  respect  to such  Default  or Event of Default as shall
reasonably be directed by the Required Lenders;  provided that, unless and until
the Agent shall have received such  directions,  the Agent may (but shall not be
obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect
to such  Default  or Event of Default  as it shall  deem  advisable  in the best
interests of the Lenders.

                  9.4 Rights as Lender.  With  respect to its  Revolving  Credit
Commitment and the Loans made by it,  NationsBank  (and any successor  acting as
Agent) in its  capacity  as a Lender  hereunder  shall have the same  rights and
powers hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were
not acting as the Agent,  and the term "Lender" or "Lenders"  shall,  unless the
context  otherwise  indicates,  include  the Agent in its  individual  capacity.
NationsBank  (and any successor acting as Agent) and its Affiliates may (without
having to account  therefor to any Lender) accept  deposits from, lend money to,
make  investments in, provide  services to, and generally  engage in any kind of
lending, trust, or other business with any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries
or  Affiliates  as if it were not  acting as  Agent,  and  NationsBank  (and any
successor  acting  as  Agent)  and its  Affiliates  may  accept  fees and  other
consideration  from any Loan Party or any of its  Subsidiaries or Affiliates for
services in  connection  with this  Agreement  or  otherwise  without  having to
account for the same to the Lenders.


<PAGE>



                  9.5 Indemnification.  THE LENDERS AGREE TO INDEMNIFY THE AGENT
(TO THE  EXTENT  NOT  REIMBURSED  BY THE  BORROWER,  BUT  WITHOUT  LIMITING  THE
OBLIGATION OF THE BORROWER TO DO SO) RATABLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE
REVOLVING   CREDIT   COMMITMENT   PERCENTAGES  FOR  ANY  AND  ALL   LIABILITIES,
OBLIGATIONS,  LOSSES,  DAMAGES,  PENALTIES,  ACTIONS,  JUDGMENTS,  SUITS, COSTS,
EXPENSES  (INCLUDING  ATTORNEYS'  FEES), OR DISBURSEMENTS OF ANY KIND AND NATURE
WHATSOEVER  THAT MAY BE IMPOSED ON,  INCURRED  BY OR ASSERTED  AGAINST THE AGENT
(INCLUDING  BY ANY  LENDER) IN ANY WAY  RELATING  TO OR ARISING  OUT OF ANY LOAN
DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY OR ANY ACTION TAKEN OR OMITTED
BY THE AGENT UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT  (INCLUDING  ANY OF THE  FOREGOING  ARISING
FROM THE ORDINARY  NEGLIGENCE  OF THE AGENT);  PROVIDED  THAT NO LENDER SHALL BE
LIABLE  FOR ANY OF THE  FOREGOING  TO THE  EXTENT  THEY  ARISE  FROM  THE  GROSS
NEGLIGENCE  OR  WILLFUL  MISCONDUCT  OF THE  PERSON TO BE  INDEMNIFIED.  WITHOUT
LIMITATION OF THE FOREGOING,  EACH LENDER AGREES TO REIMBURSE THE AGENT PROMPTLY
UPON  DEMAND  FOR ITS  RATABLE  SHARE OF ANY COSTS OR  EXPENSES  PAYABLE  BY THE
BORROWER  UNDER  SECTION  10.5,  TO THE  EXTENT  THAT THE AGENT IS NOT  PROMPTLY
REIMBURSED FOR SUCH COSTS AND EXPENSES BY THE BORROWER. THE AGREEMENTS CONTAINED
IN THIS SECTION 9.5 SHALL SURVIVE PAYMENT IN FULL OF THE LOANS AND REIMBURSEMENT
OBLIGATIONS AND ALL OTHER AMOUNTS PAYABLE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

                  9.6  Non-Reliance on the Agent and Other Lenders.  Each Lender
agrees that it has, independently and without reliance on the Agent or any other
Lender,   and  based  on  such  documents  and  information  as  it  has  deemed
appropriate,  made  its own  credit  analysis  of the  Loan  Parties  and  their
Subsidiaries and its own decision to enter into this Agreement and that it will,
independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender, and based
on such  documents and  information  as it shall deem  appropriate  at the time,
continue to make its own analysis and  decisions in taking or not taking  action
under the Loan Documents.  Except for notices,  reports, and other documents and
information  expressly  required  to be  furnished  to the  Lenders by the Agent
hereunder,  the Agent shall not have any duty or  responsibility  to provide any
Lender with any credit or other  information  concerning the affairs,  financial
condition,  or  business  of any  Loan  Party  or any  of  its  Subsidiaries  or
Affiliates  that  may  come  into  the  possession  of the  Agent  or any of its
Affiliates.

                  9.7 Resignation of the Agent. The Agent may resign at any time
by  giving  notice  thereof  to the  Lenders  and the  Borrower.  Upon  any such
resignation,  the Required  Lenders  shall have the right to appoint a successor
Agent.  If no  successor  Agent  shall have been so  appointed  by the  Required
Lenders and shall have  accepted such  appointment  within thirty days after the
retiring  Agent's giving of notice of resignation,  then the retiring Agent may,
on behalf of the Lenders,  appoint a successor Agent which shall be a commercial
bank organized  under the laws of the United States of America  having  combined
capital  and  surplus  of at  least  $100,000,000.  Upon the  acceptance  of any
appointment as Agent  hereunder by a successor,  such successor  shall thereupon
succeed  to  and  become  vested  with  all  the  rights,  powers,   discretion,
privileges,  and duties of the retiring  Agent,  and the retiring Agent shall be
discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. After any retiring Agent's
resignation  hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Section 9 shall continue
in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to by taken
by it while it was acting as Agent.

                  9.8 Duties of Arranger.  Notwithstanding  any other  provision
contained in this  Agreement to the contrary,  the Arranger shall have no duties
or obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

                                             SECTION 10.  MISCELLANEOUS



<PAGE>



                  10.1  Amendments  and Waivers.  Neither this Agreement nor any
other  Loan  Document,   nor  any  terms  hereof  or  thereof  may  be  amended,
supplemented  or  modified  except in  accordance  with the  provisions  of this
Section 10.1.  Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be
amended,  supplemented,  modified  or waived  if, but only if,  such  amendment,
supplement,  modification  or  waiver is in  writing  and is signed by each Loan
Party that is a party  thereto  and the  Required  Lenders or the Agent with the
consent of the Required  Lenders  (and,  if Section 9 or the rights or duties of
the  Agent or the  Issuing  Lender  are  affected  thereby,  by the Agent or the
Issuing Lender,  as the case may be);  provided that no such amendment or waiver
shall,  unless  signed by all the Lenders,  (a) increase  the  Revolving  Credit
Commitments  of the  Lenders,  (b) reduce the  principal  of or rate of interest
(other  than as a result  of  waiving  the  applicability  of any  post  default
increase in interest rates) on any Loan or Reimbursement  Obligation or any fees
or other amounts payable hereunder,  (c) postpone any date fixed for the payment
of  any  scheduled   payment  of  principal  of  or  interest  on  any  Loan  or
Reimbursement  Obligation or any fees or other amounts payable  hereunder or for
termination of any Revolving Credit Commitment, (d) change the percentage of the
Revolving Credit Commitments or of the unpaid principal amount of the Extensions
of Credit, or the number of Lenders,  which shall be required for the Lenders or
any of them to take any action under this Section or any other provision of this
Agreement,  (e) release any material Guarantor from its Guarantee under the Loan
Documents or (f) release all or  substantially  all of the  Collateral  from the
Liens created by the Security Documents. Any such waiver and any such amendment,
supplement or modification  shall apply equally to each of the Lenders and shall
be binding upon the  applicable  Loan  Parties,  the Lenders,  the Agent and all
future holders of the Loans.  In the case of any waiver,  the Loan Parties,  the
Lenders and the Agent shall be restored  to their  former  positions  and rights
hereunder  and under the  other  Loan  Documents,  and any  Default  or Event of
Default  waived shall be deemed to be cured and not  continuing;  no such waiver
shall extend to any  subsequent  or other  Default or Event of Default or impair
any right consequent thereon.

                  10.2 Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the
respective  parties  hereto to be effective  shall be in writing  (including  by
facsimile  transmission) and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein,  shall
be deemed to have been duly given or made (a) in the case of  delivery  by hand,
when  delivered,  (b) in the case of delivery by mail,  five Business Days after
being deposited in the mails,  postage prepaid or (c) in the case of delivery by
facsimile transmission,  when sent and receipt has been confirmed,  addressed as
follows in the case of the Borrower and the Agent,  and as set forth in Schedule
1.1(d) in the case of the other parties hereto,  or to such other address as may
be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto and any future holders of
the Loans:

         The Borrower:     ProMedCo Management Company
                                    801 Cherry Street, Suite 1450
                                    Fort Worth, Texas  76102
                                    Attention:  Robert D. Smith
                                    Facsimile:  (817) 335-8321

         The Agent:                 NationsBank, N.A.
                                    NC1-001-15-04
                                    101 North Tryon Street
                                    Charlotte, North Carolina  28255
                                    Attention:  Agency Services
                                    Facsimile:  (704) 386-9923



<PAGE>



         with a copy to:            NationsBank, N.A.
                                    700 Louisiana St., 8th Floor
                                    Houston, Texas  77002-2700
                                    Attention:  Lawrence J. Gordon
                                    Facsimile:  (713) 247-6719

provided that any notice,  request or demand to or upon the Agent or the Lenders
pursuant to Section  2.2,  2.3,  2.4,  2.6,  3.5,  3.6,  3.7 or 6.2 shall not be
effective until received.

                  10.3 No Waiver;  Cumulative  Remedies.  No failure to exercise
and no delay in exercising,  on the part of the Agent or any Lender,  any right,
remedy,  power or privilege  hereunder or under the other Loan  Documents  shall
operate as a waiver  thereof;  nor shall any single or partial  exercise  of any
right,  remedy,  power or  privilege  hereunder  preclude  any other or  further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.
The rights,  remedies,  powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and
not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

                  10.4  Survival  of   Representations   and   Warranties.   All
representations  and warranties made hereunder,  in the other Loan Documents and
in any  document,  certificate  or  statement  delivered  pursuant  hereto or in
connection  herewith  shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the making of the Loans hereunder.

                  10.5 Payment of Expenses and Taxes;  Indemnification.  (a) the
Borrower  agrees  to pay on  demand  all  costs  and  expenses  of the  Agent in
connection with the syndication,  preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery,
administration,  modification,  and amendment of (and any waiver or consent with
respect to) this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the other documents to
be delivered hereunder,  including,  without limitation, the reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel for the Agent with respect thereto (including, to the extent
permitted by applicable  law, the cost of internal  counsel) and with respect to
advising  the  Agent  as to its  rights  and  responsibilities  under  the  Loan
Documents.  The Borrower  further agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses
of  the  Agent  and  the  Lenders  (including,  without  limitation,  reasonable
attorneys'  fees and,  with respect to the Agent and to the extent  permitted by
applicable law, the cost of internal  counsel) in connection with any Default or
Event of  Default  and the  enforcement  (whether  through  negotiations,  legal
proceedings,  or otherwise) of the Loan Documents and the other  documents to be
delivered hereunder.


<PAGE>



                  (b) THE BORROWER AGREES TO PAY, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD EACH LENDER
AND THE AGENT  HARMLESS  FROM, ANY AND ALL RECORDING AND FILING FEES AND ANY AND
ALL LIABILITIES  WITH RESPECT TO, OR RESULTING FROM ANY DELAY IN PAYING,  STAMP,
EXCISE AND OTHER TAXES, IF ANY, WHICH MAY BE PAYABLE OR DETERMINED TO BE PAYABLE
IN  CONNECTION   WITH  THE  EXECUTION  AND  DELIVERY  OF,  OR   CONSUMMATION  OR
ADMINISTRATION  OF ANY OF THE  TRANSACTIONS  CONTEMPLATED  BY, OR ANY AMENDMENT,
SUPPLEMENT OR MODIFICATION  OF, OR ANY WAIVER OR CONSENT UNDER OR IN RESPECT OF,
THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY SUCH OTHER DOCUMENTS.

                  (c) THE  BORROWER  AGREES TO INDEMNIFY  AND HOLD  HARMLESS THE
AGENT  AND EACH  LENDER  AND  EACH OF  THEIR  AFFILIATES  AND  THEIR  RESPECTIVE
OFFICERS,  DIRECTORS,  EMPLOYEES,  AGENTS AND ADVISORS  (EACH,  AN  "INDEMNIFIED
PARTY") FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LOSSES, LIABILITIES, COSTS
AND EXPENSES  (INCLUDING,  WITHOUT  LIMITATION,  REASONABLE  ATTORNEYS' FEES AND
EXPENSES) THAT MAY BE INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED OR AWARDED AGAINST ANY INDEMNIFIED
PARTY,  IN EACH  CASE  ARISING  OUT OF OR IN  CONNECTION  WITH OR BY  REASON  OF
(INCLUDING,   WITHOUT   LIMITATION,   IN  CONNECTION  WITH  ANY   INVESTIGATION,
LITIGATION, OR PROCEEDING OR PREPARATION OF DEFENSE IN CONNECTION THEREWITH) THE
LOAN DOCUMENTS,  ANY OF THE  TRANSACTIONS  CONTEMPLATED  HEREIN OR THE ACTUAL OR
PROPOSED  USE OF THE  PROCEEDS  OF THE  LOANS  (INCLUDING  ANY OF THE  FOREGOING
ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY), EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT SUCH
CLAIM,  DAMAGE,  LOSS,  LIABILITY,   COST  OR  EXPENSE  IS  FOUND  IN  A  FINAL,
NON-APPEALABLE  JUDGMENT BY A COURT OF COMPETENT  JURISDICTION  TO HAVE RESULTED
FROM SUCH  INDEMNIFIED  PARTY'S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL  MISCONDUCT.  IN THE
CASE OF AN INVESTIGATION,  LITIGATION OR OTHER PROCEEDING TO WHICH THE INDEMNITY
IN THIS SUBSECTION 10.5(C) APPLIES, SUCH INDEMNITY SHALL BE EFFECTIVE WHETHER OR
NOT SUCH INVESTIGATION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT BY THE BORROWER, ITS
DIRECTORS, SHAREHOLDERS OR CREDITORS OR AN INDEMNIFIED PARTY OR ANY OTHER PERSON
OR ANY  INDEMNIFIED  PARTY IS  OTHERWISE A PARTY  THERETO AND WHETHER OR NOT THE
TRANSACTIONS  CONTEMPLATED  HEREBY ARE  CONSUMMATED.  THE BORROWER AGREES NOT TO
ASSERT ANY CLAIM AGAINST THE AGENT, ANY LENDER, ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES,  OR ANY
OF THEIR  RESPECTIVE  DIRECTORS,  OFFICERS,  EMPLOYEES,  ATTORNEYS,  AGENTS  AND
ADVISERS, ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY,  FOR SPECIAL,  INDIRECT,  CONSEQUENTIAL OR
PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR OTHERWISE RELATING TO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, ANY
OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN OR THE ACTUAL OR PROPOSED USE
OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE LOANS.

                  (d) Without  prejudice to the survival of any other  agreement
of the  Borrower  hereunder,  the  agreements  and  obligations  of the Borrower
contained in this Section 10.5 shall  survive the  termination  of the Revolving
Credit  Commitments  and payment in full of the Loans and all other  Obligations
payable under this Agreement.


<PAGE>



                  10.6 Successors and Assigns;  Participations  and Assignments.
(a)  This  Agreement  shall be  binding  upon and  inure to the  benefit  of the
Borrower,  the Lenders,  the Agent and their respective  successors and assigns,
except  that the  Borrower  may not  assign  or  transfer  any of its  rights or
obligations  under this  Agreement  without  the prior  written  consent of each
Lender.

                  (b) Each Lender may assign to one or more  Eligible  Assignees
all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement  (including,
without  limitation,  all or a portion of its Revolving Credit  Commitment,  the
Loans  and  Reimbursement  Obligations  owing  to it and the  Note  held by it);
provided, however, that

                           (i)      each such assignment shall be to an Eligible
         Assignee;

                           (ii) except in the case of an  assignment  to another
         Lender or an  assignment  of all of a Lender's  rights and  obligations
         under this Agreement, any such partial assignment shall be in an amount
         at least equal to $10,000,000 or an integral  multiple of $1,000,000 in
         excess thereof;

                           (iii) each such  assignment by a Lender shall be of a
         constant,  and  not  varying,  percentage  of  all of  its  rights  and
         obligations under this Agreement and the Note held by it; and

                           (iv) the parties to such assignment shall execute and
         deliver to the Agent for its acceptance an Assignment  and  Acceptance,
         together with any Note subject to such  assignment and a processing fee
         of $3,500.

Upon  execution,  delivery and acceptance of such  Assignment and Acceptance and
payment  to the  Agent of the  processing  fee  specified  above,  the  assignee
thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of such  assignment,  have
the  obligations,  rights,  and benefits of a Lender hereunder and the assigning
Lender shall,  to the extent of such  assignment,  relinquish  its rights and be
released from its obligations under this Agreement. Upon the consummation of any
assignment  pursuant  to this  Section  10.6,  the  assignor,  the Agent and the
Borrower shall make appropriate arrangements so that, if required, new Notes are
issued to the assignor  and the  assignee.  If the assignee is not  incorporated
under the laws of the  United  States of America  or a state  thereof,  it shall
deliver  to the  Borrower  and the  Agent  certification  as to  exemption  from
deduction or withholding of Taxes in accordance with subsection 3.14(d).

                  (c) The Agent shall  maintain  at its  address  referred to in
Section 10.2 a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance  delivered to and accepted
by it and a  register  for the  recordation  of the names and  addresses  of the
Lenders and the Revolving  Credit  Commitment  of, and  principal  amount of the
Loans owing to, each Lender from time to time (the  "Register").  The entries in
the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes,  absent  manifest
error,  and the Borrower,  the Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose
name is recorded in the Register as a Lender  hereunder for all purposes of this
Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any
Lender  at any  reasonable  time and from  time to time  upon  reasonable  prior
notice.


<PAGE>



                  (d) Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance  executed
by the parties  thereto,  together with any Note subject to such  assignment and
payment  of the  processing  fee,  the  Agent  shall,  if  such  Assignment  and
Acceptance has been completed,  (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance,  (ii)
record the information  contained  therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt
notice thereof to the parties thereto.

                  (e) Each Lender may sell participations to one or more Persons
(each a "Participant") in all or a portion of its rights,  obligations or rights
and  obligations  under  this  Agreement  (including  all  or a  portion  of its
Revolving Credit  Commitment or the Loans or  Reimbursement  Obligations held by
it); provided,  however, that (i) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement
shall remain unchanged,  (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the
other  parties  hereto  for the  performance  of  such  obligations,  (iii)  the
Participant shall be entitled to the benefit of the yield protection  provisions
contained in Sections 3.9,  3.13 and 3.14 and the right of set-off  contained in
Section  10.7 and (iv) the  Borrower,  the  Agent and the  other  Lenders  shall
continue to deal solely and directly  with such Lender in  connection  with such
Lender's  rights and  obligations  under this  Agreement,  and such Lender shall
retain the sole right to enforce the obligations of the Borrower relating to the
Loans or  Reimbursement  Obligations  owing to it and the Note held by it and to
approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement
(other  than  amendments,  modifications,  or waivers  decreasing  the amount of
principal  of  or  the  rate  at  which  interest  is  payable  on  such  Loans,
Reimbursement  Obligations or Note,  extending any scheduled  principal  payment
date or date fixed for the  payment of  interest  on such  Loans,  Reimbursement
Obligations or Note or extending its Revolving Credit Commitment).

                  (f)  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  set forth in this
Agreement,  any Lender may at any time  assign and pledge all or any  portion of
its Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and its Note to any Federal Reserve Bank
as  collateral  security  pursuant to  Regulation A and any  Operating  Circular
issued by such  Federal  Reserve  Bank.  No such  assignment  shall  release the
assigning Lender from its obligations hereunder.

                  (g) Any Lender may  furnish  any  information  concerning  the
Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  in the possession of such Lender from time
to time to assignees  and  Participants  (including  prospective  assignees  and
Participants), subject, however, to the provisions of Section 10.15.

                  10.7 Adjustments;  Set-off. (a) Upon the occurrence and during
the  continuance  of  any  Event  of  Default,  each  Lender  (and  each  of its
Affiliates)  is  hereby  authorized  at any time and from  time to time,  to the
fullest  extent  permitted  by law,  to set off and apply  any and all  deposits
(general or special, time or demand,  provisional or final) at any time held and
other  indebtedness  at any time owing by such Lender (or any of its Affiliates)
to or for the credit or the account of the  Borrower  against any and all of the
Obligations  of the Borrower held by such Lender,  irrespective  of whether such
Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such  Obligations  and
although  such  Obligations  may be unmatured.  Each Lender  agrees  promptly to
notify the Borrower after any such set-off and application  made by such Lender;
provided,  however,  that the failure to give such  notice  shall not affect the
validity of such set-off and  application.  The rights of each Lender under this
Section  are in  addition  to other  rights  and  remedies  (including,  without
limitation, other rights of set-off) that such Lender may have.


<PAGE>



                  (b) If any Lender (a  "benefitted  Lender")  shall at any time
receive any payment of all or part of the Loans,  Reimbursement  Obligations  or
other  amounts  owing to it  hereunder,  or  interest  thereon,  or receive  any
collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off,
or otherwise),  in a greater  proportion  than any such payment to or collateral
received by any other Lender,  if any, in respect of such other Lender's  Loans,
Reimbursement  Obligations  or other amounts owing to it hereunder,  or interest
thereon, such benefitted Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders a
participating  interest in such portion of each such other  Lender's Loans owing
to it,  or shall  provide  such  other  Lenders  with the  benefits  of any such
collateral,  or the  proceeds  thereof,  as shall  be  necessary  to cause  such
benefitted  Lender to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral or
proceeds ratably with each of the Lenders; provided, however, that if all or any
portion of such excess  payment or benefits is  thereafter  recovered  from such
benefitted Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded,  and the purchase price and
benefits  returned,  to the extent of such recovery,  but without interest.  The
Borrower  agrees that any Lender so  purchasing  a  participation  from a Lender
pursuant  to this  Section  10.7 may, to the fullest  extent  permitted  by law,
exercise  all of its rights of payment  (including  the right of  set-off)  with
respect  to such  participation  as fully  as if such  Person  were  the  direct
creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

                  10.8  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed by one or
more of the parties to this  Agreement  on any number of  separate  counterparts
(including  by  facsimile  transmission),  and  all of said  counterparts  taken
together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the
copies of this  Agreement  signed by all the parties  shall be  delivered to the
Borrower and the Agent.

                  10.9  Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement  which is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction  shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such  prohibition  or  unenforceability  without
invalidating  the  remaining  provisions  hereof,  and any such  prohibition  or
unenforceability   in  any   jurisdiction   shall  not   invalidate   or  render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

                  10.10 Entire  Agreement.  THIS  AGREEMENT,  TOGETHER  WITH THE
OTHER  LOAN  DOCUMENTS,  REPRESENT  THE  FINAL  AGREEMENT  BETWEEN  THE  PARTIES
REGARDING THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREIN AND THEREIN AND MAY NOT BE  CONTRADICTED  BY
EVIDENCE OF PRIOR,  CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES
HERETO. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

                  10.11  Governing  Law.  This  Agreement  and  the  rights  and
obligations  of the parties  hereunder  shall be governed by, and  construed and
interpreted in accordance  with, the law of the State of Texas without regard to
the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

                  10.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. The Borrower hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally:



<PAGE>



                  (a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or
proceeding  relating to this  Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it
is a party,  or for  recognition  and  enforcement  of any  judgement in respect
thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the Courts of the State of
Texas,  the courts of the United States of America for the Northern  District of
Texas, and appellate courts from any thereof;

                  (b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought
in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the
venue of any such action or  proceeding in any such court or that such action or
proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim
the same;

                  (c) agrees  that  service  of  process  in any such  action or
proceeding  may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified
mail (or any  substantially  similar  form of  mail),  postage  prepaid,  to the
Borrower at its address  set forth in Section  10.2 or at such other  address of
which the Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto; and

                  (d)  agrees  that  nothing  herein  shall  affect the right to
effect  service of process in any other  manner  permitted by law or shall limit
the right to sue in any other jurisdiction.

                  10.13 Acknowledgments.  The Borrower hereby acknowledges that:

                  (a)  it has  been  advised  by  counsel  in  the  negotiation,
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

                  (b)  neither  the  Agent  nor any  Lender  has  any  fiduciary
relationship  with or duty to the Borrower  arising out of or in connection with
this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents,  and the relationship between
Agent and  Lenders,  on one  hand,  and the  Borrower,  on the  other  hand,  in
connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

                  (c) no joint  venture is  created  hereby or by the other Loan
Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions  contemplated hereby
among the Lenders or among the Borrower and the Lenders.

                  10.14  Waiver of Jury Trial.  TO THE EXTENT  PERMITTED BY LAW,
THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY  WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT
AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.


<PAGE>



                  10.15  Confidentiality.  The Agent and each  Lender  (each,  a
"Lending Party") agrees to keep  confidential any information  furnished or made
available  to it by the  Borrower  pursuant  to this  Agreement  that is  marked
confidential;  provided that nothing herein shall prevent any Lending Party from
disclosing  such  information (a) to any other Lending Party or any Affiliate of
any Lending Party, or any officer, director,  employee, agent, or advisor of any
Lending  Party or  Affiliate  of any Lending  Party,  (b) to any other Person if
reasonably  incidental to the  administration  of the credit  facility  provided
herein,  (c) as required by any  Requirement  of Law,  (d) upon the order of any
court or administrative agency, (e) upon the request or demand of any regulatory
agency or authority,  (f) that is or becomes  available to the public or that is
or becomes available to any Lending Party other than as a result of a disclosure
by any Lending Party  prohibited by this  Agreement,  (g) in connection with any
litigation to which such Lending Party or any of its  Affiliates may be a party,
(h) to the extent  necessary in connection with the exercise of any remedy under
this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan  Document  and (i)  subject  to  provisions
substantially similar to those contained in this Section 10.15, to any actual or
proposed Participant or assignee.

                  10.16 Interest and Charges. (a) It is not the intention of any
parties to this  Agreement  to make an agreement in violation of the laws of any
applicable  jurisdiction  relating to usury.  Regardless of any provision in any
Loan Documents, no Lender shall ever be entitled to charge, receive,  collect or
apply,  as  interest  on the  Obligations,  any amount in excess of the  Highest
Lawful Rate. If any Lender ever receives,  collects or applies, as interest, any
such excess,  such amount which would be  excessive  interest  shall be deemed a
partial  repayment of principal and treated  hereunder as such; and if principal
is paid in full, any remaining excess shall be paid to the Borrower.

                  (b) The Borrower  agrees that Chapter 346 of the Texas Finance
Code Annotated  (which  regulates  certain  revolving credit accounts) shall not
govern or in any manner apply to this Agreement or any of the Obligations.

                  (c) If at any time the interest rate (the "Contract Rate") for
any obligation of the Borrower under the Loan Documents shall exceed the Highest
Lawful Rate,  thereby  causing the interest  accruing on such  obligation  to be
limited  to the  Highest  Lawful  Rate,  then any  subsequent  reduction  in the
Contract Rate for such obligation  shall not reduce the rate of interest on such
obligation  below the Highest Lawful Rate until the aggregate amount of interest
accrued on such obligation  equals the aggregate  amount of interest which would
have accrued on such  obligation if the Contract Rate for such obligation had at
all times been in effect.


<PAGE>




                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  caused  this
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly  authorized
officers as of the day and year first above written.

                                    BORROWER:
                                    --------

                                    PROMEDCO MANAGEMENT COMPANY

                                    By:
                                    Name:
                                    Title:


<PAGE>






                                    ARRANGER:
                                    --------

                                    NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY SECURITIES LLC


                                    By:
                                    Name:
                                    Title:


<PAGE>






                                    LENDERS:
                                    -------

                                    NATIONSBANK, N.A.
                                      as the Agent and as a Lender


                                    By:
                                    Name:
                                    Title:


<PAGE>






                                    AMSOUTH BANK


                                    By:
                                    Name:
                                    Title:


<PAGE>






                                    THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO


                                    By:
Name:
Title:


<PAGE>






                                    COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN-
BOERENLEENBANK B.A., "RABOBANK          NEDERLAND", NEW YORK BRANCH


                                    By:
Name:
Title:


                                    By:
Name:
Title:


<PAGE>





                                    U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION


                                    By:
Name:
Title:




PROMEDCO MANAGEMENT COMPANY
EXHIBIT 11

Computation of Per Share Earnings
(All amounts are expressed in thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                           For the Years Ending
                                                                               December 31,
                                                                ------------------------------------------
                                                                     1997           1998           1999
                                                                -----------     ----------     -----------
<S>                                                             <C>           <C>              <C>
BASIC

     Weighted average shares outstanding                              9,320         17,996          21,369
     Contingently issuable shares in business combinations            2,056            626             176
     Weighted average treasury shares                                 -              -                (437)
                                                                -----------     ----------     -----------
     Number of common shares outstanding                             11,376         18,622          21,108
                                                                ===========     ==========     ===========

DILUTED

     Weighted average shares outstanding                              9,320         17,996          21,369
     Contingently issuable shares in business combinations            2,056            626             176
     Weighted average treasury shares                                 -              -                (437)
     Net common shares issuable on exercise of certain
         stock options and warrants (1)                               2,848          2,336           1,432
     Other dilutive securities (2)                                    -              -                 601
                                                                -----------     ----------     -----------
     Number of common shares outstanding                             14,224         20,958          23,141
                                                                ===========     ==========     ===========


Net income                                                      $     5,473     $   12,202     $    16,011

Interest expense, net of tax assuming conversion of
         convertible subordinated notes payable                       -              -                 305
                                                                -----------     ----------     -----------
                                                                $     5,473     $   12,202     $    16,316
                                                                ===========     ==========     ===========
</TABLE>


(1) Net common shares issuable on exercise of certain stock options and warrants
is calculated based on the treasury stock method.

(2) Other dilutive securities are calculated based on the if-converted method.


PROMEDCO MANAGEMENT COMPANY
EXHIBIT 21

LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                                             State of
             Subsidiary                                                                    Incorporation
<S>                                                                                       <C>
Commonwealth Health Management Services, Inc............................................     Massachusetts
PHB Management Company, Inc.............................................................      Pennsylvania
PMC Medical Management, Inc.............................................................             Maine
ProMedCo of Abilene, Inc................................................................          Delaware
ProMedCo of Champaign, Inc..............................................................          Illinois
ProMedCo of Cullman, Inc................................................................           Alabama
ProMedCo of Denton, Inc.................................................................          Delaware
ProMedCo of Fort Myers, Inc.............................................................           Florida
ProMedCo of Lake Worth, Inc.............................................................          Delaware
ProMedCo of Mayfield, Inc...............................................................          Kentucky
ProMedCo of East Tennessee, Inc.........................................................         Tennessee
ProMedCo of Northern Nevada, Inc. ......................................................            Nevada
ProMedCo of Permian Basin, Inc..........................................................          Delaware
ProMedCo of Pinellas/Pasco, Inc.........................................................           Florida
ProMedCo of Sarasota, Inc...............................................................           Florida
ProMedCo of Southern Maryland, Inc......................................................          Maryland
ProMedCo of Southwest Florida, Inc......................................................           Florida
ProMedCo of Temple, Inc.................................................................          Delaware
ProMedCo of The Coastal Bend, Inc.......................................................          Delaware
ProMedCo of the Hudson Valley, Inc......................................................          Delaware
ProMedCo of Las Cruces, Inc.............................................................        New Mexico
ProMedCo of Palm Beach County, Inc......................................................           Florida
Mountain Meadows Health Systems, Inc....................................................            Nevada
TWC, Inc................................................................................        California
ProMedCo of West Texas, Inc.............................................................          Delaware
ProMedCo of Indiana, Inc................................................................           Indiana
ProMedCo of Flagstaff...................................................................           Arizona
PMC Regional Management Company, Inc....................................................     Massachusetts
ProMedCo of Columbus....................................................................           Georgia
Medical Office Services, Inc............................................................           Arizona
ProMedCo of Lake Tahoe, Inc.............................................................          Delaware
ProMedCo of Northern Arizona............................................................           Arizona
Capital District Health Care Alliance IPA, Inc..........................................          New York
Columbia-Greene Health Care Alliance IPA, Inc...........................................          New York
Dutchesa Health Care Alliance IPA, Inc..................................................          New York
Physicians Buying Alliance, Inc.........................................................          New York
Primergy II, Inc........................................................................          Delaware
Ulster Health Care Alliance IPA, Inc....................................................          New York
Orange-Sullivan Health Care Alliance IPA, Inc...........................................          New York
ProMedCo Physician Benefits Corporation.................................................         Tennessee

</TABLE>






PROMEDCO MANAGEMENT COMPANY
EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of our
report  dated  March  25,  2000,  with  respect  to the  consolidated  financial
statements of ProMedCo Management Company and subsidiaries included in this Form
10-K, into the Company's  previously filed  Registration  Statement File on Form
S-8, No. 333-37695.

ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Fort Worth, Texas
March 30, 2000



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                   5
<MULTIPLIER>                            1,000
<CURRENCY>                       U.S. DOLLARS

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                          12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                 DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                    JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                      DEC-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                             1
<CASH>                                  7,625
<SECURITIES>                                0
<RECEIVABLES>                          63,811
<ALLOWANCES>                                0
<INVENTORY>                                 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                      111,317
<PP&E>                                 34,996
<DEPRECIATION>                         10,644
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                        419,313
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                  59,211
<BONDS>                                     0
                       0
                                 0
<COMMON>                                  219
<OTHER-SE>                            182,412
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>          419,313
<SALES>                                     0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                      324,494
<CGS>                                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                         292,157
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                            0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                      6,513
<INCOME-PRETAX>                        25,824
<INCOME-TAX>                            9,813
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                    16,011
<DISCONTINUED>                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                             0
<CHANGES>                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                           16,011
<EPS-BASIC>                              0.76
<EPS-DILUTED>                            0.71



</TABLE>


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