QUORUM HEALTH GROUP INC
DEF 14A, 1997-10-10
GENERAL MEDICAL & SURGICAL HOSPITALS, NEC
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<PAGE>   1
                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14A-101)
 
                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
 
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
          PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Filed by the Registrant [X]
 
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
 
Check the appropriate box:
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement               [ ]  Confidential, for Use of the Commission
                                                    Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
</TABLE>
    
 
                           Quorum Health Group, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
   
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
[X]  No fee required.
 
[ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
 
     (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
          ______________________________________________________________________

     (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
          ______________________________________________________________________

     (3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
          pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
          filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
          ______________________________________________________________________

     (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
          ______________________________________________________________________

     (5)  Total fee paid:
          ______________________________________________________________________

[ ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
     ___________________________________________________________________________

[ ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
     previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
     or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
 
     (1)  Amount Previously Paid:
          ______________________________________________________________________

     (2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
          ______________________________________________________________________

     (3)  Filing Party:
          ______________________________________________________________________

     (4)  Date Filed:
          ______________________________________________________________________
<PAGE>   2
 
                           QUORUM HEALTH GROUP, INC.
                             103 CONTINENTAL PLACE
                           BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE 37027
 
                             ---------------------
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                               NOVEMBER 10, 1997
                             ---------------------
 
     Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Quorum
Health Group, Inc. ("Quorum" or the "Company") will be held at the Holiday
Inn -- Brentwood at 760 Old Hickory Boulevard, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027, on
Monday, November 10, 1997, at 9:00 a.m. local time, for the following purposes:
 
          1. to consider and vote upon a proposal to amend the Company's
     Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of Common
     Stock, $.01 par value, which the Company is authorized to issue from
     100,000,000 shares to 300,000,000 shares;
 
   
          2. to elect ten directors to hold office until the next Annual Meeting
     of the stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and
     qualified;
    
 
   
          3. to consider and vote upon a proposal to amend Article NINTH of the
     Company's Certificate of Incorporation to provide for indemnification of
     the Company's officers, directors, employees and agents to the fullest
     extent permitted by Delaware General Corporation Law, as currently provided
     under the By-laws of the Company;
    
 
   
          4. to approve the Quorum Health Group, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan;
    
 
   
          5. to amend the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan to increase the
     number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance from 3,000,000 to
     3,750,000 shares;
    
 
   
          6. to ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's
     independent auditor for the 1998 fiscal year; and
    
 
   
          7. to transact such other business as may properly come before the
     meeting or any adjournment thereof.
    
 
     The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on September 22,
1997, as the record date for the determination of the stockholders of the
Company entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Each share of the Company's Common Stock is entitled to one vote on all matters
presented at the Annual Meeting.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                          Ashby Q. Burks, Secretary
 
Brentwood, Tennessee
October 10, 1997
 
YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE MEETING IS IMPORTANT. TO ENSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION,
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND RETURN
THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD. SHOULD YOU DESIRE TO REVOKE YOUR PROXY, YOU MAY DO SO
AS PROVIDED IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED.
<PAGE>   3
                           QUORUM HEALTH GROUP, INC.

                             ---------------------
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT

                             ---------------------
 
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                               NOVEMBER 10, 1997
 
                                  INTRODUCTION
 
     THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF QUORUM
HEALTH GROUP, INC. ("QUORUM" OR THE "COMPANY"), FOR USE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS AND ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF, NOTICE OF WHICH IS ATTACHED
HERETO.  The Annual Meeting will be held at Holiday Inn -- Brentwood at 760 Old
Hickory Boulevard, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027 on Monday, November 10, 1997, at
9:00 a.m. local time. The principal executive offices of the Company are located
at 103 Continental Place, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027.
 
     This Proxy Statement and the Annual Report of the Company for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1997, have been mailed on or about October 10, 1997, to all
stockholders of record as of September 22, 1997.
 
     A stockholder of record who signs and returns a proxy in the accompanying
form may revoke the same at any time before the authority granted thereby is
exercised by attending the Annual Meeting and electing to vote in person, by
filing with the Secretary of the Company a written revocation, or by duly
executing a proxy bearing a later date. Unless so revoked, the shares
represented by the proxy will be voted at the Annual Meeting. Where a choice is
specified on the proxy, the shares represented thereby will be voted in
accordance with such specifications. If no specification is made on a signed
proxy, such shares will be voted in favor of the nominees for election as
directors named below and for the other proposals referred to below. Proxies
also confer discretionary authority with respect to such other matters as may
properly come before the meeting.
 
     The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on September 22,
1997, as the record date for the Annual Meeting (the "Record Date"). The
Company's only outstanding class of voting securities is its common stock, $.01
par value per share (the "Common Stock"). On September 22, 1997, the Company had
74,269,087 outstanding shares of Common Stock. Only stockholders of record at
the close of business on that date will be entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting. A majority of shares entitled to vote constitutes a quorum. A share,
once represented for any purpose at the meeting, is deemed present for purposes
of determining a quorum for the meeting (unless the meeting is adjourned and a
new record date is set for the adjourned meeting), even if the holder of the
share abstains from voting with respect to any matter brought before the
meeting. Stockholders will be entitled to one vote for each share so held, which
may be given in person or by proxy authorized in writing. Abstentions and broker
non-votes will not be counted as affirmative votes on matters to be voted upon
but will be counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a
quorum; they have no legal effect on the election of directors, which requires a
plurality of votes cast. On matters requiring a majority vote of the shares
present and represented at the meeting, abstentions and broker non-votes have
the effect of negative votes.
 
     The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company, including
expenses in connection with preparing, assembling, and mailing this Proxy
Statement. Such solicitation will be made by mail and may also be made by the
Company's regular officers or employees personally or by telephone or telegram.
The Company may reimburse brokers, custodians, and nominees for their expenses
in sending proxies and proxy materials to beneficial owners.
 
     Unless otherwise noted, all share numbers in this Proxy Statement are
stated after giving effect to the Company's three-for-two stock split described
herein.
 
                                        1
<PAGE>   4
 
1.  PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION -- APPROVAL
                OF INCREASE IN AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
 
     On October 1, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Company unanimously
approved resolutions declaring it advisable to amend the Company's Certificate
of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock
from 100,000,000 shares to 300,000,000 shares. The full text of Article FOURTH,
as proposed to be amended in the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, is attached as Exhibit A to this Proxy Statement and is
incorporated herein by reference.
 
     On August 19, 1997, the Board of Directors declared a three-for-two stock
split, effected in the form of a stock dividend, which was distributed to
stockholders of record on September 2, 1997 (the "Stock Split"). In connection
with the Stock Split, each holder of record on September 2, 1997 received one
additional share of Common Stock for every two shares held. In addition, the
number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance or subject to outstanding
options granted under the Company's employee stock plans increased by 50%. The
Stock Split was approved by the Company's Board of Directors with the intention
of benefitting stockholders by obtaining wider market distribution for the
Company's Common Stock, as well as improving the marketability of the Common
Stock.
 
   
     As a result of the Stock Split, the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding increased by 50%. As of the Record Date, 74,269,087 shares of Common
Stock were outstanding, and the following shares were reserved for issuance:
6,416,023 shares were subject to outstanding options granted under the Company's
Restated Stock Option Plan; 242,539 shares were subject to outstanding options
and an additional 188,703 shares were reserved under the Directors Stock Option
Plan, for a total of 431,242 shares obligated thereunder; 550,737 shares were
reserved for issuance under the Company's qualified Employee Stock Purchase
Plan, and 374,741 shares under its non-qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan;
and 2,550 shares were reserved subject to the exercise of an outstanding warrant
issued by the Company. The Company has issued or is obligated to issue a total
of 82,044,380 shares. As the Company has only 100,000,000 authorized shares of
Common Stock, only 17,955,620 shares remain outside the Company's current
obligations. The proposed Amendment would increase the number of shares of
Common Stock not reserved for issuance to 217,955,620 shares.
    
 
   
     The Board of Directors believes that the adoption of the proposed Amendment
is advantageous to the Company and its stockholders. It would provide additional
authorized shares of Common Stock that could be used from time to time, without
further action or authorization by the stockholders (except as may be required
by law or the rules of the NASDAQ National Market System or other stock exchange
on which the Company's securities may then be listed), for issuance under the
Rights Plan (as defined below) and for other corporate purposes which the Board
may deem desirable, including, without limitation, stock splits, stock dividends
or other distributions, financings, acquisitions, stock grants, stock options
and employee benefit plans, including the Quorum Health Group, Inc. 1997 Stock
Option Plan which will be submitted for stockholder approval at the Annual
Meeting. In the event stockholder approval of this proposal is obtained, the
Company would have a total of 225,730,913 authorized and unissued shares
remaining available pursuant to its Certificate of Incorporation, of which
7,775,293 shares would be reserved for issuance as described in the preceding
paragraph. These additional authorized shares of Common Stock will restore the
Company's flexibility to issue Common Stock to a level the Board of Directors
believes advisable.
    
 
     The additional shares of Common Stock for which authorization is sought
would be identical to the shares of Common Stock now authorized. Adoption of the
proposed amendment and the issuance of Common Stock would not affect the rights
of holders of currently outstanding Common Stock, except for effects incidental
to increasing the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Holders of
Common Stock do not have preemptive rights to subscribe to additional securities
that may be issued by the Company, which means that current stockholders do not
have a prior right to purchase any new issue of capital stock of the Company in
order to maintain their proportionate ownership thereof. If the proposed
amendment is adopted, it will become effective upon the filing of the proposed
amendment with the Delaware Secretary of State.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   5
 
CERTAIN ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT
 
     In addition to the foregoing corporate purposes, under certain
circumstances the Board of Directors could create impediments to, or delay
persons seeking to effect, a takeover or transfer of control of the Company by
causing such additional authorized shares to be issued to a holder or holders
who might side with the Board in opposing a takeover bid that the Board of
Directors determines is not in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders. Such an issuance could diminish the voting power of existing
stockholders who favor a change in control, and the ability to issue the shares
could discourage an attempt to acquire control of the Company and thus make more
difficult the removal of management. While it may be deemed to have potential
anti-takeover effects, the proposed amendment is not prompted by any specific
effort or takeover threat currently perceived by management or the Board of
Directors.
 
   
     On April 16, 1997, the Board of Directors adopted a Rights Agreement (the
"Rights Plan") and issued under the Rights Plan, as a dividend to the holders of
Common Stock, rights to purchase Common Stock. Over 1,550 companies have adopted
plans comparable to the Rights Plan, including approximately 56% of the Fortune
500 companies and several companies in the healthcare industry. The Rights Plan
is designed to protect stockholders against the adverse consequences of partial
takeovers and other abusive takeover tactics which the Board of Directors
believes are not in the best interests of the Company's stockholders by
providing for certain rights to acquire the Common Stock or the securities of an
acquiring entity upon the occurrence of certain events. These rights, should
they become exercisable, could possibly deter a potential takeover of the
Company. A copy of the Rights Plan was filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 23, 1997, as an exhibit to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form 8-A. In the event the rights become exercisable for Common
Stock, the Company might be required to issue a substantial number of new shares
of Common Stock. Although under the Rights Plan the Company is not now obligated
(but must use its best efforts) to reserve shares of Common Stock for issuance
thereunder, a failure to have sufficient shares available could result in a
delay or failure of implementation of the Rights Plan. An increase in the
authorized number of shares of Common Stock could therefore make a change in
control of the Company more difficult by facilitating the operation of the
Rights Plan.
    
 
     In addition, on April 16, 1997 the Board of Directors approved two
amendments to the By-laws of the Company. The first amendment requires
stockholders to provide the Company with advance notice of business to be
brought at a stockholders meeting or of a stockholder's intention to nominate
directors at the meeting. The second amendment provides that special meetings of
stockholders may be called only by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the
Board or the Company's Chief Executive Officer. The full text of these
amendments was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 17,
1997, as part of the Company's filing on Form 8-K. Such amendments, along with
the adoption of the Rights Plan, cannot, and are not intended to, prevent a
purchase of all or a majority of the equity securities of the Company, nor are
they intended to deter bids for such securities. Rather, the Board believes that
these provisions will discourage disruptive tactics and encourage persons who
may seek to acquire control of the Company to initiate such an acquisition
through negotiations with the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors
believes that it will therefore be in a better position to protect the interests
of all the Company's stockholders.
 
   
EXISTING ANTI-TAKEOVER MEASURE -- SECTION 203 OF THE DELAWARE GENERAL
CORPORATION LAW
    
 
     As discussed more fully below, Section 203 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and should be
reviewed in evaluating this proposal.
 
     The Company is subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law. Such section provides, with certain exceptions, that a
Delaware corporation may not engage in any of a broad range of business
combinations with a person or affiliate, or associate of such person, who is an
"interested stockholder" for a period of three years from the date that such
person became an interested stockholder unless: (i) the transaction resulting in
a person becoming an interested stockholder, or the business combination, is
approved by the board of directors of the corporation before the person becomes
an interested stockholder; (ii) the interested stockholder acquires 85% or more
of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation in the same transaction that
makes it an interested stockholder (excluding shares owned by
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   6
 
persons who are both officers and directors of the corporation, and shares held
by certain employee stock ownership plans); or (iii) on or after the date the
person becomes an interested stockholder, the business combination is approved
by the corporation's board of directors and by the holders of at least 66 2/3%
of the corporation's outstanding voting stock at an annual or special meeting,
excluding shares owned by the interested stockholder. Under Section 203, an
"interested stockholder" is defined as any person that is (i) the owner of 15%
or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation or (ii) an affiliate
or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the
outstanding voting stock of the corporation at any time within the three-year
period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined
whether such person is an interested stockholder.
 
VOTE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL
 
     The proposed Amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to
increase the authorized shares of Common Stock will be submitted to stockholders
for their approval at the Annual Meeting. Approval and adoption of the proposed
amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation requires the vote of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote
at the Annual Meeting.
 
     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AND RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"
APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION.
 
   
                           2.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
    
 
   
     The terms of all current directors will expire upon the election of new
directors at the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors proposes the election of
the nominees listed below to serve until the next annual meeting of the
stockholders and until their respective successors have been duly elected and
qualified. The directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the
shares entitled to vote in the election at the Annual Meeting. Unless contrary
instructions are received, it is intended that the shares represented by proxies
solicited by the Board of Directors will be voted in favor of the election as
directors of all the nominees named below. The information relating to the ten
nominees set forth below has been furnished to the Company by the individuals
named. All of the nominees are presently directors of the Company.
    
 
     It is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote the
shares covered by each proxy for the election of all the nominees named in the
table below. Although the Board does not anticipate that any nominees will be
unavailable for election, in the event of such occurrence, the proxies will be
voted for such substitute, if any, as the Board may designate. There is no
cumulative voting for the election of members of the Board.
 
     The following table sets forth information with respect to nominees:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       DIRECTOR                    BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
NAME                             AGE    SINCE                    DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
- ----                             ---   --------                  ----------------------
<S>                              <C>   <C>        <C>
Russell L. Carson(1)(3)........  54      1989     Mr. Carson has been Chairman of the Board since July
                                                  1989. Since 1979 he has been a general partner of
                                                  Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, an investment firm
                                                  that specializes in the acquisition of companies in
                                                  the information services and health care industries.
                                                  Mr. Carson serves on the Board of Directors of Health
                                                  Management Systems, Inc., a provider of accounts
                                                  receivable management services to hospitals; American
                                                  Oncology Resources, Inc., a physician practice
                                                  management company; National Surgery Centers, Inc., a
                                                  developer and manager of outpatient surgery centers,
                                                  and several private companies.
</TABLE>
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   7
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       DIRECTOR                    BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
NAME                             AGE    SINCE                    DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
- ----                             ---   --------                  ----------------------
<S>                              <C>   <C>        <C>
James E. Dalton, Jr............  55      1990     Mr. Dalton became President, Chief Executive Officer
                                                  and a director of the Company in 1990. Prior to
                                                  joining the Company, he served as Regional Vice
                                                  President, Southwest Region for HealthTrust, Inc.,
                                                  division Vice President of Hospital Corporation of
                                                  America, and regional Vice President of HCA
                                                  Management Company. He serves on the Board of
                                                  Directors of Housecall Medical Resources, Inc., the
                                                  Nashville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of
                                                  Atlanta and the Nashville Health Care Council and on
                                                  the Board of Trustees of Randolph-Macon College. Mr.
                                                  Dalton is a Fellow of the American College of
                                                  Healthcare Executives and is on the Board of
                                                  Directors and past Chairman of the Federation of
                                                  American Health Systems.
S. Douglas Smith...............  59      1989     Mr. Smith is Adjunct Professor of Health Care
                                                  Management, Owen Graduate School of Management,
                                                  Vanderbilt University. He has been a director of the
                                                  Company since July 1989. He was Vice Chairman of the
                                                  Company from 1990 through 1992, Vice Chairman of
                                                  Quorum Health Resources, Inc. from 1991 to 1992, and
                                                  President of Quorum Health Resources, Inc. from 1985
                                                  to 1991. Mr. Smith earlier held management positions
                                                  with Hospital Corporation of America, Duke University
                                                  Medical Center and Humana, Inc. He serves on the
                                                  Board of Directors of PhyCor Management Company, Inc.
                                                  and Executive Learning, Inc., and is Chairman of the
                                                  Board of Passport Health Communication Co.
Sam A. Brooks, Jr.(2)..........  58      1989     Mr. Brooks has been a director of the Company since
                                                  July 1989. Mr. Brooks is President and CEO of Renal
                                                  Care Group, a provider of dialysis and nephrology
                                                  services, and is President of MedCare Investment
                                                  Corp., a health care investment company. Mr. Brooks
                                                  serves on the Board of Directors of Renal Care Group;
                                                  Nationwide Health Properties, Inc., a real estate
                                                  investment trust; Kinetic Concepts, Inc., a company
                                                  engaged in the manufacture and rental of hospital
                                                  beds for immobile patients; and PhyCor, Inc., an
                                                  owner and operator of multi-specialty medical
                                                  clinics.
Kenneth J. Melkus (2)(3).......  51      1992     Mr. Melkus became a director of the Company in March
                                                  1992. From August 1993 until its merger with United
                                                  HealthCare of Minneapolis in 1996, Mr. Melkus served
                                                  as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
                                                  of HealthWise of America, Inc., a publicly held
                                                  company that owned, managed and developed health
                                                  maintenance organizations. Mr. Melkus is currently
                                                  serving as consultant to Welsh, Carson, Anderson &
                                                  Stowe, and serves on the Boards of Directors of
                                                  OrthoLink, Inc., Cardiology Partners of America,
                                                  MedSynergies, Inc., Nora Holdings, Inc., and Emerald
                                                  Health Network. From 1985 until its acquisition by
                                                  HealthSouth Corporation, Mr. Melkus served as Vice
                                                  Chairman and President of Surgical Care Affiliates,
                                                  Inc., an owner and operator of independent ambulatory
                                                  surgery centers.
</TABLE>
    
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   8
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       DIRECTOR                    BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
NAME                             AGE    SINCE                    DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
- ----                             ---   --------                  ----------------------
<S>                              <C>   <C>        <C>
Rocco A. Ortenzio (1)..........  64      1992     Mr. Ortenzio has been a director of the Company since
                                                  March 1992. He is Chairman and CEO of Select Medical
                                                  Corporation, which is developing a network of
                                                  post-acute healthcare facilities and services. He was
                                                  the co-founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
                                                  of Continental Medical Systems, Inc. until its merger
                                                  with Horizon HealthCare Corporation. He was a
                                                  Consultant to Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corporation, a
                                                  leading post-acute healthcare provider in the United
                                                  States from 1995 to 1997. Mr. Ortenzio also serves on
                                                  the Board of Directors of PNC Bank and National
                                                  Surgery Centers, Inc.
Thomas S. Murphy, Jr...........  38      1993     Mr. Murphy has been a director of the Company since
                                                  December 1993. He is managing director of Goldman,
                                                  Sachs & Co., where he served as Vice President from
                                                  1990 -- 1997, after joining the firm in 1986. Mr.
                                                  Murphy is also a director of Bridge Information
                                                  Systems, Inc.
Joseph C. Hutts (1)(3).........  56      1994     Mr. Hutts has been a director of the Company since
                                                  February 1994. He has served as Chairman of the
                                                  Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of
                                                  PhyCor, Inc., an owner and operator of
                                                  multi-specialty medical clinics, since its inception
                                                  in 1988. Mr. Hutts served at Hospital Corporation of
                                                  America ("HCA") from 1977 to 1986 in various
                                                  positions, including Vice President, Operations;
                                                  President, HCA Management Company, Inc., Senior Vice
                                                  President, Western Operations; and President of HCA
                                                  Health Plans, a managed care subsidiary of HCA. Mr.
                                                  Hutts was Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer
                                                  of EQUICOR-Equitable HCA Corporation, an employee
                                                  benefits company, from October 1986 until June 1987.
                                                  Mr. Hutts serves on the Board of Directors of Renal
                                                  Care Group, a provider of dialysis and nephrology
                                                  services.
C. Edward Floyd, M.D...........  63      1995     Dr. Floyd has been a director of the Company since
                                                  June 1995. He is Board Certified in general and
                                                  vascular surgery and serves on the medical staffs of
                                                  Carolinas Hospital System and other local hospitals.
                                                  He is chairman emeritus of the University of South
                                                  Carolina's Board of Trustees; he was its Chairman
                                                  from 1993 -- 1996 and its Vice-Chairman from
                                                  1989 -- 1993. He is founder and director of Vascular
                                                  Laboratory of Florence, Inc. In addition to serving
                                                  on several medical boards, Dr. Floyd is clinical
                                                  professor of surgery at the University of South
                                                  Carolina Medical School as well as clinical associate
                                                  professor of surgery at the Medical University of
                                                  South Carolina. He is a member of the South Carolina
                                                  State Commission on Higher Education and also serves
                                                  on the Board of Directors of National Bank of South
                                                  Carolina, Synovus Financial Corporation and the Drs.
                                                  Bruce and Lee Foundation. Dr. Floyd is a diplomat of
                                                  the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the
                                                  American College of Surgeons.
</TABLE>
    
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   9
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       DIRECTOR                    BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
NAME                             AGE    SINCE                    DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
- ----                             ---   --------                  ----------------------
<S>                              <C>   <C>        <C>
Colleen Conway Welch,
  Ph.D.(2).....................  53      1997     Dr. Welch became a director of the Company in April
                                                  1997. She is Dean and Professor of the Vanderbilt
                                                  University School of Nursing. She is member of the
                                                  board of directors of Funding First, a member of the
                                                  Healthcare Leadership Council Board of Governors, the
                                                  Tennessee State Board of Nursing, The Governor's
                                                  TennCare Operations Roundtable and a founding member
                                                  and president of Friends of the National Institute
                                                  for Nursing Research, National Institute of Health.
                                                  Other board memberships include First Union Bank of
                                                  Tennessee and American Physicians' Network.
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Member of Compensation Committee
(2) Member of Audit Committee
(3) Member of Nominating Committee
 
     The Board held five meetings during the 1997 fiscal year and executed ten
unanimous written consent actions. All directors attended meetings or executed
unanimous written consent actions with respect to at least 75% of the meetings
and consent actions of the Board and of the committees of which they were
members. The Company's executive officers are appointed annually by the Board
and serve at the discretion of the Board.
 
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
 
     Among the standing committees of the Company's Board of Directors are the
Compensation Committee, the Audit Committee and the Nominating Committee.
 
     The Compensation Committee is currently composed of Mr. Carson, Mr.
Ortenzio and Mr. Hutts, none of whom are employees of the Company.
Responsibilities of this committee include approval of remuneration arrangements
for executive officers of the Company, review of compensation plans relating to
executive officers and directors, other benefits under the Company's
compensation plans, and general review of the Company's employee compensation
plans. During fiscal 1997, the Compensation Committee held two meetings and
executed five unanimous written consent actions.
 
     The Audit Committee is composed of Mr. Brooks, Ms. Welch and Mr. Melkus,
none of whom are employees of the Company. Responsibilities of this committee
include approval of the engagement of independent auditors, review of activities
and recommendations of the internal auditors, review of arrangements and scope
of audit examinations, consideration of the results of independent auditors'
review of internal accounting controls and other matters, and review and setting
of internal accounting policies and procedures. The Audit Committee also
provides oversight for the Quorum Business Ethics Program, the Company's
compliance and ethics initiative. In this capacity, it reviews with management
compliance with the Business Ethics Program and ways to strengthen the Program.
During fiscal 1997, the Audit Committee held two meetings.
 
     The Nominating Committee is composed of Mr. Carson, Mr. Melkus and Mr.
Hutts, none of whom are employees of the Company. Responsibilities of this
committee include recommending nominees for election as directors at the
Company's annual stockholders' meeting, recommending persons to fill vacancies
and newly created positions on the Board between annual stockholders' meetings,
and recom mending changes concerning the responsibilities and composition of the
Board and its committees. During fiscal 1997, the Nominating Committee held two
meetings and executed one unanimous written consent action.
 
     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AND RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"
THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   10
 
   
    3.  PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE NINTH OF THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF
    
       INCORPORATION -- INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES
                         AND AGENTS OF THE CORPORATION
 
   
     On October 1, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Company unanimously
approved resolutions declaring it advisable to amend Article NINTH of the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation to provide for indemnification of the
Company's officers, directors, employees and agents to the fullest extent
permitted by Delaware General Corporation Law, as currently provided under the
By-laws of the Company. The full text of Article NINTH, as proposed to be
amended in the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, is
attached as Exhibit A to this Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by
reference. The amendment would replace the Article NINTH currently in the
Certificate of Incorporation which relates to certain restrictions placed on the
Company prior to an initial public offering, and which is no longer applicable
to the Company.
    
 
     The Company's By-laws currently provide that the Company's directors,
officers, employees and agents shall be indemnified to the fullest extent
possible under Delaware law. By providing for indemnification in the Certificate
of Incorporation rather than only in the By-laws, the indemnification provisions
may not be amended without stockholder approval.
 
     Delaware law permits a corporation to indemnify officers, directors,
employees and agents for actions taken in good faith and in a manner they
reasonably believe to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the
corporation, and with respect to any criminal action, which they had no
reasonable cause to believe was unlawful. Delaware law further provides that a
corporation may advance expenses of defense (upon receipt of a written
undertaking to reimburse the corporation if indemnification is not appropriate)
and must reimburse a successful defendant for expenses, including attorney's
fees, actually and reasonably incurred, and permits a corporation to purchase
and maintain liability insurance for its directors and officers. Delaware law
provides that indemnification may not be made for any claim, issue or matter as
to which a person has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after
exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the corporation, unless and
only to the extent a court determines that the person is entitled to indemnity
for such expenses as the court deems proper.
 
     The proposed amendment provides that the Company shall, to the fullest
extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the
same may be amended and supplemented, indemnify any and all persons whom it
shall have power to indemnify under said section from and against any and all of
the expenses, liabilities and other matters referred to in or covered by said
section, and the indemnification provided for therein shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under
any By-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to
the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
 
     The Board of Directors believes that this amendment will assist the Company
in retaining the most qualified possible directors, officers, employees and
consultants. However, stockholders should be aware that indemnification
provisions in general could result in significant expense to the Company if the
Company were required to indemnify one or more directors or officers in respect
to claims against them. At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding
involving a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company as to which
indemnification would be permitted or required.
 
VOTE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL
 
   
     The proposed Amendment to Article NINTH of the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation will be submitted to stockholders for their approval at the Annual
Meeting. Approval and adoption of the proposed amendment to the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation requires the vote of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
    
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   11
 
   
     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AND RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"
APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION.
    
 
   
      4.  APPROVAL OF THE QUORUM HEALTH GROUP, INC. 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
    
 
     At the 1997 Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to approve the
Quorum Health Group, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan (the "1997 Option Plan"). A
copy of the 1997 Option Plan is attached to this Proxy Statement as Exhibit B
and is incorporated herein by reference. The description below of the 1997
Option Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of
the 1997 Option Plan. Terms not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth
in the 1997 Option Plan.
 
DESCRIPTION OF PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE 1997 OPTION PLAN
 
     The purpose of the 1997 Option Plan is to afford an incentive to executive
officers, other key employees and consultants of the Company and its
subsidiaries to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in the Company, to
become or continue as employees or consultants, to devote their best efforts on
behalf of the Company and to align the interests of such persons with the
Company's stockholders to promote the success of the Company's business. No
further shares remain available for stock option grants to employees under the
Company's current plan, the Restated Stock Option Plan. The Company desires to
establish a new stock option plan in order to be able to continue to grant stock
options to employees and to establish a plan that reflects recent changes in
Rule 16b-3 (as defined below).
 
     The 1997 Option Plan is intended to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3
promulgated under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as from
time to time amended ("Rule 16b-3"), and to serve as a qualified
performance-based compensation program under Section 162(m) ("Section 162(m)")
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Section 162(m)
limits the deductibility of certain compensation in excess of $1 million per
year paid by a publicly traded corporation to its chief executive officer and
the four other executive officers named in the summary compensation table of the
corporation's proxy statement, if such officer is employed by the corporation at
the end of the corporation's taxable year. Compensation that qualifies as
"performance-based" compensation is, however, exempt from the $1 million
deductibility limitation. In order for compensation granted pursuant to the 1997
Option Plan to qualify for this exemption, among other things, the material
terms under which the compensation is to be paid must be disclosed to and
approved by stockholders in a separate vote prior to payment.
 
     The 1997 Option Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee of
the Board or such other committee established by the Board to administer the
1997 Option Plan, the members of which shall at all times satisfy the
requirements of Section 162(m), or any successor provision, and Rule 16b-3.
 
     The 1997 Option Plan authorizes the granting of "incentive stock options,"
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code ("ISOs"), and nonqualified stock
options ("NQSOs" and, collectively with ISOs, "Options"), pursuant to the
applicable terms and conditions of the 1997 Option Plan and of the agreement
("Option Agreement") evidencing such grant. The aggregate fair market value of
the ISOs granted to any optionee under the 1997 Option Plan, or any similar
plan, that first become exercisable in any calendar year may not exceed
$100,000. Options may be granted to executive officers and other key employees
and consultants of the Company or its Subsidiaries, including officers and
directors who are employees, except as proscribed by the Exchange Act or the
Code. While any employee of the Company may be eligible for stock option grants
under the 1997 Option Plan, the Company anticipates that such option grants will
be awarded primarily to its executive officers and other key personnel. The
number and definition of such employees is subject to change from time to time,
and the Company has not identified a specific group to which the options will be
limited.
 
     The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance
pursuant to the 1997 Option Plan is, subject to adjustment as provided in the
1997 Option Plan, equal to (i) 3,000,000, plus (ii) shares of Common Stock
subject to grants under the Company's Restated Stock Option Plan (the "Old
Plan") as of the Effective Date which become available after the Effective Date
pursuant to Section 5(b) of the 1997
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   12
 
Option Plan, plus (iii) 12% of the number of shares of Common Stock newly issued
by the Company or delivered out of treasury shares during the term of the 1997
Option Plan (excluding any issuance or delivery in connection with exercises of
grants under the 1997 Option Plan, the Old Plan or any other compensation or
benefit plan of the Company). Under this formula, the aggregate number of shares
of Common Stock initially reserved for issuance pursuant to the 1997 Option Plan
is, subject to adjustment as provided in the 1997 Option Plan, equal to
3,000,000. Shares of Common Stock reserved for grants of ISO's are limited to
3,000,000. No employee may be granted Options in any one year to purchase more
than 1,000,000 shares.
 
   
     The Option exercise price per share may not be less than the fair market
value of a share of Common Stock on the date on which the Option is granted
unless, in the case of NQSOs, the Committee determines otherwise. On September
22, 1997, the last reported sales price of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ market
was $24.13. To the extent that grants of Options are made at an exercise price
below market value on the date of the grant, the compensation expense associated
with such Option may not qualify as "performance-based" under Section 162(m).
Grants of Options at discounted prices pursuant to the Company's Annual
Incentive Program would not be considered "performance-based" under Section
162(m) unless the Annual Incentive Program satisfied the requirements of Section
162(m). The Annual Incentive Program currently does not meet such requirements.
Each Option Agreement shall provide the exercise schedule for the Option as
determined by the Committee (which may include a requirement for achieving
performance goals), provided, that the Committee shall have the authority to
accelerate the exercisability of any outstanding Option at such time and under
such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. The
exercise period shall be ten years from the date of the grant of the Option
unless otherwise determined by the Committee, provided, however, that in the
case of an ISO, such exercise period shall not exceed ten years from the date of
grant of such Option. The exercise period shall be subject to early termination
as provided in the Option Agreement.
    
 
     Options granted under the 1997 Option Plan will not be transferable other
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or to a Beneficiary upon
the death of a Grantee, and such Options that may be exercisable shall be
exercised during the lifetime of the Grantee only by the Grantee or his or her
guardian or legal representative; except that Options (other than ISOs) may be
transferred to one or more Beneficiaries or other transferees as provided in the
1997 Option Plan.
 
     The Board of Directors may from time to time suspend, terminate, modify or
amend the 1997 Option Plan, but may not, without the approval of the Company's
stockholders, adopt any amendment for which stockholder approval is required
under applicable Delaware law or in order for the 1997 Option Plan to continue
to comply with Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m).
 
     The selection of the eligible individuals who will receive Options under
the 1997 Option Plan, upon approval of the 1997 Option Plan by stockholders, and
the size and type of Options is generally to be determined by the Committee in
its discretion. No Options have been made or granted under the 1997 Option Plan,
nor are any such Options now determinable. Thus, it is not possible to predict
the benefits or amounts that will be received by or allocated to particular
individuals or groups of employees.
 
CERTAIN FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES
 
     The following is a brief summary of the principal federal income tax
consequences under current federal income tax laws relating to Options under the
1997 Option Plan. This summary is not intended to be exhaustive and, among other
things, does not describe state, local or foreign income tax consequences.
 
  Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Incentive Stock Options
 
     The Company understands the federal income tax consequences of ISOs to be
generally as follows: An employee receiving an ISO will not be in receipt of
taxable income upon the grant of the ISO or upon its timely exercise. Exercise
of an ISO will be timely if made during its term and if the optionee remains an
employee of the Company or its subsidiaries at all times during the period
beginning on the date of the grant of the ISO and ending on the date three
months before the date of exercise (or one year before the date of exercise in
the case of a disabled optionee). Exercise of an ISO will also be timely if made
at any time (provided it is exercisable by its terms) by the legal
representative of an optionee who dies (i) while in the
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   13
 
employ of the Company or its subsidiaries or (ii) within three months after
termination of employment. The 1997 Option Plan, however, limits the right of
the legal representative of any optionee to exercise an option to the one-year
period following death. Upon ultimate sale of the stock received upon such
exercise, except as noted below, the optionee will recognize capital gain or
loss (if the stock is a capital asset of the optionee) equal to the difference
between the amount realized upon such sale and the Option exercise price. The
Company, under these circumstances, will not be entitled to any federal income
tax deduction in connection with either the exercise of the ISO or the sale of
such stock by the optionee.
 
     If, however, the stock acquired pursuant to such exercise of an ISO is
disposed of by the optionee prior to the expiration of two years from the date
that such stock is transferred to the optionee upon exercise (a "disqualifying
disposition"), any gain realized by the optionee generally will be taxable at
the time of such disqualifying disposition as follows: (i) as ordinary income to
the extent of the difference between the Option exercise price and the lesser of
the fair market value of the stock on the date the ISO is exercised and the
amount realized on such disqualifying disposition and (ii) if the stock is a
capital asset of the optionee, as capital gain to the extent of any excess of
the amount realized on such disqualifying disposition over the fair market value
of the stock on the date that governs the determination of his or her ordinary
income. In such case, the Company may claim a federal income tax deduction at
the time of such disqualifying disposition for the amount taxable to the
optionee as ordinary income.
 
     The amount by which the fair market value of the stock on the exercise date
of an ISO exceeds the Option exercise price will constitute an item of tax
adjustment for purposes of the "alternative minimum tax" set forth in the Code.
 
  Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Nonqualified Stock Options
 
     In the case of NQSOs, the Company understands that the optionee will not
generally be taxed upon grant of any such option. Rather, at the time of
exercise of an NQSO, the optionee will, except as noted below, realize ordinary
income for federal tax purposes in an amount equal to the excess of the fair
market value of the shares purchased over the Option exercise price. The Company
will generally be entitled to a tax deduction at such time and in the same
amount that the optionee realizes ordinary income. If stock so acquired is later
sold or exchanged, then the difference between the sales price and the fair
market value of such stock on the date of exercise of the Option is generally
taxable as capital gain or loss if the holding period requirements are met.
 
VOTE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL
 
     The 1997 Option Plan will be submitted to stockholders for their approval
at the Annual Meeting. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes present
and represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting is required for the approval of
the 1997 Option Plan.
 
   
     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AND RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"
APPROVAL OF THE 1997 OPTION PLAN.
    
 
   
             5.  PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
    
 
   
     On October 1, 1997, the Board of Directors unanimously approved an
amendment to the Company's tax-qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
"Stock Purchase Plan") to increase the number of shares reserved for purchase
under the Stock Purchase plan. The Stock Purchase Plan allows employees who are
employed at least twenty hours a week and for more than five months in a
calendar year to elect to cause up to 10% of their monthly wages (up to a
maximum of $25,000 per plan year) to be contributed to a custodial account to
purchase shares of Common Stock. The Stock Purchase Plan provides an opportunity
for eligible employees to share in the growth and prosperity of the Company by
acquiring a proprietary interest in the Company's Common Stock. A total of
3,000,000 shares of Common Stock were originally reserved for issuance under the
Stock Purchase Plan. Approximately 2,400 employees currently participate in the
Stock Option Plan. Of such 3,000,000 shares, approximately 550,737 shares remain
available for purchase. The
    
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   14
 
Company desires to amend the Stock Purchase Plan to increase the number of
shares available for purchase. Without such amendment, the Company will have to
suspend or terminate the Stock Purchase Plan after the current plan year or
shortly thereafter. A copy of the Stock Purchase Plan is attached as Exhibit C
to this Proxy Statement and incorporated herein by reference.
 
     Common Stock is purchased pursuant to the Stock Purchase Plan annually at a
price per share equal to the lesser of 85% of the fair market value of the
Common Stock on either the first or the last day of the plan year (the "Exercise
Price"). The fair market value is determined by reference to the closing market
price on the applicable date.
 
     The authority to administer the Stock Purchase Plan includes the authority
(i) to interpret the Stock Purchase Plan and decide any matters arising
thereunder, and (ii) to adopt such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with
the provisions of the Stock Purchase Plan, as the Board may deem advisable to
carry out the purpose of the plan. The Stock Purchase Plan is to continue from
year to year, however, the Board of Directors may discontinue it at any time.
 
     Under the Stock Purchase Plan, employees may not be granted in any calendar
year the right to purchase Common Stock in excess of a total fair market value
of $25,000, or be granted a right to purchase Common Stock if following such
grant the employee would beneficially own 5% or more of the total a voting power
or value of all classes of the Company's capital stock. Rights acquired under
the Stock Purchase Plan are not transferable during the participant's lifetime.
 
     Upon termination of employment, other than by death or retirement, an
employee immediately ceases participation in the Stock Purchase Plan and the
Company will refund to the employee the balance of any contributions made to the
plan by the employee. Upon termination of employment due to death or retirement,
the employee or his estate may elect to be paid the balance of any contributions
made to the Stock Purchase Plan by the employee. If no such election is made,
such balance will be used to purchase Common Stock on behalf of the employee or
his estate in the normal course under the plan.
 
     The Stock Purchase Plan is intended to qualify for favorable tax treatment
under Internal Revenue Code Section 423. Pursuant to that section, participants
in the Stock Purchase Plan generally do not recognize income for federal tax
purposes on the 15% discount from fair market value. If the recipient of Common
Stock under the Stock Purchase Plan disposes of shares before the end of certain
holding periods (essentially the latter of one year after the Exercise Date or
two years after the Grant Date), he or she will generally recognize ordinary
income in the year of disposition in an amount equal to the difference between
his or her purchase price and the fair market value of the Common Stock on the
Exercise Date. If a disposition does not occur until after the expiration of the
holding periods, the recipient will generally recognize ordinary income in the
year of disposition equal to the lesser of (a) 15% of the fair market value of
the Common Stock on the Grant Date or (b) the excess of the fair market value of
such Common Stock on the date of disposition over the price paid by the
recipient on the Exercise Date. The participant will recognize ordinary income
in the aforementioned instances even if the ordinary income recognized is
greater than the total gain realized on the disposition. The employee
participant increases his or her basis in the Common Stock received under the
Stock Purchase Plan by the amount he or she reports as ordinary income. The
difference between this increased basis and the disposition price (if any) is a
capital gain or loss. The Company generally will not be entitled to a tax
deduction if a participant disposes of stock received under the Stock Purchase
Plan prior to the expiration of the holding periods.
 
NEW PLAN BENEFITS
 
     It is not possible at this time to determine the dollar value of benefits
available under the Amended Purchase Plan for fiscal year 1997 because neither
the participation level for the employees nor the Company's stock price is known
at this time. For informational purposes, the table below sets forth the
aggregate of the dollar values of the excess of the fair market values of the
stock on the last day of the Plan year over the purchase price of stock that
actually was paid during fiscal 1997 by the named executive officers, all
current executive officers as a group (the "Executive Group"), and all other
employees, including all current officers
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   15
 
who are not executive officers, as a group (the "Employee Group") under the
Stock Purchase Plan. Directors who are not employees are not eligible to
participate in the Stock Purchase Plan.
 
                          EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION                                         DOLLAR VALUE($)   NUMBER OF SHARES
- -----------------                                         ---------------   ----------------
<S>                                                       <C>               <C>
James E. Dalton, Jr.....................................    $   10,593            1,522
  President and CEO
Eugene C. Fleming.......................................         --0--            --0--
  Executive Vice President/COO
Roland P. Richardson....................................    $    9,187            1,320
  Senior Vice President
C. Thomas Neill.........................................    $   10,593            1,522
  Vice President
Christy F. Batts........................................    $    6,124              880
  Vice President
Steve B. Hewett.........................................         --0--            --0--
  Vice President/CFO
Executive Group.........................................    $   36,241            5,207
Employee Group..........................................    $1,928,122          277,029
</TABLE>
    
 
VOTE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL
 
     A majority of votes present and represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting
is required to amend the Stock Purchase Plan.
 
     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AND RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"
VOTE AMENDMENT OF THE EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.
 
   
                   6.  RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
    
 
     The Board of Directors has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as independent
auditor of the Company for fiscal year 1998. Ernst & Young LLP has served as the
Company's independent auditor since the Company's inception. A representative of
Ernst & Young LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will be given
an opportunity to make a statement if such representative so desires, and will
be available to respond to appropriate questions. The Board's appointment of
Ernst & Young LLP will be ratified by a majority of the votes present and
represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting.
 
     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AND RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"
APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL.
 
                                    GENERAL
 
OTHER MATTERS
 
     The Board of Directors does not know of any matters that are to be
presented at the Annual Meeting other than those stated in the Notice of Annual
Meeting and referred to in this Proxy Statement. If any other matters should
properly come before the Meeting, it is intended that the proxies in the
accompanying form will be voted as the persons named therein may determine in
their discretion.
 
     The Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended June
30, 1997 was mailed to stockholders on or about October 10, 1997.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   16
 
                         STOCK OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS,
                    EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS
 
     The following table sets forth as of September 22, 1997, the number and
percentage of outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock owned by all
persons known to the Company to be holders of 5% or more of the issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock, by each director and certain executive
officers of the Company, and by the officers and directors of the Company as a
group.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                NUMBER OF SHARES       PERCENTAGE OF
NAME                                                          BENEFICIALLY OWNED(1)   TOTAL SHARES(2)
- ----                                                          ---------------------   ---------------
<S>                                                           <C>                     <C>
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc(3)............................        6,166,070               8.3%
  100 E. Pratt Street
  Baltimore, MD 21202
AIM Management Group, Inc(3)................................        4,770,000               6.4%
  11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 1919
  Houston, TX 77046
Nicholas Company, Inc(3)....................................        3,713,550               5.0%
  700 North Water Street
  Milwaukee, WS 53202
Russell L. Carson(4),(5)....................................        1,757,980               2.4%
James E. Dalton, Jr.(6).....................................          776,869               1.0%
Christy F. Batts(7).........................................           93,792                *
Sam A. Brooks, Jr.(8).......................................          195,005                *
Eugene C. Fleming(9)........................................          168,302                *
C. Edward Floyd, M.D.(10)...................................           16,823                *
Steve B. Hewett(11).........................................           41,600                *
Joseph C. Hutts(12).........................................           22,500                *
Kenneth J. Melkus(13).......................................           99,467                *
Thomas S. Murphy, Jr.(14)...................................           22,500                *
C. Thomas Neill(15).........................................          186,002                *
Rocco A. Ortenzio(16).......................................           60,634                *
Roland P. Richardson(17)....................................          226,928                *
S. Douglas Smith(18)........................................          608,861                *
Colleen Conway-Welch........................................            1,500                *
All current directors and officers as a group (a total of 17
  persons)..................................................        4,318,582               5.8%
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
   * Less than one percent.
 (1) Unless otherwise indicated, the persons or entities identified in this
     table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares
     shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws,
     where applicable.
 (2) The percentages shown are based on 74,269,087 shares of Common Stock
     outstanding on September 22, 1997, plus, as to each individual and group
     listed, unless otherwise noted, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed
     to be owned by such holder pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934, assuming exercise of options held by such holder that
     are exercisable within 60 days of September 22, 1997.
 (3) The figures are based solely on information reported as of December 31,
     1996, in Schedule 13G filings by the referenced entity, a registered
     investment adviser ("Adviser"); the securities are owned by various
     individual and institutional investors for which the Adviser serves as
     investment adviser, with power to direct investments and/or power to vote
     the securities. For purposes of the reporting requirements of the
     Securities Act of 1934, the Adviser is deemed to be beneficial owner of
     such securities; however, such Adviser expressly disclaims that it is, in
     fact, the beneficial owner of such securities.
   
 (4) Includes 1,744,754 shares of Common Stock and options to purchase a total
     of 12,501 shares owned of record by Mr. Carson.
    
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   17
 
 (5) Mr. Carson, the Chairman of the Board of the Company, has voting power over
     725 shares owned by WCA Management Corporation. Mr. Carson is deemed to
     beneficially own such shares under Rule 13d-3 and such shares are included
     in the shares shown as being owned by "All directors and officers as a
     group".
   
 (6) Includes options to purchase a total of 280,717 shares.
    
 (7) Includes options to purchase a total of 16,410 shares.
   
 (8) Includes options to purchase a total of 12,501 shares. Certain of Mr.
     Brooks' shares are owned by closely-held entities whose voting power is
     controlled or shared by Mr. Brooks.
    
 (9) Includes options to purchase a total of 106,802 shares.
   
(10) Includes options to purchase a total of 13,750 shares.
    
   
(11) Includes options to purchase a total of 32,600 shares.
    
   
(12) Includes options to purchase 22,500 shares.
    
(13) Includes 60,525 shares owned by Melkus Partner Ltd.
   
(14) Includes options to purchase 22,500 shares.
    
   
(15) Includes options to purchase 74,321 shares.
    
   
(16) Includes options to purchase a total of 12,501 shares. Includes 30,000
     shares owned in the name of an irrevocable trust, beneficial ownership of
     which Mr. Ortenzio disclaims.
    
   
(17) Includes options to purchase 48,306 shares.
    
   
(18) Includes options to purchase 3,750 shares.
    
 
                               EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     The following table contains certain information concerning the Company's
executive officers.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               SERVED
                 NAME                    AGE   SINCE                       POSITION
                 ----                    ---   ------                      --------
<S>                                      <C>   <C>      <C>
James E. Dalton, Jr....................  55     1990    President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Eugene Fleming.........................  52     1996    Executive Vice President, Chief Operating
                                                        Officer
Roland P. Richardson...................  50     1990    Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and
                                                          Development
Ashby Q. Burks.........................  40     1997    Vice President/General Counsel and Secretary
Steve B. Hewett........................  37     1996    Vice President (Chief Financial Officer)
Terry E. Allison.......................  41     1996    Vice President, Assistant Treasurer and
                                                        Controller (Chief Accounting Officer)
C. Thomas Neill........................  53     1992    Vice President -- Corporate Services
Michael D. Wiley.......................  51     1992    Vice President -- Corporate Relations
</TABLE>
    
 
     Mr. Dalton became President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the
Company as well as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Quorum Health
Resources, Inc. on May 1, 1990. Prior to joining the Company, he served as
Regional Vice President, Southwest Region for HealthTrust, Inc., division Vice
President of HCA, and Regional Vice President of HCA Management Company. He
serves on the Board of Directors of the Nashville Branch of the Federal Reserve
Bank of Atlanta and the Nashville Health Care Council. Mr. Dalton is a Fellow of
the American College of Healthcare Executives and is on the Board of Directors
and past Chairman of the Federation of American Health Systems.
 
     Mr. Fleming joined the Company in July 1996 and is responsible for the
Company's business units. Prior to joining the Company, he was eastern group
president for Columbia/HCA and its predecessor, HCA, from 1993 through June
1996. Prior to 1993, Mr. Fleming served as chief executive officer of hospitals
in Florida and Missouri. Mr. Fleming is also a Fellow in the American College of
Healthcare Executives.
 
     Mr. Richardson joined the Company at its inception in 1989. He is
responsible for all of Quorum's acquisition activities. He worked from 1973 to
1989 for HCA where his positions included serving as vice president of finance
and administration for HCA Management Company and district vice president with
multi-facility operational responsibility.
 
     Mr. Burks joined the Company as Vice President/General Counsel and
Secretary in April 1997. Prior to joining the Company, he was an independent
health care consultant from January 1996 through March 1997.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   18
 
He served as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Columbia/HCA from
April 1994 through December 1995. From 1984 through April 1994, he was Senior
Counsel for Columbia/HCA and its predecessor, Hospital Corporation of America.
 
     Mr. Hewett joined the Company as Vice President and Treasurer in July 1996.
He was most recently Senior Vice President and Manager of Healthcare Banking
Services at AmSouth Bank of Alabama where he had worked for at least the prior
five years.
 
   
     Ms. Allison became Vice President, Assistant Treasurer and Controller in
1996 after serving as vice president of Internal Audit from 1993 to 1996. From
1978 to 1993, she served a wide range of healthcare clients for Ernst & Young
LLP. Ms. Allison is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Tennessee
Society of CPAs, the Institute of Internal Auditors, the Audit Committee of the
Federation of American Health Systems, and the Healthcare Financial Management
Association.
    
 
     Mr. Neill has been Vice President -- Corporate Services since January 1,
1992. He is responsible for the Company's administrative operations, including
human resources, information systems, purchasing, government relations, and
insurance and risk management programs. Prior to joining the Company, he was
affiliated with HealthTrust, Inc., serving in administrative and human resource
positions since 1987. Mr. Neill's previous health care employment includes ten
years with HCA and General Care Corporation. He is on the board of governors of
the Federation of American Health System and a member of the house of delegates
of the American Hospital Association.
 
     Mr. Wiley joined the Company in 1989 and became vice president of Corporate
Relations in 1992. He is responsible for investor, analyst, media industry and
consumer communications. Prior to joining Quorum, he was director of marketing
for HCA and was director of marketing with HCA Management Company. Previous
positions include serving as vice president of marketing for both South Carolina
National Bank (Wachovia) and First National Bank of South Carolina. He is an
associate member of the Association for Investment Management and Research as
well as the Society of Financial Analysts, Inc. and a member of the National
Investor Relations Institute.
 
                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
     C. Edward Floyd, M.D., a director of the Company, is a practicing physician
and serves as a medical director and a member of the advisory board of a
hospital that the Company has owned since February 1, 1995. During fiscal 1997,
the Company paid Dr. Floyd approximately $117,000 in fees and benefits for his
role on the advisory board and for services rendered pursuant to several
fee-for-service agreements. Each agreement has a one-year term and is subject to
annual renewals by mutual agreement. Dr. Floyd's wife was employed by the
hospital as a bookkeeper until July 27, 1996 and received a salary of $2,895 for
the portion of the fiscal year she was employed.
 
   
     The Company is building a new facility to replace the hospital and in July
1995 acquired property at the site of the new facility from Dr. Floyd and
certain of his affiliates for approximately $2,800,000. In addition, during
fiscal 1996 the Company acquired for $150,000 an option to purchase a vascular
laboratory owned by Dr. Floyd. In fiscal 1997 the Company completed the purchase
of the vascular laboratory for a price of approximately $450,000, including the
previously paid option payment. The purchase price for the laboratory was fair
market value as determined by appraisals. Prior to completing the purchase, the
Company leased the vascular laboratory from Dr. Floyd for $8,000 per month from
February 1995 to April 1997. The Company paid a total of $211,733 under such
lease. The Company also retains Dr. Floyd to provide various professional
services at the vascular laboratory. During fiscal 1997, the Company paid Dr.
Floyd approximately $274,000.
    
 
     In the judgment of the Company's Board of Directors, the terms of the
transactions described above are fair and reasonable and are not less favorable
to the Company than those that could have been obtained from independent third
parties.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   19
     During fiscal 1997, the Company made a gift of $150,000 to the University
of South Carolina pursuant to an agreement to contribute $1,000,000 over five
years. $700,000 in contributions remain to be made over the next three years.
Dr. Floyd is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of such University.
 
                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     The following table sets forth information regarding compensation for
services in all capacities to the Company for the fiscal year ended June 30,
1997, and the two previous fiscal years of those persons who were, at June 30,
1997, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, the four other most highly
compensated executive officers who were serving as such on the last day of the
fiscal year (individually, an "NEO", and collectively, the "NEOs"), and one
individual who would have been among the four other most highly compensated
executive officers had she not transferred to another position before the end of
the fiscal year.
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          ANNUAL COMPENSATION                      LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
                              --------------------------------------------   ----------------------------------
                                                                                    AWARDS             PAYOUTS
                                                                             ---------------------    ---------
                                                                OTHER        RESTRICTED               LONG-TERM
                                                               ANNUAL          STOCK      OPTIONS/    INCENTIVE      ALL OTHER
          NAME AND                   SALARY(1)    BONUS    COMPENSATION(2)    AWARD(S)      SARS       PAYOUTS    COMPENSATION(3)
     PRINCIPAL POSITION       YEAR      ($)        ($)           ($)            ($)         (#)          ($)            ($)
- ----------------------------  ----   ---------   -------   ---------------   ----------   --------    ---------   ---------------
<S>                           <C>    <C>         <C>       <C>               <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>
James E. Dalton, Jr.          1997    531,696      -0-           --           -0-          93,993(4)   -0-             7,698
  President and CEO           1996    439,838      -0-           --           -0-         539,388      -0-             7,698
                              1995    365,841      -0-           --           -0-          18,000      -0-             4,987
Eugene C. Fleming(5)          1997    363,288      -0-           --           -0-         465,332(4)   -0-             4,307
  Executive Vice President/   1996      -0-        -0-           --           -0-           -0-        -0-             -0-
  Chief Operating Officer     1995      -0-        -0-           --           -0-           -0-        -0-             -0-
Roland P. Richardson          1997    296,578     58,005         --                        32,747(4)                   7,580
  Senior Vice President --    1996    258,392      -0-           --           -0-         239,053      -0-             7,405
  Acquisitions and            1995    204,848      -0-           --           -0-          18,000      -0-             4,000
  Development
C. Thomas Neill               1997    231,596      -0-           --           -0-          30,879(4)   -0-             7,492
  Vice President --           1996    212,348      -0-           --           -0-          99,666      -0-             7,167
  Corporate Services          1995    193,932      -0-           --           -0-          15,000      -0-             3,388
Christy F. Batts(6)           1997    200,860      -0-           --           -0-          21,410(4)   -0-            11,184
  Former Vice President/      1996    186,075      -0-           --           -0-          96,157      -0-             6,688
  General Counsel             1995    170,230      -0-           --           -0-          15,000      -0-             2,554
Steve B. Hewett(5)            1997    198,171      -0-           --           -0-         112,851(4)   -0-             2,489
  Vice President (Chief       1996     -0-         -0-           --           -0-           -0-        -0-           -0-
  Financial Officer)          1995     -0-         -0-           --           -0-           -0-        -0-           -0-
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
(1) "Salary" includes each NEO's base salary plus amounts paid by the Company to
    a cafeteria plan for the benefit of the NEO: Mr. Dalton $6,696; Mr. Fleming
    $3,288; Mr. Richardson $6,578; Mr. Neill $6,896; Ms. Batts $4,020; and Mr.
    Hewett $2,171.
(2) Perquisites for each NEO are in amounts which do not require disclosure.
   
(3) The aggregate amounts set forth under "All Other Compensation" are made up
    of the following: (i) for matching 401(k) plan contributions made by the
    Company: $3,750 each for Mr. Dalton, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Neill, and Ms.
    Batts; $4,200 for Mr. Fleming; and $2,450 for Mr. Hewett; (ii) for Company's
    contributions to the Company's Non-Qualified Retirement Plan: Mr. Dalton
    $3,538; Mr. Richardson $3,538; Mr. Neill $3,332; and Ms. Batts $2,922; (iii)
    premiums in respect of life insurance policies paid by the Company for the
    benefit of the NEOs in the following amounts: Mr. Dalton $410; Mr. Fleming
    $107; Mr. Richardson $292; Mr. Neill $410; Ms. Batts $292; and Mr. Hewett
    $39; and (iv) for Ms. Batts, $4,220, the monetary value of a gift given to
    her by the Company in appreciation for her tenure as General Counsel.
    
   
(4) Of the options indicated, the following represent all or a portion of each
    NEO's bonus for fiscal 1997, which options were granted on August 18, 1997:
    Mr. Dalton 51,015 option shares; Mr. Fleming 31,802 option shares; Mr.
    Richardson 10,247 option shares; Mr. Neill 15,879 option shares; Ms. Batts
    13,910
    
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   20
 
    option shares and Mr. Hewett 13,851 option shares. Such NEO elected to
    receive such bonus in stock options pursuant to the Company's Discounted
    Stock Option program. See "Option/SAR Grants in Last Fiscal Year."
(5) NEO was not employed by Company prior to FY 1997.
(6) Ms. Batts served as Vice President/General Counsel until April 1, 1997, when
    she transferred to the position of Vice President in charge of the Company's
    Business Ethics Program.
 
RESTATED STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
     The table below provides information on grants of stock options pursuant to
the Company's Restated Stock Option Plan during the fiscal year ended June 30,
1997, to the NEOs, including stock options granted at the election of an NEO in
lieu of all or a portion of his/her bonus for FY 1997. The Company grants no
stock appreciation rights ("SARs"). Bonus options granted in August, 1996, for
FY 1996 were reported in the 1996 proxy statement and do not appear in the
following table.
 
                     OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
                        ---------------------------------------------------------    POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE
                           NUMBER         % OF TOTAL                                  AT ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES
                        OF SECURITIES    OPTIONS/SARS                               OF STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION
                         UNDERLYING       GRANTED TO     EXERCISE OR                      FOR OPTION TERM
                        OPTIONS/SARS      EMPLOYEES      BASE PRICE    EXPIRATION   ----------------------------
         NAME            GRANTED(#)     IN FISCAL YEAR    ($/SHARE)       DATE         5%($)          10%($)
         ----           -------------   --------------   -----------   ----------   ------------   -------------
<S>                     <C>             <C>              <C>           <C>          <C>            <C>
James E. Dalton,
  Jr..................       5,478          0.2684          18.25       12/11/06       62,872.80      159,332.01
                            37,500          1.8378          20.75       04/30/07      489,358.63    1,240,130.85
                           -------         -------                                  ------------   -------------
          Total.......      42,978          2.1062                                    552,231.43    1,399,462.86
                           =======         =======                                  ============   =============
          Bonus(1)....      51,015          2.5002          16.97       08/18/07    1,014,677.59    2,128,400.87
Eugene C. Fleming.....      96,030          4.7064           0.67       07/01/06    2,673,058.04    4,294,508.95
                           300,000         14.7029          16.29       07/01/06    3,664,696.79    8,730,142.92
                            37,500          1.8378          20.75       04/30/07      489,358.63    1,240,130.85
                           -------         -------                                  ------------   -------------
          Total.......     433,530         21.2471                                  6,827,113.46   14,264,787.72
                           =======         =======                                  ============   =============
          Bonus(1)....      31,802          1.5585          16.97       08/18/07      632,525.13    1,326,792.91
Roland P.
  Richardson..........      22,500          1.1027          20.75       04/30/07      293,615.18      744,078.51
                           =======         =======                                  ============   =============
          Bonus(1)....      10,247          0.5021          16.97       08/18/07      203,800.72      427,495.04
C. Thomas Neill.......      15,000          0.7351          20.75       04/30/07      195,743.45      496,052.34
                           =======         =======                                  ============   =============
          Bonus(1)....      15,879          0.7782          16.97       08/18/07      511,604.86    1,158,621.05
Christy F. Batts......       7,500          0.3675          20.75       04/30/07       97,871.73      248,026.17
                           =======         =======                                  ============   =============
          Bonus(1)....      13,910          0.6817          16.97       08/18/07      276,657.02      580,319.35
Steve B. Hewett.......      22,854          1.1200          17.50       07/01/06      251,523.26      637,409.33
                            52,146          2.5556          17.50       07/01/06      573,900.94    1,454,377.65
                            24,000          1.1762          20.75       04/30/07      313,189.52      793,683.75
                           -------         -------                                  ------------   -------------
          Total.......      99,000          4.8518                                  1,138,613.72    2,885,470.73
                           =======         =======                                  ============   =============
          Bonus(1)....      13,851          0.6788          16.97       08/18/07      275,493.47      577,878.67
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Pursuant to the Company's Incentive Compensation Plan, these options were
    granted to the NEO after the end of the fiscal year as part or all of
    his/her bonus for fiscal 1997. The aggregate "spread" between the exercise
    price and the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock ($22.63) on
    the date of grant of such options (August 18, 1997) equals the NEO's bonus
    or portion thereof for fiscal 1997 that would have otherwise been received
    in cash.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   21
 
STOCK EXERCISES IN FISCAL YEAR 1997
 
     The table below provides information on exercises of options during the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, under the Restated Stock Option Plan by the
named executive officers reflected in the Summary Compensation Table and the
year-end value of unexercised options held by such officers.
 
              AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                     AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             NUMBER OF SECURITIES        VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                   SHARES                   UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED       IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS/
                                  ACQUIRED       VALUE          OPTIONS/SARS AT           SARS AT 1997 FISCAL
                                 ON EXERCISE   REALIZED     1997 FISCAL YEAR-END(#)         YEAR-END($)(1)
                                 -----------   ---------   -------------------------   -------------------------
             NAME                    (#)          ($)      EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE   EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE
             ----                -----------   ---------   -------------------------   -------------------------
<S>                              <C>           <C>         <C>                         <C>
James E. Dalton, Jr............    40,001      $ 630,016        137,202/558,492            1,664,679/5,266,312
Eugene C. Fleming..............       -0-            -0-         99,007/334,523            1,121,502/3,480,053
Roland P. Richardson...........    55,839        528,763            -0-/293,997                  -0-/2,917,038
C. Thomas Neill................       -0-            -0-         36,791/129,614              469,942/1,317,120
Steve B. Hewett................       -0-            -0-            -0-/ 99,000                   -0-/ 548,670
Christy F. Batts...............    44,237        529,718            -0-/119,305                  -0-/1,276,751
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Options are classified as "in-the-money" if the fair market value of the
    underlying Common Stock exceeds the exercise price of the option. The value
    shown represents the difference between the market price on June 30, 1997,
    of $23.83 per share and the respective exercise prices of the options at
    June 30, 1997. Such amounts may not necessarily be realized. Actual values
    which may be realized, if any, upon the exercise of such options will be
    based on the market price of the Common Stock at the time of any such
    exercise and thus are dependent upon future performance of the Common Stock.
 
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS
 
   
     The Company and Mr. Dalton, its President, Chief Executive Officer and a
director, have an agreement under which Mr. Dalton receives a base salary and is
eligible to receive a bonus. Under the agreement, Mr. Dalton received options to
purchase 500,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share
and he has purchased all of such shares. In the event the Company terminates Mr.
Dalton's employment, he will be entitled to receive the higher of: (i) the
amounts called for under the Company's standard severance policy as then in
effect; and (ii) continuation of his then-current base salary until the earlier
of eighteen months or his acceptance of other employment.
    
 
     Effective July 1, 1996, the Company entered into an employment agreement
(the "Employment Agreement") with Mr. Fleming, its Chief Operating Officer.
Under the Employment Agreement, Mr. Fleming receives a base salary and is
eligible to receive an annual bonus of up to 50% of such salary. Pursuant to the
Agreement, Mr. Fleming committed to purchase $1,000,000 in Common Stock on or
before July 1, 1996 and also received options to purchase 96,030 shares of
Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.67 per share which options vest 25%
annually and must be exercised within 90 days after the end of the Company's
fiscal year. Mr. Fleming has exercised the options which vested on June 30,
1997. Mr. Fleming also received options to purchase 300,000 shares of Common
Stock at an exercise price of $16.29 per share, which options also vest 25%
annually over a four year period. Upon a "change in control" (as detailed in the
Severance Agreement described below) all unvested options immediately vest.
 
     Mr. Dalton and Mr. Fleming also executed Severance Agreements as described
below under the heading "Change in Control Agreements."
 
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENTS
 
     The Company has entered into Severance Agreements with each of the NEOs as
well as certain other employees of the Company. The Severance Agreements provide
certain benefits upon termination of
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   22
employment following a change in control of the Company (as defined in the
Severance Agreements and described below). Pursuant to the Severance Agreements,
if a covered executive's employment is terminated within twelve months after the
date of a change in control for any reason other than death, disability,
retirement or for cause, the executive is entitled to severance pay and certain
other benefits. The severance payments are based on the executive's annual
compensation, multiplied by a factor of two. The Severance Agreements also
provide for indemnification by the Company of the executive for any excise taxes
in the event that benefits paid pursuant to a change in control trigger adverse
tax consequences to the executive.
 
     Under the Severance Agreements, a change in control occurs when: (a) any
person (as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) becomes the beneficial owner of 50% or more of
the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities; (b) a
majority of the individuals comprising the Company's Board of Directors have not
served in such capacity for the entire two-year period immediately preceding
such date; (c) the Company is combined (by merger, share exchange, consolidation
or otherwise) with another corporation and, as a result of such consolidation,
less than 50% of the outstanding securities of the surviving or resulting
corporation are owned in the aggregate by the former stockholders of the
Company; or (d) the Company sells, leases or otherwise transfers all or
substantially all of its properties or assets to another person or entity.
 
DIRECTOR'S COMPENSATION
 
   
     The Company's non-management directors are paid $3,000 per quarter plus
$1,500 per Board meeting actually attended and $750 per committee meeting
actually attended. In addition, the Company's Directors Stock Option Plan
provides for automatic annual grants to such directors of stock options to
acquire 5,001 shares of the Company's Common Stock.
    
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
     The Company's Compensation Committee is composed of Russell L. Carson,
Joseph C. Hutts, and Rocco A. Ortenzio. None of these persons is an employee of
the Company.
 
                         COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
 
     The following Compensation Committee Report is not deemed to be part of a
document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and is not to be deemed
incorporated by reference in any documents filed under the Securities Act or
Exchange Act without the express consent of the persons named below.
 
     The Compensation Committee (the "Committee") of the Company's Board of
Directors reviews and approves compensation levels for the Company's management
personnel, including the Named Executive Officers identified in the Summary
Compensation Table appearing elsewhere herein. The Committee is composed
entirely of non-employee directors. It is the responsibility of the Committee to
assure the Board that the Company's executive compensation programs are
reasonable and appropriate, meet their stated purpose and effectively serve the
interests of the Company's stockholders and the Company.
 
COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY AND POLICIES FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     The Committee believes that the primary objectives of the Company's
executive compensation policy should be:
 
    - To attract and retain talented executives critical to both the short-term
      and long-term success of the Company by providing compensation that is
      competitive with compensation provided to executives of comparable
      position at similar U.S. healthcare companies, while maintaining
      compensation levels that are consistent with the Company's financial
      objectives and operating performance.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   23
    - To reinforce strategic financial and operating performance objectives
      through the use of appropriate annual incentive programs.
 
    - To create mutuality of interest between executive officers and
      stockholders by providing long-term incentives through the use of stock
      options.
 
     The Committee believes that the Company's executive compensation policy
should be reviewed annually in relation to the Company's financial performance,
annual budgeted financial goals and its position in the healthcare industry. The
compensation of certain individuals is reviewed annually by the Committee in
light of its executive compensation policy for that year.
 
     The Committee believes that in addition to corporate performance, it is
appropriate to consider in setting and reviewing executive compensation the
level of experience and responsibilities of each executive as well as the
personal contributions a particular individual may make to the success of the
Company. Such factors as leadership skills, analytical skills and organizational
development are deemed to be important qualitative factors to take into account
in considering levels of compensation. No relative weight is assigned to these
qualitative factors, which are applied subjectively.
 
     The Committee and the Board of Directors periodically discuss alternative
compensation arrangements, but believe that the current programs permit the
broadest range of participation in the success of the Company.
 
BASE SALARIES
 
     The base salaries of the Company's NEOs are listed in the Summary
Compensation Table in this Proxy Statement. These and all other executive
officer salaries are evaluated annually. The Company participates in and reviews
the results of several national surveys that report on the compensation levels
and methods of compensation in various industries, including the healthcare
industry, the hospital industry and other industries of similar revenue size.
The Company reviews the Hay Healthcare Management Survey and such other surveys
as it deems relevant to determine appropriate levels of compensation for various
members of management, selecting which surveys to review for any particular
member of management based upon the duties he or she performs for the Company.
Generally, management salaries for the 1997 fiscal year were competitive with
those reflected in the surveys reviewed. Since the Company believes that its
competitors for executive talent are often more numerous than the entities
included in its peer group index (See "Stock Performance Graph"), its comparison
of compensation according to these surveys is generally more broadly based.
 
     Based on survey results, past internal pay practices, and such subjective
factors as may be deemed relevant, management salaries are proposed by Company
management as part of the Company's annual budgeting process. The Committee
reviews, suggests revisions if appropriate, and approves the salaries proposed
for executive management personnel, including the NEOs, and the entire Board
approves the Company's budget.
 
ANNUAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM
 
   
     Annual cash incentive awards are designed to give the Company's executive
officers an incentive to cause the Company to meet or exceed the Company's
performance goals. The Incentive Program provides for cash bonuses to be paid to
executive officers and other management employees if the targeted earnings per
share ("EPS") of the Company meets or exceeds the EPS target set by the Board of
Directors for the Company. The maximum bonus which any NEO, other than the Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer, is eligible to earn is an amount
equal to 40% of his or her base salary. The NEOs may choose to receive 0%, 50%
or 100% of their bonus in nonqualified stock options granted under the Company's
Restated Stock Option Plan pursuant to the Company's Discounted Stock Option
Program. Such options have ten-year terms and exercise prices equal to 75% of
the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on either the last day of
the fiscal year or their date of grant. The dollar value of the 25% discount
equals the dollar value of the amount of the bonus chosen to be paid in options.
Although the Company's EPS for fiscal 1997 was slightly below the
    
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   24
 
   
Company's EPS target, the Compensation Committee concluded that management had
successfully implemented the Company's strategy during fiscal 1997 in the best
long term interests of the Company and its stockholders. As a result, the
Compensation Committee approved bonuses for fiscal 1997 for the employees
eligible to participate in the Incentive Program. Each of the NEOs except Mr.
Richardson elected to receive stock option grants in lieu of 100% of their cash
bonus awards pursuant to the Company's Discounted Stock Option Program; Mr.
Richardson chose to receive 50% of his bonus in stock options and 50% in cash.
The NEOs received the following: Mr. Dalton, 51,015 option shares ($288,750);
Mr. Fleming, 31,802 option shares ($180,000); Mr. Neill, 15,879 option shares
($89,880); Ms. Batts, 13,910 option shares ($78,736) and Mr. Hewett, 13,851
option shares ($78,400); and Mr. Richardson, 7,628 shares ($57,995) plus $58,005
in cash. See the "Option/SAR Grants in Last Fiscal Year" table elsewhere in this
Proxy Statement.
    
 
     The Committee is empowered to authorize discretionary bonuses to executives
of the Company based on the superior performance of the executive's business
unit and/or the executive's contribution to the overall performance of the
Company. No such discretionary bonuses were paid to the NEOs for fiscal 1997.
 
LONG-TERM INCENTIVES
 
     The Company's Restated Stock Option Plan is designed to provide long-term
incentives. Incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options are
available for grant under the Restated Stock Option Plan. Stock option grants
provide an incentive that focuses the executive's attention on managing the
Company from the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the business.
These grants also help ensure that operating decisions are based on long-term
results that benefit the Company and ultimately the stockholders. The Company's
executive officers are periodically granted stock options under the stock option
plan on terms similar to those granted to other management employees. In
addition, the Company may grant options from time to time in connection with the
employment of new management personnel in order to make the Company's recruiting
efforts competitive.
 
COMPENSATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
 
   
     Mr. Dalton, the Company's chief executive officer, is eligible to
participate in the same executive compensation plans available to other
executive officers that are described above. The chief executive officer's base
salary and incentive compensation are determined in accordance with the same
procedures used by the Company to set the compensation of other management
personnel. Specifically, base salary is determined based on analysis of
compensation surveys, past internal pay practices and relevant subjective
factors, while incentive compensation is based on the Company's overall
performance as measured by whether the Company attains the targeted EPS
established by the Compensation Committee. The Committee may also grant
discretionary bonuses to Mr. Dalton in order to reward him for the Company's
performance vis-a-vis other companies in the industry or to keep his overall
compensation competitive with other executive officers in companies of similar
size in the healthcare industry.
    
 
     Mr. Dalton's annual base salary for the 1997 fiscal year was $531,696. The
Company believes Mr. Dalton's current base salary to be in the range of the
average market salaries paid to chief executive officers of comparable
businesses based on The Hay Healthcare Management Survey and other survey and
proxy data from comparable healthcare companies. Under the annual incentive
program described above, the maximum bonus which Mr. Dalton was eligible to earn
is an amount equal to 55% of his base salary.
 
CERTAIN TAX REGULATIONS
 
     Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, generally
disallows a tax deduction to public companies for executive compensation in
excess of $1 million excluding compensation which is "performance based," as
defined in Section 162(m). The Compensation Committee expects to pay all
compensation earned by an executive officer, even if such compensation exceeds
$1 million, even though such compensation may not be "performance based," under
the provisions of Section 162(m). The Company's Annual Incentive Program
currently does not satisfy such requirements.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   25
 
     THE FOREGOING REPORT IS SUBMITTED BY ALL THE CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE COMPANY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHOSE MEMBERS ARE
RUSSELL L. CARSON, ROCCO A. ORTENZIO, AND JOSEPH C. HUTTS.
 
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
 
     The cost of solicitation of proxies in the accompanying form will be borne
by the Company, including expenses in connection with preparing and mailing this
Proxy Statement. In addition to solicitation of proxies by mail, directors,
officers and employees of the Company (who will receive no additional
compensation therefor) may solicit the return of proxies by telephone, telegram
or personal interview. Arrangements have also been made with brokerage houses
and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for the forwarding of
solicitation material to the beneficial owners of stock held of record by such
persons, and the Company will reimburse them for reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by them in connection therewith.
 
     Each holder of the Company's Common Stock who does not expect to be present
at the Annual Meeting or who plans to attend but who does not wish to vote in
person is urged to fill in, date and sign the proxy and return it promptly in
the enclosed return envelope.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   26
 
                            STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
 
     The stock price performance graph depicted below is not deemed to be part
of a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act and is not to be deemed incorporated by
reference in any documents filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
without the express consent of the Company.
 
     The graph below compares the cumulative total return of the Company's
Common Stock with securities of entities comprising the NASDAQ Index and a peer
group index. Cumulative return assumes $100 invested in the Company or
respective index on May 26, 1994, with dividend reinvestment through June 30,
1997. The peer group includes Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation, Health
Management Associates, Inc., Tenet Healthcare Corporation and Universal Health
Services. OrNda Healthcorp., which was included in the peer group for the
Company's 1996 Proxy Statement, has merged into Tenet Healthcare Corporation.
 
     The graph presents information since the date of the Company's initial
public offering. To date, the Company had not directly tied executive
compensation to stock performance. The future impact of stock performance on
executive compensation will be determined by the Compensation Committee.
 
                     COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
                    OF COMPANY, PEER GROUP AND BROAD MARKET
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        MEASUREMENT PERIOD            QUORUM HEALTH
      (FISCAL YEAR COVERED)            GROUP, INC.        PEER GROUP        BROAD MARKET
<S>                                 <C>                <C>                <C>
1994                                           100.00             100.00             100.00
1994                                           102.94              93.55              98.15
1995                                           119.12             106.07             115.12
1996                                           155.15             138.78             144.91
1997                                           210.29             163.47             174.56
</TABLE>
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   27
 
                       SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
                              REPORTING COMPLIANCE
 
     Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's executive officers
and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the
Company's equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Such executive
officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by SEC
regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they
file.
 
     Based solely on the Company's review of the copies of Forms 3, 4 and 5
furnished to the Company, any amendments thereto, or written representations
from certain reporting persons that indicated that no Forms 5 were required for
those persons, the Company believes that during the 1997 fiscal year its
executive officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders complied with
all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements except that: Russell L. Carson
filed an amendment to one Form 4, thereby reporting late the acquisition of 725
shares by an affiliate of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe; and Ken Melkus
inadvertently failed to sign one Form 4, thereby causing a late filing of the
signed form.
 
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
     Stockholders intending to submit proposals for presentation at the 1998
Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company and inclusion in the Proxy
Statement and form of proxy for such meeting should forward such proposals to
Ashby Q. Burks, Secretary, Quorum Health Group, Inc. Proposals must be in
writing and must be received by the Company prior to June 12, 1998. Proposals
should be sent to the Company by certified mail, return receipt requested.
 
AVAILABILITY OF 10-K
 
     Upon the written request of any record holder or beneficial owner of the
Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, the Company, without
charge, will provide a copy of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ending June 30, 1997, including financial statements and financial statement
schedules, that was filed with the SEC. The request should be mailed to
Corporate Relations, Quorum Health Group, Inc. at the Company's principal
executive offices, 103 Continental Place, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                          Ashby Q. Burks, Secretary
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   28
                                                                       EXHIBIT A
 
                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                           QUORUM HEALTH GROUP, INC.

                             ---------------------
 
                    PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 242 AND 245 OF THE
                GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

                             ---------------------
 
     QUORUM HEALTH GROUP, INC., a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), hereby certifies as follows:
 
          The name of the corporation is QUORUM HEALTH GROUP, INC. The
     Corporation was originally incorporated under the name HMC Holdings Corp.,
     and the original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed
     with the Secretary of State of Delaware on July 14, 1989.
 
             i. That the Board of Directors of the Corporation, at a special
        meeting held on October 1, 1997, duly adopted resolutions setting forth
        a proposed amendment and restatement of the Certificate of Incorporation
        of said Corporation, declaring said amendment and restatement to be
        advisable and submitting the proposed amendment and restatement to the
        stockholders of said Corporation for consideration thereof.
 
             ii. That pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the General
        Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, this Amended and Restated
        Certificate of Incorporation restates and integrates and further amends
        the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of this Corporation
        and has been duly adopted by the holders of a majority of the issued and
        outstanding shares of voting capital stock of the Corporation entitled
        to vote thereon, after first having been proposed and declared advisable
        by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, all in accordance with the
        provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the Delaware General Corporation
        Law.
 
             iii. That the text of the Amended and Restated Certificate of
        Incorporation as heretofore amended or supplemented is hereby restated
        and further amended to read in its entirety as follows:
 
     First.  The name of the corporation is QUORUM HEALTH GROUP, INC.
 
     Second.  The address of the Corporation's registered office in the State of
Delaware is 1013 Centre Road in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle.
The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
 
     Third.  The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or
activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation
Law of Delaware.
 
   
     Fourth.  The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the
Corporation shall have authority to issue is 300,000,000 shares of Common Stock
and the par value of each of such shares of $.01.
    
 
   
     Fifth.  The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized
to adopt, amend or repeal By-laws of the Corporation.
    
 
   
     Sixth.  Elections of directors need not be by written ballot except and to
the extent provided in the By-laws of the Corporation.
    
 
   
     Seventh.  Subject to any agreement among stockholders to the contrary, any
director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause,
by the holders of a majority of the shares at the time entitled to vote at an
election of directors, whether or not the board of directors is classified as
provided in subsection (d) of Section 141 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code.
    
 
                                       A-1
<PAGE>   29
 
   
     Eighth.  Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this
Corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this
Corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable
jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary
way of this Corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the
application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under
the provisions of Section 291 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or
receivers appointed for this Corporation under the provisions of Section 279 of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware order a meeting of the
creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stock holders or class of
stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such
manner as the said court directs. If a majority in number representing
three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the
stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be,
agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of this
Corporation as consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said
compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by
the court to which the said application has been made, be binding on all the
creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the stock holders or class of
stockholders, of this Corporation, as the case may be, and also on this
Corporation.
    
 
   
     Ninth.  No person shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of
its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director, provided that nothing in this Article Ninth shall eliminate or limit
the liability of any director (i) for any breach of the director's duty of
loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not
in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, (iii) under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit. If the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware is
amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the
personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the
Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as so amended.
    
 
   
     Tenth.  The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Section
145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same may be
amended and supplemented, indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have power
to indemnify under said section from and against any and all of the expenses,
liabilities and other matters referred to in or covered by said section, and the
indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other
rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any By-law, agreement,
vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action
in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such
office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director,
officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
executors and administrators of such a person.
    
 
                                       A-2
<PAGE>   30
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT B
 
                           QUORUM HEALTH GROUP, INC.
                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
1.  PURPOSE; TYPES OF AWARDS, CONSTRUCTION
 
     The purpose of the Quorum Health Group, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan") is to afford an incentive to executive officers, other key employees and
consultants of Quorum Health Group, Inc. (the "Company"), or any subsidiary of
the Company which now exists or hereafter is organized or acquired by the
Company, to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in the Company, to become
or continue as employees or consultants, to devote their best efforts on behalf
of the Company and to align the interests of such persons with the Company's
stockholders to promote the success of the Company's business. The provisions of
the Plan are intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 16(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent
with the requirements thereof, as now or hereafter construed, interpreted and
applied by regulations, rulings and cases.
 
2.  DEFINITIONS
 
     As used in this Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the
meanings indicated:
 
          (a) "Acceleration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.
 
          (b) "Beneficiary" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 17. (c)
     "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
          (c) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
          (d) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
     from time to time.
 
          (e) "Committee" shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board or
     such other committee established by the Board to administer the Plan, the
     members of which shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section
     162(m) of the Code, or any successor provision, and Rule 16b-3.
 
          (f) "Common Stock" shall mean shares of common stock, par value $.01
     per share, of the Company.
 
          (g) "Company" shall mean Quorum Health Group, Inc., a corporation
     organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor
     corporation.
 
          (h) "Effective Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 18.
 
          (i) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
     amended from time to time, and as now or hereafter construed, interpreted
     and applied by regulations, rulings and cases.
 
          (j) "Fair Market Value" per share as of a particular date shall mean
     (i) the closing sales price per share of Common Stock on the national
     securities exchange on which the Common Stock is principally traded for the
     last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Common Stock on such
     exchange, or (ii) if the shares of Common Stock are then traded in an
     over-the-counter market, the average of the closing bid and asked prices
     for the shares of Common Stock in such over-the-counter market for the last
     preceding date on which there was a sale of such Common Stock in such
     market, or (iii) if the shares of Common Stock are not then listed on a
     national securities exchange or traded in an over-the-counter market, such
     value as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine.
 
          (k) "Grantee" shall mean a person who receives a grant of Options
     under the Plan.
 
          (l) "Incentive Stock Option" shall mean any option intended to be, and
     designated as, an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422
     of the Code.
 
          (m) "Insider" shall mean a Grantee who is subject to the reporting
     requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
                                       B-1
<PAGE>   31
 
          (n) "Option" or "Options" shall mean a grant to a Grantee of an option
     or options to purchase shares of Common Stock. Options granted by the
     Committee pursuant to the Plan shall constitute either Incentive Stock
     Options ("ISO") or Non-qualified Stock Options ("NQSO").
 
          (o) "Option Agreement" shall mean an agreement entered into between
     the Company and a Grantee in connection with a grant under the Plan.
 
          (p) "Option Price" shall mean the exercise price of the shares of
     Common Stock covered by an Option.
 
          (q) "Parent" shall mean any company (other than the Company) in an
     unbroken chain of companies ending with the Company if, at the time of
     granting an Option, each of the companies other than the Company owns stock
     possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power
     of all classes of stock in one of the other companies in such chain.
 
          (r) "Plan" means this Quorum Health Group, Inc. 1997 Stock Option
     Plan, as amended from time to time.
 
          (s) "Rule 16b-3" shall mean Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in
     effect, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section
     16 of the Exchange Act, including any successor to such Rule.
 
          (t) "Subsidiary" shall mean any company (other than the Company) in an
     unbroken chain of companies beginning with the Company if, at the time of
     granting an Option, each of the companies other than the last company in
     the unbroken chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the
     total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other
     companies in such chain.
 
          (u) "Ten Percent Stockholder" shall mean a Grantee who, at the time an
     Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock possessing more than ten
     percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of
     the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.
 
3.  ADMINISTRATION
 
     The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have
the authority in its discretion, subject to and not inconsistent with the
express provisions of the Plan, to administer the Plan and to exercise all the
powers and authorities either specifically granted to it under the Plan or
necessary or advisable in the administration of the Plan, including, without
limitation, the authority to grant Options; to determine which Options shall
constitute Incentive Stock Options and which Options shall constitute
Nonqualified Stock Options; to determine the purchase price of the shares of
Common Stock covered by each Option and the method and medium of payment
therefor; to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which
Options shall be granted; to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to
be covered by each Option; to interpret the Plan; to prescribe, amend and
rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; to determine the terms and
provisions of the Option Agreements (which need not be identical) and to cancel
or suspend awards, as necessary; and to make all other determinations deemed
necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.
 
     The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more
agents such administrative duties as it may deem advisable, and the Committee or
any person to whom it has delegated duties as aforesaid may employ one or more
persons to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee or
such person may have under the Plan. All decisions, determinations and
interpretations of the Committee shall be final and binding on all Grantees of
any Options granted under this Plan.
 
     The Board shall fill all vacancies, however caused, in the Committee. The
Board may from time to time appoint additional members to the Committee, and may
at any time remove one or more Committee members and substitute others. One
member of the Committee shall be selected by the Board as chairman. The
Committee shall hold its meetings at such times and places as it shall deem
advisable. All determinations of the Committee shall be made by a majority of
its members either present in person or participating by conference telephone at
a meeting or by written consent. The Committee may appoint a secretary and make
 
                                       B-2
<PAGE>   32
 
such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it shall deem
advisable, and shall keep minutes of its meetings.
 
     The Board, the Committee and each member thereof shall be entitled to, in
good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or
her by any executive officer, other officer or employee of the Company or a
subsidiary, the Company's independent auditors, consultants or any other agents
assisting in the administration of the Plan. All expenses and liabilities
incurred by the Board, the Committee or any member thereof in the administration
of the Plan shall be borne by the Company. The Board or the Committee may employ
attorneys, consultants, accountants or other persons in connection with the
administration of the Plan. Members of the Committee and any officer or employee
of the Company or subsidiary acting at the direction or on behalf of the
Committee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken
or made in good faith with respect to the Plan and shall, to the extent
permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect
to any such action or determination.
 
4.  ELIGIBILITY
 
     Options may be granted to executive officers and other key employees and
consultants of the Company or its Subsidiaries, including officers and directors
who are employees, except as prescribed by the Exchange Act or the Code. In
determining the persons to whom awards shall be granted and the number of shares
to be covered by each award, the Committee shall take into account the duties of
the respective persons, their present and potential contributions to the success
of the Company and such other factors as the Committee shall deem relevant in
connection with accomplishing the purpose of the Plan.
 
5.  STOCK
 
     (a) Shares Available for Grants.  The maximum number of shares of Common
Stock reserved for which Options may be granted under the Plan shall be, subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 9 hereof, (i) 3,000,000, plus (ii) shares
of Common Stock subject to grants under the Company's Restated Stock Option Plan
(the "Old Plan") as of the Effective Date which become available after the
Effective Date pursuant to Section 5(b), plus (iii) 12% of the number of shares
of Common Stock newly issued by the Company or delivered out of treasury shares
during the term of the Plan (excluding any issuance or delivery in connection
with exercises of grants under the Plan, the Old Plan or any other compensation
or benefit plan of the Corporation). Such shares may,in whole or in part, be
authorized but unissued shares or shares that shall have been or may be
reacquired by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii),
only 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock shall be available for grants of ISO's.
The maximum number of shares with respect to which awards may be granted during
any calendar year to any individual shall be 1,000,000.
 
     (b) Availability of Shares Not Delivered Under Grants.  Shares of Common
Stock subject to a grant under the Plan or the Old Plan that is canceled,
expired, forfeited, settled in cash or otherwise terminated without a delivery
of shares of Common Stock in whole or in part to the Participant, including (i)
the number of shares withheld in payment of any exercise or purchase price of a
grant or taxes relating to a grant, and (ii) the number of shares of Common
Stock surrendered in payment of any exercise or purchase price of a grant or
taxes relating to any grant, will again be available for grants under the Plan,
except that if any such shares could not again be available for grants to a
particular Participant under any applicable law or regulation, such shares shall
be available exclusively for grants to Participants who are not subject to such
limitation.
 
6.  TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
 
     Each Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by an Option
Agreement, in such form and containing such terms and conditions as the
Committee shall from time to time approve. Each Option shall be subject to the
following terms and conditions, except to the extent otherwise specifically
provided in such Option Agreement:
 
          (a) Number of Shares.  Each Option Agreement shall state the number of
     shares of Common Stock to which the Option relates.
 
                                       B-3
<PAGE>   33
 
          (b) Type of Option.  Each Option Agreement shall specifically state
     that the Option constitutes an Incentive Stock Option or Nonqualified Stock
     Option.
 
          (c) Option Price.  Each Option Agreement shall state the Option Price,
     which, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall not be less than one
     hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common
     Stock covered by the Option on the date of grant and which, in any case,
     shall not be less than the par value of such shares. The Option Price shall
     be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9 hereof. The date as of
     which the Committee adopts a resolution expressly granting an Option shall
     be considered the day on which such Option is granted.
 
          (d) Medium and Time of Payment.  The Option Price shall be paid in
     full, at the time of exercise, in cash or in shares of Common Stock having
     a Fair Market Value equal to such Option Price or in a combination of cash
     and Common Stock or in such other manner as the Committee shall determine
     including, without limitation, cashless exercise procedures, whether by
     withholding shares or through a broker-dealer.
 
          (e) Term and Exercisability of Options.  Each Option Agreement shall
     provide the exercise schedule for the Option as determined by the Committee
     (which may include a requirement for achieving performance goals),
     provided, that, the Committee shall have the authority to accelerate the
     exercisability of any outstanding Option at such time and under such
     circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. The
     exercise period will be ten (10) years from the date of the grant of the
     Option unless otherwise determined by the Committee; provided, however,
     that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, such exercise period shall
     not exceed ten (10) years from the date of grant of such Option. The
     exercise period shall be subject to earlier termination as determined by
     the Committee. An Option may be exercised, as to any or all full shares of
     Common Stock as to which the Option has become exercisable, by written
     notice delivered in person or by mail to the Secretary of the Company,
     specifying the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the
     Option is being exercised.
 
          (f) Other Provisions.  The Option Agreements evidencing awards under
     the Plan shall contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent
     with the Plan as the Committee may determine.
 
7.  NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS
 
     Options granted pursuant to this Section 7 are intended to constitute
Nonqualified Stock Options and shall be subject only to the general terms and
conditions specified in Section 6 hereof.
 
8.  INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS
 
     Options granted pursuant to this Section 8 are intended to constitute
Incentive Stock Options and shall be subject to the following special terms and
conditions, in addition to the general terms and conditions specified in Section
6 hereof:
 
          (a) Value of Shares.  The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as
     of the date of the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the shares of
     Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under
     this Plan and all other option plans of any subsidiary become exercisable
     for the first time by any Grantee during any calendar year shall not exceed
     $100,000.
 
          (b) Ten Percent Stockholder.  In the case of an Incentive Stock Option
     granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, (i) the Option Price shall not be
     less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the
     shares of Common Stock on the date of grant of such Incentive Stock Option,
     and (ii) the exercise period shall not exceed five (5) years from the date
     of grant of such Incentive Stock Option.
 
          (c) Code Requirements.  The terms of any Incentive Stock Option
     granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of
     Section 422A of the Code and any applicable regulations thereunder.
     Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee shall
     have the power to make grants of Incentive Stock Options subject to such
     additional or less restrictive requirements under
 
                                       B-4
<PAGE>   34
 
     the Code as may be required or permitted under Section 422A. Anything in
     the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the Plan relating to
     Incentive Stock Options shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall
     any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to
     disqualify either the Plan or any Incentive Stock Option under Section 422A
     of the Code, unless the Grantee has first consented to the change that will
     result in such disqualification.
 
9.  EFFECT OF CERTAIN CHANGES
 
     (a) In the event of any extraordinary dividend, stock dividend,
recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation, stock split, warrant
or rights issuance, or combination or exchange of such shares, or other similar
transactions, the number of shares of Common Stock available for Options, the
number of such shares covered by outstanding Options, and the price per share of
Options shall be equitably adjusted by the Committee to reflect such event and
preserve the value of such Options; provided, however, that any fractional
shares resulting from such adjustment may be eliminated or settled for cash or
otherwise as the Committee determines in its sole discretion.
 
     (b) If while any Options remain outstanding under the Plan, any of the
following events shall occur (which events shall constitute a "Change in Control
of the Company")--
 
          (i) any "person," as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of
     the Exchange Act, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule
     13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
     Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the
     Company's then outstanding voting securities.
 
          (ii) during any period of not more than two consecutive years, not
     including any period prior to the adoption of this Plan, individuals who at
     the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director
     (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an
     agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause (i),
     (iii), or (iv) of this Section 9(b)) whose election by the Board or
     nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a
     vote of at least two-thirds ( 2/3) of the directors then still in office
     who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election
     or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason
     to constitute at least a majority thereof;
 
          (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or
     consolidation of the Company (or other similar transactions) with any other
     corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the
     voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
     continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
     converted into voting securities of the surviving or parent entity) 50% or
     more of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company
     or such surviving or parent entity outstanding immediately after such
     merger or consolidation; or
 
          (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
     liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale, lease or other
     transfer by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets
     (or any transaction having a similar effect);
 
          then from and after the date on which any such Change in Control shall
     have occurred (the "Acceleration Date"), the Option covered by such
     Agreement shall be exercisable or otherwise nonforfeitable in full, whether
     or not otherwise exercisable or forfeitable.
 
     (c) In the event of a change in the Common Stock of the Company as
presently constituted that is limited to a change of all of its authorized
shares of Common Stock into the same number of shares with a different par value
or without par value, the shares resulting from any such change shall be deemed
to be the Common Stock within the meaning of the Plan.
 
10.  PERIOD DURING WHICH OPTIONS MAY BE GRANTED
 
     Options may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time within a
period of ten (10) years from the date the Plan is approved by the Company's
Stockholders.
 
                                       B-5
<PAGE>   35
 
11.  TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS
 
     No Option shall be pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or subject
to any lien, obligation or liability of a Grantee to any party (other than the
Company or a subsidiary), or assigned or transferred by such Grantee otherwise
than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or to a Beneficiary upon
the death of a Grantee, and such Options that may be exercisable shall be
exercised during the lifetime of the Grantee only by the Grantee or his or her
guardian or legal representative; except that Options (other than ISOs) may be
transferred to one or more Beneficiaries or other transferees during the
lifetime of the Grantee and may be exercised by such transferees in accordance
with the terms of such Option but only if and to the extent such transfers are
permitted by the Committee pursuant to the express terms of an Option Agreement
(subject to any terms and conditions which the Committee may impose thereon). A
Beneficiary, transferee, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan from
or through any Grantee shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan
and any Option Agreement applicable to such Grantee, except as otherwise
determined by the Committee, and to any additional terms and conditions deemed
necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
 
12.  PAYMENT OF WITHHOLDING TAXES
 
     If the Committee shall so require, as a condition of exercise of an Option,
each Grantee shall agree that no later than the date of such exercise, the
Grantee will pay to the Company or make arrangements satisfactory to the
Committee regarding payment of any federal, state or local taxes of any kind
required by law to be withheld upon such exercise. Alternatively, the Committee
may provide that a Grantee may elect, to the extent permitted or required by
law, to have the Company deduct federal, state and local taxes of any kind
required by law to be withheld upon such exercise from any payment of any kind
due to the Grantee. Without limitation, at the discretion of the Committee, the
withholding obligation may be satisfied by the withholding or delivery of shares
of Common Stock.
 
13.  AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
 
     The Board at any time and from time to time may suspend, terminate, modify
or amend the Plan; provided, however, that an amendment which requires
stockholder approval in order for the Plan to continue to comply with Rule 16b-3
or any other law, regulation or stock exchange requirement shall not be
effective unless approved by the requisite vote of stockholders. Except as
provided in Section 9(a) hereof, no suspension, termination, modification or
amendment of the Plan may adversely affect any award previously granted without
the written consent of the Grantee.
 
14.  RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER
 
     A grantee or a transferee of an award shall have no rights as a shareholder
with respect to any shares covered by the award until the date of the issuance
of a stock certificate to him for such shares. No adjustment shall be made for
dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other
property) or distribution of other rights for which the record date is prior to
the date such stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 9(a)
hereof.
 
15.  NO RIGHTS TO EMPLOYMENT
 
     Nothing in the Plan or in any award granted or Agreement entered into
pursuant hereto shall confer upon any Grantee the right to continue in the
employ of, or in a consultant relationship with, the Company or any Subsidiary
or to be entitled to any remuneration or benefits not set forth in the Plan or
such Agreement or to interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company
or any such Subsidiary to terminate such Grantee's employment. Awards granted
under the Plan shall not be affected by any change in duties or position of a
Grantee as long as such Grantee continued to be employed by, or in a consultant
relationship with, the Company or any Subsidiary.
 
                                       B-6
<PAGE>   36
 
16.  BENEFICIARY
 
     A Grantee may file with the Committee a written designation of a
beneficiary (a "Beneficiary") on such form as may be prescribed by the Committee
and may, from time to time, amend or revoke such designation. If no designated
beneficiary survives the Grantee, the executor or administrator of the Grantee's
estate shall be deemed to be the Grantee's beneficiary.
 
17.  GOVERNING LAW
 
     The Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
 
18.  EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF THE PLAN
 
     This Plan shall be effective as of the date it is ratified by the
stockholders of the Company, and shall terminate on the later of (a) the tenth
anniversary of such date or (b) the last expiration of awards granted hereunder.
 
                                       B-7
<PAGE>   37
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT C
 
                           QUORUM HEALTH GROUP, INC.
                          EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
 
     Quorum Health Group, Inc., a corporation with principal offices located in
Nashville, Tennessee (hereafter referred to as the "Sponsoring Employer" or as
an "Employer"), has adopted the following Employee Stock Purchase Plan for the
benefit of eligible Employees.
 
     The number of shares of Common Stock currently reserved for issuance under
the Plan is 3,000,000 shares.
 
     The purpose of this Plan is to provide an opportunity for eligible
Employees of an Employer to share in the growth and prosperity of the Sponsoring
Employer by acquiring a proprietary interest in the Sponsoring Employer through
acquisition of shares of the Sponsoring Employer's Common Stock.
 
     The Company has received a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service to the
effect that the Plan constitutes an "employee stock purchase plan" under Section
423 of the Internal Revenue Code as amended and regarding certain related
matters.
 
                                   ARTICLE I
 
                                     TITLE
 
     SECTION 1.01  This Plan shall be known as the Quorum Health Group, Inc.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (hereafter referred to as the "Plan").
 
                                   ARTICLE II
 
                                  DEFINITIONS
 
     As used herein, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings
specified below, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:
 
     SECTION 2.01  The term "Anniversary Date" shall mean each March 1 on and
after March 1, 1992.
 
     SECTION 2.02  The term "Board of Directors" shall mean the Board of
Directors of the Sponsoring Employer.
 
     SECTION 2.03  The term "Continuous Service" shall mean the number of full
years and completed months of continuous employment with the Employer from his
last hiring date to his date of severance of employment for any reason.
Continuous Service shall not be broken by and shall be credited for absences due
to vacation, temporary sickness or injury.
 
     This document constitutes part of a prospectus covering securities that
have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
     SECTION 2.04  The term "Contribution Account" (or "Account") shall mean the
account established on behalf of a Member to which shall be credited the amount
of the Member's contribution and any interest earned thereon and debited with
funds used therefrom to acquire Sponsoring Employer Stock, pursuant to Article
IV.
 
     SECTION 2.05  The term "Custodial Agreement" shall mean the agreement(s),
including any amendments thereto, entered into between the Employer and the
Custodian to carry out the applicable provisions of this Plan as to the purchase
of the Sponsoring Employer Stock.
 
     SECTION 2.06  The term "Custodian" shall mean Third National Bank in
Nashville, Tennessee, or any successor custodian designated under the Custodial
Agreement.
 
                                       C-1
<PAGE>   38
 
     SECTION 2.07  The "Effective Date" shall be March 1, 1992
 
     SECTION 2.08  The term "Employee" shall mean each current or future
employee of an Employer whose customary employment is at least twenty (20) hours
a week and more than five (5) months in a calendar year.
 
     SECTION 2.09  The term "Employer" shall mean the Sponsoring Employer, its
successors and assigns, and certain designated consolidated subsidiaries of the
Sponsoring Employer.
 
     SECTION 2.10  The term "Exercise Date" shall mean the last day of each Plan
Year.
 
     SECTION 2.11  The "Grant Date" shall mean the first day of each Plan Year.
 
     SECTION 2.12  The "Issue Price" under this Plan shall mean the per share
price of the Sponsoring Employer Stock for each Plan Year to be charged to
participating Members at the Exercise Date. The Issue Price for a Plan Year
shall be the lesser of two prices: (1) eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair
market value of the stock on the Grant Date, or (2) eighty-five percent (85%) of
the fair market value of the stock on the Exercise Date.
 
     SECTION 2.13  The term "Member" shall mean any Employee of an Employer who
has met the conditions and provisions for becoming a Member as provided in
Article III hereof.
 
     SECTION 2.14  The term "Member's Contribution Rate" shall be an exact
number of dollars selected by the Member to contribute as regular payroll
deductions to be credited to his Account as provided in Section 3.04 hereof.
 
     SECTION 2.15  The term "Normal Monthly Pay" shall be computed by
annualizing the individual's hourly base pay and his regular scheduled hours of
work as of the first day of the month immediately preceding a Plan Year and
dividing by twelve. For a salaried employee the "Normal Monthly Pay" shall be
his regular monthly base salary as of the first day of the month immediately
preceding a Plan Year.
 
     SECTION 2.16  The term "Plan Year" shall mean a twelve (12) month period
beginning on the first day of March and ending on the last day of February in
the following calendar year.
 
     SECTION 2.17  The term "Sponsoring Employer" shall mean Quorum Health
Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation with principal offices located in Nashville,
Tennessee, the Plan sponsor for all purposes.
 
     SECTION 2.18  The term "Sponsoring Employer Stock" shall mean those shares
of Sponsoring Employer's Stock which pursuant to Section 4.01 are reserved for
issuance under this Plan.
 
     SECTION 2.19  Any words used herein in the masculine shall be construed in
the feminine where they would so apply. Words in the singular shall be construed
as though the plural in all cases where they would so apply.
 
                                  ARTICLE III
 
                             MEMBERSHIP IN THE PLAN
 
     SECTION 3.01  Each Employee shall become eligible to be a Member upon being
employed by an Employer no less than three months immediately preceding the next
Anniversary Date.
 
     SECTION 3.02  Upon becoming a Member, said member shall be bound by the
terms of this Plan and any amendments hereto. All employees granted rights as
Members under the Plan shall have the same rights and privileges.
 
     SECTION 3.03  Each Employee who becomes eligible to be a Member shall be
furnished a summary of the Plan and an enrollment form. If such Employee elects
to become a Member hereunder, such Employee shall complete such form and file it
with the Sponsoring Employer no later than fifteen days prior to the next
Anniversary Date. The completed enrollment form shall indicate the Member's
Contribution Rate. Any
 
                                       C-2
<PAGE>   39
 
Employee who does not elect to participate in any given Plan Year may elect to
participate on any future Anniversary Date so long as he continues to meet the
eligibility requirements of Section 3.01.
 
     SECTION 3.04  In order to participate in this Plan and be granted rights
hereunder, an Employee must authorize the Employer to deduct the Member's
Contribution Rate from his paycheck. Such Contribution Rate must be an exact
number of dollars which may not exceed 10% of the Employee's Normal Monthly Pay
as of February 1 prior to the beginning of the Plan Year, but may not be less
than $10 per month or $5 per biweekly pay period as applicable. The
authorization for such deductions shall be in writing on such forms as provided
by the Sponsoring Employer. Such deductions shall begin as of the first pay
period on or after the first day of the Plan Year. Member contributions will not
be permitted to begin at any time other than the beginning of a Plan Year.
 
     SECTION 3.05  The Member's Contribution Rate, once established, shall
remain in effect for all Plan Years unless changed by the Member in writing on
such forms as provided by the Sponsoring Employer and filed with the Sponsoring
Employer at least fifteen (15) days prior to the next Anniversary Date.
 
     SECTION 3.06  At any time during the Plan Year, a Member may notify the
Sponsoring Employer he wishes to discontinue his contributions to the Plan. This
notice shall be in writing and on such forms as provided by the Sponsoring
Employer and shall become effective as of a date not more than thirty (30) days
following its receipt by the Sponsoring Employer. In the event no election to
withdraw is made by such Member under Section 3.07, the balance accumulated in
the Member's Account shall be used to purchase shares of the Sponsoring
Employer's stock in accordance with Section 4.03 hereof.
 
     SECTION 3.07  Any Member may elect to withdraw the balance in his Account
at any time during the Plan Year. However, if the Account balance is withdrawn
during the Plan Year, no further payroll deductions will be permitted during
that Plan Year.
 
                                   ARTICLE IV
 
                               ISSUANCE OF STOCK
 
     SECTION 4.01  The Sponsoring Employer shall reserve 3,000,000 shares of its
Common Stock for issuance upon the exercise of the rights granted hereunder.
These shares may be either authorized and unissued shares, issued shares held in
or acquired for the treasury of the Sponsoring Employer, or shares of stock
reacquired by the Sponsoring Employer upon purchase in the open market or
otherwise.
 
     SECTION 4.02  All payroll deductions withheld from the compensation of a
Member pursuant to this Plan shall be deposited by the Sponsoring Employer with
the Custodian pursuant to the terms of the Custodial Agreement. The Sponsoring
Employer shall direct the Custodian to: (i) establish a Custodial Account for
each Member and to credit such Account with all payroll deductions of that
Member; (ii) invest all such monies in accordance with its instructions; and
(iii) allocate the earnings on such monies to the Account of each Member on a
monthly basis pro rata to the respective balances of each Member's Account.
 
     SECTION 4.03  Subject to Sections 4.04 and 4.05, the balance of each
Member's Account on the Exercise Date of each Plan Year shall be used by the
Custodian to purchase the maximum number of whole shares of Sponsoring Employer
Stock determined by dividing the Issue Price into the amount in the Member's
Account. Any money remaining in a Member's Account may be returned to the Member
if requested. If such return is not requested, the balance will remain in the
Account to be used in the next Plan Year along with new contributions in the new
Plan Year. Rights granted under this Plan shall be subject to such amendment or
modification as the Sponsoring Employer shall deem necessary to comply with any
applicable law or regulation, and shall contain such other provisions as the
Sponsoring Employer shall from time to time approve and deem necessary.
 
     SECTION 4.04  In no event may a Member (i) be granted a right under this
Plan and any other such Employee Stock Purchase Plan of any Quorum Employer,
during a calendar year, to purchase Employer Stock having a total fair market
value (as of the Grant Date) of more than twenty-five thousand dollars
 
                                       C-3
<PAGE>   40
 
($25,000), (ii) receive a right to purchase such stock if he would beneficially
own, immediately after the right is granted, five percent (5%) or more of the
total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Sponsoring
Employer, or (iii) transfer or otherwise alienate any right granted to him under
this Plan.
 
     SECTION 4.05  If the total number of shares to be purchased under this Plan
by all Members exceeds the number of shares authorized under this Plan, a pro
rata allocation of the available shares will be made among all Members
authorizing such payroll deductions based on the amount of their respective
Accounts on the last day of the Plan Year.
 
     SECTION 4.06  The Sponsoring Employer Stock certificates purchased through
the exercise of the rights granted hereunder shall be issued and sent to Members
as soon as practical after the date of such exercise. Exhibit A attached hereto
and made a part hereof sets forth certain rights and voting requirements which
apply to holders of the Sponsoring Employer's Stock when such stock is issued.
 
     SECTION 4.07  Any Employee whose employment with an Employer is terminated
for any reason except death and retirement during the Plan Year shall cease
being a Member immediately. The balance of the Member's Account shall be paid to
such Member, or his legal representative, as soon as practical after his
termination. Any rights granted to such member under this Plan shall be deemed
null and void.
 
     SECTION 4.08  If a Member shall die during a Plan Year, no further
contributions on behalf of the deceased Member shall be made. The Executor or
Administrator of the deceased Member may elect to withdraw the balance in said
Member's Account by notifying the Sponsoring Employer in writing prior to the
last day of the Plan Year. In the event no election to withdraw has been made,
the balance accumulated in the deceased Member's Account shall be used to
purchase shares of the Sponsoring Employer's Stock in accordance with Section
4.03 hereof and any remainder refunded to the deceased Member's estate.
 
     SECTION 4.09  If a Member shall retire during a Plan Year, no further
contributions shall be made to the retired Member's Account on or after his date
of retirement. The Member may elect to withdraw the balance in his Account by
notifying the Sponsoring Employer in writing prior to the last day of the Plan
Year. In the event no election to withdraw has been made, the balance
accumulated in the retired Member's Account as of the Exercise Date shall be
used to purchase shares of the Sponsoring Employer's Stock in accordance with
Section 4.03 hereof and any remainder refunded to the retired Member.
 
     SECTION 4.10  If a Member or former Member disposes of a share of
Sponsoring Employer Stock acquired under this Plan prior to two (2) years after
the Grant Date of such share, or prior to one (1) year after the Exercise Date
of such share, then the Member or former Member must notify the Sponsoring
Employer immediately of such disposition in writing.
 
                                   ARTICLE V
 
                                 MISCELLANEOUS
 
     SECTION 5.01  The Sponsoring Employer or individual(s) delegated such
authority by the Sponsoring Employer shall administer the Plan and keep records
of individual Member benefits. The Sponsoring Employer shall interpret the Plan
and shall determine all questions arising in the administration, interpretation
and application of the Plan, and all such determinations by the Sponsoring
Employer shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
 
     SECTION 5.02  Each Member, former Member, or any other person who shall
claim a right or benefit under this Plan, shall be entitled only to look to the
Sponsoring Employer for such benefit.
 
     SECTION 5.03  The Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee may at
any time or from time to time, amend the Plan in any respect, except that
amendments to the Plan to (i) increase the number of shares reserved under the
Plan other than as provided in Section 5.12 hereof, (ii) reduce the Issue Price
per share as defined herein, or (iii) make the Plan available to any person who
is not an eligible Employee, may only be made by the Board of Directors, subject
to shareholder approval.
 
     SECTION 5.04  The Sponsoring Employer will pay the administrative expenses
of this Plan.
 
                                       C-4
<PAGE>   41
 
     SECTION 5.05  Any rules, regulations, or procedures that may be necessary
for the proper administration or functioning of this Plan that are not covered
in this Plan shall be promulgated and adopted by the President (or designee) of
the Sponsoring Employer.
 
     SECTION 5.06  Any headings or subheadings in this Plan are inserted for
convenience of reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of any
provisions hereof.
 
     SECTION 5.07  This Plan shall be construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Tennessee.
 
     SECTION 5.08  A misstatement in the age, length of Continuous Service, date
or employment or any other such matter, shall be corrected when it becomes known
that any such misstatement of fact has occurred.
 
     SECTION 5.09  The rights granted hereunder are not subject to assignment or
alienation. If a Member attempts such assignment, transfer or alienation, the
Sponsoring Employer shall disregard that action.
 
     SECTION 5.10  This Plan will not be deemed to constitute a contract between
any Employer and any Member or to be a consideration of an inducement for the
employment of any Member or Employee. Nothing contained in this Plan shall be
deemed to give any Member or Employee the right to be retained in the service of
an Employer or to interfere with the right of an Employer to discharge any
Member or Employee at any time regardless of the effect which such discharge
shall have upon him as a Member of the Plan.
 
     SECTION 5.11  No liability whatever shall attach to or be incurred by any
past, present or future stockholders, officers or directors, as such, of any
Employer, under or by reason of any of the terms, conditions or agreements
contained in this Plan or implied therefrom, and any and all liabilities of and
any and all rights and claims against the Employer, or any shareholder, officer
or director as such whether arising at common law or in equity or created by
statute or constitution or otherwise, pertaining to this Plan, are hereby
expressly waived and released by every Member, as a part of the consideration
for any benefits under this Plan.
 
     SECTION 5.12  The aggregate number of shares of Sponsoring Employer Stock
reserved for purchase under the Plan as provided in Section 4.01 hereof, and the
calculation of the Issue Price per share as provided in Section 2.12 hereof
shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect any increases or decreases in the
number of issued shares of Sponsoring Employer Stock resulting from a
subdivision or consolidation of shares or other capital adjustment or other
similar increase or decrease in such shares of Sponsoring Employer Stock.
 
     SECTION 5.13  The Sponsoring Employer's obligation to sell and deliver
stock under the Plan is at all times subject to all approvals of any
governmental authorities required in connection with the authorization,
issuance, sale or delivery of such stock.
 
     SECTION 5.14  Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, in order
for the Plan to be qualified under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 as amended, it must be approved by the stockholders of the Sponsoring
Employer during the period commencing twelve (12) months prior to and ending
twelve (12) months after it is adopted.
 
                             PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO
 
   
                          EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
    
 
   
     The Employee Stock Purchase Plan of Quorum Health Group, Inc. is hereby
amended by deleting Section 4.01 in its entirety and replacing it with the
following, and by making any other conforming changes wherever the number of
shares reserved is referenced within the plan document:
    
 
     SECTION 4.01  The Sponsoring Employer shall reserve 3,750,000 shares of its
Common Stock for issuance upon the exercise of the rights granted hereunder.
These shares may be either authorized and unissued shares, issued shares held in
or acquired for the treasury of the Sponsoring Employer, or shares of stock
reacquired by the Sponsoring Employer upon purchase in the open market or
otherwise.
 
                                       C-5
<PAGE>   42
                                                                      APPENDIX A

 
PROXY                      QUORUM HEALTH GROUP, INC.                       PROXY
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                               NOVEMBER 10, 1997
 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF QUORUM HEALTH GROUP, INC.
  FOR USE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS AND ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF.
 
   The undersigned hereby appoints James E. Dalton, Jr. and Ashby Q. Burks, or
either of them, as proxies, with power of substitution, to vote all shares of
the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Quorum Health
Group, Inc. to be held November 10, 1997, at 9:00 a.m. local time at the Holiday
Inn - Brentwood at 760 Old Hickory Boulevard, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027, and at
any adjournment or postponement thereof, in accordance with the following
instructions:
 
   1. The proposal to amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to
increase the number of shares of Common Stock which the Company is authorized to
issue from 100,000,000 shares to 300,000,000 shares.
 
             [ ] FOR             [ ] AGAINST             [ ] ABSTAIN
 
   
   2. Election of directors.
    
<TABLE>
   <S>  <C>                                                  <C>  <C>                                           
   [ ]  FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED BELOW (except as marked      [ ]  WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees   
        to the contrary below).                                   listed below.
 
<CAPTION>
   <S>  <C>
   [ ]  ABSTAIN
</TABLE>
 
 TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE CHECK THE BOX TO VOTE
  "FOR" ALL NOMINEES AND STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEE'S NAME ON THE LIST
                                     BELOW.
 Russell L. Carson, James E. Dalton, Jr., S. Douglas Smith, Sam A. Brooks, Jr.,
                               Kenneth J. Melkus,
Rocco A. Ortenzio, Joseph C. Hutts, Thomas S. Murphy, Jr., Colleen Conway Welch,
                             C. Edward Floyd, M.D.
 
   
   3. The proposal to amend Article NINTH of the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation to provide for indemnification of the Company's officers,
directors, employees and agents to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware
General Corporation Law, as currently provided under the By-laws of the Company.
    
 
   
             [ ] FOR             [ ] AGAINST             [ ] ABSTAIN
    
 
   
   4. The proposal to approve the Quorum Health Group, Inc. 1997 Stock Option
Plan.
    
 
   
             [ ] FOR             [ ] AGAINST             [ ] ABSTAIN
    
 
                  (continued and to be signed on reverse side)
 
                          (continued from other side)
 
   
   5. The proposal to amend the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan to
      increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance from
      3,000,000 to 3,750,000.
    
             [ ] FOR             [ ] AGAINST             [ ] ABSTAIN
 
   
   6. To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent
auditor for the 1998 fiscal year.
    
 
             [ ] FOR             [ ] AGAINST             [ ] ABSTAIN
 
   
   7. In their discretion, on such other matters as may properly come before the
meeting and any adjournment thereof.
    
 
             [ ] FOR             [ ] AGAINST             [ ] ABSTAIN
 
   
   This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein
by the undersigned stockholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED
"FOR" ALL NOMINEES IN PROPOSAL NO. 2 AND "FOR" PROPOSALS NO. 1, NO. 3, NO. 4,
NO. 5, NO. 6, AND NO. 7. The proxies are authorized to vote as they may
determine in their discretion upon such other business as may properly come
before the meeting. Please sign and date below and return promptly.
    
 
                                        ________________________________________
                                     
                                        Dated:____________________________, 1997
 

                                        ________________________________________

                                        Dated:____________________________, 1997

                                        Signatures of Stockholder(s) should
                                        correspond exactly with the name 
                                        printed hereon. Joint owners should each
                                        sign personally. Executors, 
                                        administrators, trustees, etc., should 
                                        give full title and authority.


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