EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Triad Hospitals, Inc. of our report dated February 28, 2000 relating to the financial statements, which appears in Triad Hospitals, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Dallas, Texas August 7, 2000