EXHIBIT 99.2


                        (LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC. LOGO)


Contact:   Michael J. Culotta
           Senior Vice President and
           Chief Financial Officer
           (615) 372-8512

             LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS ANNOUNCES CONVERTIBLE DEBT OFFERING

BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE (May 16, 2002) - LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPNT)
announced today that, subject to market and other conditions, it intends to
offer approximately $200 million of seven-year convertible subordinated notes.
The notes will be convertible into shares of LifePoint Hospitals common stock.
The offering will be made pursuant to an exemption from registration under the
Securities Act of 1933. LifePoint Hospitals intends to use the net proceeds of
this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include capital
improvements on its existing facilities, repurchases of its 10 3/4% senior
subordinated notes and for working capital.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell nor an offer to buy
securities. The offering is being made only to qualified institutional buyers
and persons outside the United States. The convertible notes being offered and
the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the convertible notes
have not been registered under the United States or state securities laws and
may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an
applicable exemption from the registration requirements.

LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. operates 23 hospitals in non-urban areas.
Headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, LifePoint Hospitals is affiliated with
over 7,000 employees.

The above statements include forward-looking statements based on current
management expectations. Numerous factors exist which may cause results to
differ from these expectations. Many of the factors that will determine the
Company's future results are beyond the ability of the Company to control or
predict. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties relating to the
Company, including, without limitation, (i) whether market conditions or other
circumstances, enable LifePoint to complete the proposed offering of convertible
notes, and (ii) those risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the
Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Therefore, the
Company's actual results may differ materially. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.