EXHIBIT 99.1

                           PROVINCE HEALTHCARE COMPANY


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C.Section 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



         In connection with the Report of Province Healthcare Company (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Martin
S. Rash, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, that:

         (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

         (2) Information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.


Date:  August 13, 2002                                  /s/ Martin S. Rash
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        Martin S. Rash
                                                        Chief Executive Officer