-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LREMMNUq9txHDmTLR5Kp4qE++IGPkv/MdD+YZzoCBnA8CGL8bElcTAmN2zcHkvOX
 3BgWYw8xsTvRQVfrH3Tvkg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-001697.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-001697.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106173236
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-001697
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PROVINCE HEALTHCARE CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001044942
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-GENERAL MEDICAL & SURGICAL HOSPITALS, NEC [8062]
		IRS NUMBER:				621710772
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		105 WESTPARK DR
		STREET 2:		STE 400
		CITY:			BRENTWOOD
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37027
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6153701377

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		105 WESTPARK DR
		STREET 2:		SUITE 180
		CITY:			BRENTWOOD
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37207

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PANTOJA ROBERTO G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189150

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31320
		FILM NUMBER:		04511116

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		103 POWELL COURT SUITE 200
		CITY:			BRENTWOOD
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37027
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6153728500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		103 POWELL COURT SUITE 200
		CITY:			BRENTWOOD
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37027
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bna86589_bna02pantoja.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-01</periodOfReport><noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned><issuer><issuerCik>0001044942</issuerCik><issuerName>PROVINCE HEALTHCARE CO</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRV</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001189150</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>PANTOJA ROBERTO G</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>103 POWELL COURT SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>BRENTWOOD</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>37027</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Controller</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTa
ble><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.71</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-03-11</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-03-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">1400 shares are exercisable on each of 3/11/04, 3/11/05, 3/11/06, 3/11/07 and 3/11/08.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Roberto G. Pantoja</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----