Exhibit 24

                             POWER OF ATTORNEY

	Know all by these present, that the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints Rebecca Hurley signing singly, the undersigned's
true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

(1)	execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director of Triad Hospitals,
Inc. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules
thereunder;

(2)	do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute
any such Form 3, 4, or 5, complete and execute any amendment or
amendments thereto, and timely file such form with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or similar
authority; and

(3)	take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection
with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may
be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the
undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by such
attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of
Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-
fact's discretion.

	The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-
fact full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and
thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper to be done in the
exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if
personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-
in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue of this Power of Attorney and the rights and powers herein
granted.  The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-
in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned,
are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the
undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

	This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect
until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with
respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities
issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in
a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this
Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 15th day of August, 2005.


				/s/ James D. Shelton
				_________________________________
				Chairman, President and CEO




Plano, Texas

	On this 15th day of August, 2005, James D. Shelton
known personally to me, personally appeared and acknowledged that
he executed the foregoing instrument for the purposes therein contained.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal.



				/s/ Cindy J. Jarrell
				_____________________________
				Notary Public, State of Texas
				Commission Expires: May 4, 2006