Community Health Systems, Inc. (CHS) is an operator of hospitals in the United States. The Company provides healthcare services through these hospitals that it owns and operates in non-urban and selected urban markets throughout the United States. As of December 31, 2008, included in the Company’s operations, were 118 hospitals that it owned, leased or operated. These hospitals are geographically diversified across 28 states, with an aggregate of 17,245 licensed beds. Effective June 30, 2008, the Company acquired the remaining 35% equity interest in Affinity Health Systems, LLC, which indirectly owns and operates Trinity Medical Center (560 licensed beds) in Birmingham, Alabama, from Baptist Health Systems, Inc., giving the Company 100% ownership of that facility. Effective October 1, 2008, the Company acquired Deaconess Medical Center (388 licensed beds) and Valley Hospital and Medical Center (123 licensed beds) located in Spokane, Washington, from Empire Health Services.