Distress detectors: measures for predicting financial trouble in hospitals.

Seven measures are indispensable to healthcare financial executives for assessing their organizations' financial well-being. Two are accrual based: Cleverley's Financial Strength Index Altman's modified Z score. The rest are cash-flow based: Operating cash flow ratio. Funds flow coverage ratio. Cash interest coverage ratio. Cash flow to total debt ratio. Total free cash flow ratio.