<PAGE>   1




                                                                      Exhibit 11

                             Coventry Corporation
                    Computation of Net Earnings Per Common
                        and Common Equivalent Share (1)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    Years ended December 31
                                                                                    ------------------------------------------------
 (amounts in thousands except per share data)                                            1996               1995             1994
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------     -------------     --------------   -------------
 <S>                                                                                   <C>               <C>               <C>
 Net Earnings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .             $(61,287)         $     18          $29,288
                                                                                    =============     ==============   =============
 Weighted average number of common shares:
 Shares outstanding at beginning of period (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               32,277            31,194           30,306
 Effect of exercise of stock options, warrants and employee plans  . . . .                  538               332              205

 Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares:
 Additional equivalent shares issuable from assumed exercise of stock options               196               638              914
                                                                                    -------------     --------------   ------------
                                                                                    
 Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding -            
 primary basis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               33,011            32,164           31,425 

 Incremental (decremental) equivalent shares from application of the fully          
 diluted computation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                    8               (14)             125 
                                                                                    -------------     --------------   -------------

 Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding -    
 fully diluted basis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               33,019            32,150           31,550 
                                                                                    =============     ==============   =============

 Net earnings per common and common equivalent share:
 Primary and fully diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .             $  (1.86)         $   0.00          $  0.93
                                                                                    =============     ==============   =============
</TABLE>

    (1)    After giving effect to 2 for 1 stock split in the form of a stock
           dividend on August 3, 1994.

    (2)    Restated for the purchases of HealthCare USA in 1995 and Southern
           Health Management Corporation in 1994 accounted for as poolings of
           interests.