Money Talk

Who's up and who's down

UP
Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City
Rating: A2
Outlook: Stable
Affected debt: $415.4 million
Agency: Moody's Investors Service
Remarks: Rating upgraded from A3 due to a FY 2008 operating profit of $46.9 million and a favorable multi-year financial performance in a challenging market.

Down
Southeast Georgia Health System, Brunswick, GA
Rating: A-
Outlook: Stable
Affected debt: $166 million
Agency: Standard & Poor`s
Remarks: Rating lowered from A due to operating losses in fiscal 2008, recent losses in unrestricted liquidity, and pressure on balance sheet metrics from additional debt.

Down
Elmhurst (IL) Memorial Healthcare
Rating: Baa1
Outlook: Negative
Affected debt: $502.4 million
Agency: Moody's Investors Service
Remarks: Outlook was revised from stable and is reflective of a high debt burden and declining inpatient volume and market share.

down
West Branch (MI) Regional Medical Center
Rating: BB
Outlook: Negative
Affected debt: $12.3 million
Agency: Standard & Poor's
Remarks: Rating revised from stable because of declining volumes over the past few years and the sudden departure of a couple of surgeons.

—Michelle Ponte