GENESIS HEALTH VENTURES AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 STATEMENT RE COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
                    QUARTERS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996       Exhibit 11
                 (in thousands, except share and per share data)


                                                                         December 31,          December 31,
                                                                            1997                   1996
                                                                      ------------------     -----------------
                                                                                          
Basic Earnings Per Share:

        Earnings before extraordinary item                                     $ 12,822              $ 11,508
        Extraordinary item, net of tax                                           (1,924)                 (553)
                                                                      ------------------     -----------------
        Net income                                                             $ 10,898              $ 10,955
                                                                      ------------------     -----------------

        Weighted average shares                                              35,079,426            33,096,946

        EPS before extraordinary item                                            $ 0.37                $ 0.35
        EPS extraordinary item, net of tax                                        (0.05)                (0.02)
                                                                      ------------------     -----------------
        EPS net income                                                           $ 0.31                $ 0.33
                                                                      ==================     =================

Diluted Earnings Per Share:

        Earnings before extraordinary item                                     $ 12,822              $ 11,508
        Extraordinary item, net of tax                                           (1,924)                 (553)
                                                                      ------------------     -----------------
        Net income                                                             $ 10,898              $ 10,955
                                                                      ------------------     -----------------

        Adjustments to net income

          Interest expense, amortization and other costs
             related to the assumed conversion of the
             convertible debentures, net of tax                                       -                   303

                                                                      ------------------     -----------------
        Adjusted net income                                                    $ 10,898              $ 11,258
                                                                      ------------------     -----------------

        Weighted average shares & common stock equivalents
             Common shares                                                   35,079,426            33,096,946
             Dilutive effect of unexcersised stock options                      515,055               535,552
             Convertible debenture shares                                             -             1,746,205

                                                                      ------------------     -----------------
        Total                                                                35,594,481            35,378,703
                                                                      ------------------     -----------------


        EPS before extraordinary item                                            $ 0.36                $ 0.33
        EPS extraordinary item, net of tax                                        (0.05)                (0.01)
                                                                      ------------------     -----------------
        EPS net income                                                           $ 0.31                $ 0.32
                                                                      ==================     =================