GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill, Balance at beginning of period			$ 5,535,848,000	$ 5,795,765,000	$ 5,795,765,000
Goodwill acquired during the period			130,192,000		28,144,000
Goodwill impairment and write-off associated with sale of businesses during the period			(37,103,000)		(85,173,000)
Goodwill reclassified to non-current assets held for sale			0		(218,795,000)
(Decrease) Increase related to foreign currency translation			(129,000)		15,907,000
Goodwill, Balance at end of period	5,628,808,000		5,628,808,000		5,535,848,000
Portion of goodwill associated with the DIS business	90.00%		90.00%		90.00%
Amortizing intangible assets, Cost	1,208,298,000		1,208,298,000		1,125,589,000
Amortizing intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization	(304,399,000)		(304,399,000)		(253,417,000)
Amortizing intangible assets, Net	903,899,000		903,899,000		872,172,000
Amortization expense related to intangible assets	20,158,000	18,577,000	59,198,000	56,210,000
Remainder of 2013	19,932,000		19,932,000
Future Amortization Expense, 2014	76,657,000		76,657,000
Future Amortization Expense, 2015	65,335,000		65,335,000
Future Amortization Expense, 2016	58,980,000		58,980,000
Future Amortization Expense, 2017	56,000,000		56,000,000
Future Amortization Expense, 2018	48,751,000		48,751,000
Future Amortization Expense, Thereafter	332,825,000		332,825,000
Future Amortization Expense, Total			658,480,000
Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization - Tradenames [Member]
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizing intangible assets, Cost	244,000,000		244,000,000		246,200,000
Amortizing intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization
Amortizing intangible assets, Net	244,000,000		244,000,000		246,200,000
Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization - In-Process Research and Development [Member]
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizing intangible assets, Cost	120,000		120,000		120,000
Amortizing intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization
Amortizing intangible assets, Net	120,000		120,000		120,000
Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization - Other [Member]
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizing intangible assets, Cost	1,299,000		1,299,000		1,159,000
Amortizing intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization
Amortizing intangible assets, Net	1,299,000		1,299,000		1,159,000
Customer-related intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period			18 years
Amortizing intangible assets, Cost	657,901,000		657,901,000		566,701,000
Amortizing intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization	(200,194,000)		(200,194,000)		(173,516,000)
Amortizing intangible assets, Net	457,707,000		457,707,000		393,185,000
Non-compete agreements [Member]
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period			4 years
Amortizing intangible assets, Cost	41,731,000		41,731,000		38,551,000
Amortizing intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization	(24,405,000)		(24,405,000)		(17,123,000)
Amortizing intangible assets, Net	17,326,000		17,326,000		21,428,000
Technology [Member]
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period			14 years
Amortizing intangible assets, Cost	119,440,000		119,440,000		131,040,000
Amortizing intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization	(25,714,000)		(25,714,000)		(25,144,000)
Amortizing intangible assets, Net	93,726,000		93,726,000		105,896,000
Other [Member]
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period			8 years
Amortizing intangible assets, Cost	143,807,000		143,807,000		141,818,000
Amortizing intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization	(54,086,000)		(54,086,000)		(37,634,000)
Amortizing intangible assets, Net	89,721,000		89,721,000		104,184,000
Total Amortizing Intangible Assets [Member]
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period			16 years
Amortizing intangible assets, Cost	962,879,000		962,879,000		878,110,000
Amortizing intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization	(304,399,000)		(304,399,000)		(253,417,000)
Amortizing intangible assets, Net	658,480,000		658,480,000		624,693,000
Enterix [Member]
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangible assets write-off			5,600,000
UMass, Dignity and ATN (Combined) [Member]
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Purchase price allocation, intangible assets	94,900,000		94,900,000
SED Medical Laboratories [Member]
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Purchase price allocation, intangible assets					19,000,000
Goodwill deductible for tax purposes					$ 28,000,000