Note 6 - Business Segments - Summary of Financial Information by Reporting Segment (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Revenues:
Other revenues	$ 11,269,000	$ 11,284,000
Net operating revenues	242,961,000	238,538,000
Costs and expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits	140,095,000	138,055,000
Other operating	65,172,000	63,178,000
Rent	10,229,000	10,088,000
Depreciation and amortization	10,342,000	10,295,000
Interest	1,240,000	1,058,000
Total costs and expenses	227,078,000	222,674,000
Income (loss) from operations	15,883,000	15,864,000
Non-operating income (loss)	(3,065,000)	4,768,000
Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities	(15,517,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(2,699,000)	20,632,000
Net Patient Revenues [Member]
Revenues:
Net patient revenues	231,692,000	227,254,000
Inpatient Services Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Other revenues	271,000	226,000
Net operating revenues	216,622,000	211,823,000
Costs and expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits	123,380,000	119,623,000
Other operating	57,835,000	56,165,000
Rent	8,258,000	8,166,000
Depreciation and amortization	9,461,000	9,209,000
Interest	396,000	449,000
Total costs and expenses	199,330,000	193,612,000
Income (loss) from operations	17,292,000	18,211,000
Non-operating income (loss)
Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities
Income (loss) before income taxes	17,292,000	18,211,000
Inpatient Services Segment [Member] | Net Patient Revenues [Member]
Revenues:
Net patient revenues	216,351,000	211,597,000
Homecare Services Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Other revenues
Net operating revenues	15,341,000	15,657,000
Costs and expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits	8,030,000	7,828,000
Other operating	5,279,000	5,135,000
Rent	487,000	489,000
Depreciation and amortization	38,000	40,000
Interest
Total costs and expenses	13,834,000	13,492,000
Income (loss) from operations	1,507,000	2,165,000
Non-operating income (loss)
Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,507,000	2,165,000
Homecare Services Segment [Member] | Net Patient Revenues [Member]
Revenues:
Net patient revenues	15,341,000	15,657,000
Other Segments [Member]
Revenues:
Other revenues	10,998,000	11,058,000
Net operating revenues	10,998,000	11,058,000
Costs and expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits	8,685,000	10,604,000
Other operating	2,058,000	1,878,000
Rent	1,484,000	1,433,000
Depreciation and amortization	843,000	1,046,000
Interest	844,000	609,000
Total costs and expenses	13,914,000	15,570,000
Income (loss) from operations	(2,916,000)	(4,512,000)
Non-operating income (loss)	(3,065,000)	4,768,000
Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities	(15,517,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(21,498,000)	256,000
Other Segments [Member] | Net Patient Revenues [Member]
Revenues:
Net patient revenues