OPTIONS AND AWARDS - EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION ACTIVITY (Details) - The Ensign Plans shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 $ / shares shares	Oct. 01, 2019 $ / shares shares
Number of Options Outstanding
Beginning balance, outstanding (in shares) | shares	917
Granted (in shares) | shares	667
Exercised (in shares) | shares	(7)
Forfeited (in shares) | shares	(4)
Ending balance, outstanding (in shares) | shares	1,573
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Beginning of period, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 5.68
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	15.23
Exercised (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	4.64
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	14.07
End of period, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 9.71
Number of options vested (in shares) | shares	607	586
Weighted average exercise price of options vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 4.80	$ 4.73