Segments (Service Revenues And Sales And After-Tax Earnings By Business Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Service Revenues and Sales	$ 341,439	$ 320,451	$ 1,005,717	$ 944,259
Net income	21,887	20,988	60,274	59,201
VITAS [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Service Revenues and Sales	252,944	233,964	731,712	683,542
Net income	20,970	19,803	57,684	56,523
Roto-Rooter [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Service Revenues and Sales	88,495	86,487	274,005	260,717
Net income	8,016	7,747	25,618	24,420
Segment Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net income	28,986	27,550	83,302	80,943
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net income	$ (7,099)	$ (6,562)	$ (23,028)	$ (21,742)