Note 8 - Fixed Assets, Net

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 8 - FIXED ASSETS, NET:

Fixed assets, net of depreciation at December 31, 2011 and 2010 consisted of the following (000’s omitted):

	2011			2010

Furniture, office and computer equipment	$	28,473		$	24,379
Medical equipment		11,306			10,315
Leasehold improvements		30,151			26,001
Construction in progress		8			20
Assets under capital leases		427			427
Total		70,365			61,142
Less ¾ Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(49,077	)		(41,878	)
	$	21,288		$	19,264

Our fixed assets are depreciated on a straight line basis. We generally assign useful lives of five years to assets classified as furniture, fixtures, office and medical equipment. Assets classified as computer hardware and software are generally assigned a three year useful life and leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of their useful life, or the term of the lease.

Depreciation expense on fixed assets for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $7,199,000, $5,551,000, and $5,822,000, respectively. Assets under capital lease are comprised of various medical equipment. Accumulated amortization related specifically to capital leases at December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $393,000 and $298,000, respectively.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software. This disclosure may include property plant and equipment accounting policies and methodology, a schedule of property, plant and equipment gross, additions, deletions, transfers and other changes, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, net, accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and useful lives, income statement disclosures, assets held for sale and public utility disclosures.

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