CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract]
Total net revenues	$ 1,930,340	$ 1,896,505	$ 1,868,924
Costs and expenses:
Operating salaries and benefits	1,086,109	1,071,786	1,049,850
Self-insurance for workers' compensation and general and professional liability insurance	61,027	70,468	63,473
Operating administrative expenses	51,971	51,943	50,924
Other operating costs	400,256	386,972	381,287
Center rent expense	148,308	84,390	72,446
General and administrative expenses	62,331	60,842	62,068
Depreciation and amortization	32,086	47,631	45,092
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	25,277	20,391	20,857
Interest, net of interest income of $324, $314, and $381, respectively	19,451	42,717	48,979
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	29,221	0
Transaction costs	0	29,113	0
Loss (gain) on sale of assets, net	810	847	41
Restructuring costs	2,728	0	1,304
Loss on asset impairment	317,091	0	0
Total costs and expenses	2,207,445	1,896,321	1,796,321
(Loss) income before income taxes and discontinued operations	(277,105)	184	72,603
Income tax expense	12,457	2,964	29,616
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(289,562)	(2,780)	42,987
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations, net of related taxes	(1,523)	(1,870)	(3,983)
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of related taxes	(681)	0	(333)
Loss from discontinued operations, net	(2,204)	(1,870)	(4,316)
Net (loss) income	$ (291,766)	$ (4,650)	$ 38,671
Basic earnings per common and common equivalent share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations	$ (11.10)	$ (0.14)	$ 2.94
Loss from discontinued operations, net	$ (0.09)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.29)
Net (loss) income	$ (11.19)	$ (0.24)	$ 2.65
Diluted earnings per common and common equivalent share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations	$ (11.10)	$ (0.14)	$ 2.92
Loss from discontinued operations, net	$ (0.09)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.29)
Net (loss) income	$ (11.19)	$ (0.24)	$ 2.63
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	26,083	19,280	14,614
Diluted (in shares)	26,083	19,280	14,714