Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	$ 460,470		$ 468,676		$ 1,376,105		$ 1,405,558
Intersegment revenues	0		0		0		0
Total net revenues	460,470		468,676		1,376,105		1,405,558
Operating salaries and benefits	259,379		263,932		779,976		789,874
Self-insurance for workers' compensation and general and professional liability insurance	15,237		14,545		43,744		43,643
Other operating costs	97,619		93,705		289,614		276,999
General and Administrative Expense	25,082	[1]	27,787	[1]	81,281	[1]	84,489	[1]
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	5,250		4,604		15,157		14,198
Segment operating income (loss)	57,903		64,103		166,333		196,355
Center rent expense	36,647		35,952		109,546		107,394
Depreciation and amortization	8,654		8,163		25,588		23,241
Interest, net	4,458		4,834		13,297		14,688
Net segment income (loss)	8,144		15,154		17,902		51,032
Identifiable segment assets	737,913		785,300		737,913		785,300
Goodwill	34,905		35,679		34,905		35,679		34,496
Segment capital expenditures	6,722		14,190		24,551		32,346
Inpatient Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	409,750		418,097		1,220,673		1,250,568
Intersegment revenues	0		0		0		0
Total net revenues	409,750		418,097		1,220,673		1,250,568
Operating salaries and benefits	191,048		193,403		570,169		577,160
Self-insurance for workers' compensation and general and professional liability insurance	14,237		13,501		40,683		40,480
Other operating costs	124,858		121,890		374,346		362,158
General and Administrative Expense	8,523	[1]	10,112	[1]	26,624	[1]	30,387	[1]
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	4,758		4,460		13,802		13,438
Segment operating income (loss)	66,326		74,731		195,049		226,945
Center rent expense	36,323		35,642		108,606		106,487
Depreciation and amortization	7,276		6,770		21,420		19,331
Interest, net	(53)		(33)		(81)		(69)
Net segment income (loss)	22,780		32,352		65,104		101,196
Identifiable segment assets	381,223		384,576		381,223		384,576
Goodwill	30,297		31,071		30,297		31,071
Segment capital expenditures	6,081		12,934		22,408		27,309
Rehabiliation Therapy Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	29,032		29,568		88,858		89,645
Intersegment revenues	31,885		32,791		98,152		98,710
Total net revenues	60,917		62,359		187,010		188,355
Operating salaries and benefits	51,809		54,298		158,170		161,925
Self-insurance for workers' compensation and general and professional liability insurance	601		633		1,820		1,918
Other operating costs	2,130		2,374		6,991		7,082
General and Administrative Expense	1,514	[1]	2,309	[1]	6,284	[1]	7,139	[1]
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	374		73		1,154		713
Segment operating income (loss)	4,489		2,672		12,591		9,578
Center rent expense	154		140		432		394
Depreciation and amortization	267		236		778		689
Interest, net	0		0		0		0
Net segment income (loss)	4,068		2,296		11,381		8,495
Identifiable segment assets	17,605		16,254		17,605		16,254
Goodwill	75		75		75		75
Segment capital expenditures	200		149		758		1,102
Medical Staffing Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	21,686		20,996		66,559		65,309
Intersegment revenues	432		757		1,982		2,079
Total net revenues	22,118		21,753		68,541		67,388
Operating salaries and benefits	16,522		16,231		51,637		50,789
Self-insurance for workers' compensation and general and professional liability insurance	335		344		1,049		1,043
Other operating costs	2,948		2,989		8,411		8,548
General and Administrative Expense	596	[1]	540	[1]	1,831	[1]	1,804	[1]
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	118		71		201		47
Segment operating income (loss)	1,599		1,578		5,412		5,157
Center rent expense	170		170		508		513
Depreciation and amortization	191		187		562		561
Interest, net	0		0		(3)		1
Net segment income (loss)	1,238		1,221		4,345		4,082
Identifiable segment assets	19,806		20,039		19,806		20,039
Goodwill	4,533		4,533		4,533		4,533
Segment capital expenditures	40		63		151		136
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	2		15		15		36
Intersegment revenues	0		0		0		0
Total net revenues	2		15		15		36
Operating salaries and benefits	0		0		0		0
Self-insurance for workers' compensation and general and professional liability insurance	64		67		192		202
Other operating costs	0		0		0		0
General and Administrative Expense	14,449	[1]	14,826	[1]	46,542	[1]	45,159	[1]
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	0		0		0		0
Segment operating income (loss)	(14,511)		(14,878)		(46,719)		(45,325)
Center rent expense	0		0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization	920		970		2,828		2,660
Interest, net	4,511		4,867		13,381		14,756
Net segment income (loss)	(19,942)		(20,715)		(62,928)		(62,741)
Identifiable segment assets	298,364		343,550		298,364		343,550
Goodwill	0		0		0		0
Segment capital expenditures	401		1,044		1,234		3,799
Intersegment, Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	0		0		0		0
Intersegment revenues	(32,317)		(33,548)		(100,134)		(100,789)
Total net revenues	(32,317)		(33,548)		(100,134)		(100,789)
Operating salaries and benefits	0		0		0		0
Self-insurance for workers' compensation and general and professional liability insurance	0		0		0		0
Other operating costs	(32,317)		(33,548)		(100,134)		(100,789)
General and Administrative Expense	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	0		0		0		0
Segment operating income (loss)	0		0		0		0
Center rent expense	0		0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0		0		0		0
Interest, net	0		0		0		0
Net segment income (loss)	0		0		0		0
Identifiable segment assets	20,915		20,881		20,915		20,881
Goodwill	0		0		0		0
Segment capital expenditures	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0

[1] General and administrative expenses include operating administrative expenses.