OPTIONS AND AWARDS - EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION ACTIVITY (Details) - The Ensign Plans shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 $ / shares shares	Jun. 30, 2020 $ / shares shares
Number of Options Outstanding
Beginning balance, outstanding (in shares) | shares		1,573
Granted (in shares) | shares		366
Exercised (in shares) | shares		(59)
Forfeited (in shares) | shares	(15)
Ending balance, outstanding (in shares) | shares	1,573	1,865
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Beginning of period, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 9.71
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		23.26
Exercised (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		3.63
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 12.44
End of period, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 9.71	$ 12.54
Number of options vested (in shares) | shares	607	631
Weighted average exercise price of options vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 4.80	$ 5.20