SEGMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 segment	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
SEGMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION
Number of reportable segments	3
Net sales
Customers	$ 918,539	$ 817,379	$ 760,070
Depreciation and amortization	30,969	18,809	16,319
Income from operations	116,827	81,379	90,520
Interest (income) expense	31,821	30,340	30,693
Income (loss) before taxes	85,006	35,444	59,994
Total assets	1,128,500	1,061,479	875,036
Capital expenditures	25,300	30,593	21,270
Threshold percentage of entity-wide sales for disclosure of customer concentration	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Patient-Care Services
Summarized financial information concerning the Company's reportable segments
Minimum age for health insurance coverage under Medicare health insurance program	65
Medicare reimbursement for O&P products and services based on prices set forth in fee schedules, number of regional service areas	10
Minimum age to supplement Medicare benefits for financially needy persons under Medicaid health insurance program	65
Estimated government reimbursement as a percentage of the company's net sales	40.00%	40.40%	40.50%
Net sales
Customers	753,409	714,665	670,458
Intersegments	15,853
Depreciation and amortization	12,502	11,211	10,288
Income from operations	139,790	131,430	125,185
Interest (income) expense	28,440	28,410	28,470
Income (loss) before taxes	111,350	103,020	96,715
Total assets	1,279,481	1,054,270	821,988
Capital expenditures	11,886	17,599	14,704
Distribution
Net sales
Customers	100,456	95,544	88,043
Intersegments	174,431	168,823	155,017
Depreciation and amortization	1,088	1,004	893
Income from operations	28,293	30,395	25,634
Interest (income) expense	3,356	3,397	3,443
Income (loss) before taxes	24,937	26,998	22,191
Total assets	170,077	146,166	119,989
Capital expenditures	1,318	1,112	794
Therapeutic Solutions
Net sales
Customers	64,014	6,622	1,122
Intersegments	3,520	3,839	2,782
Depreciation and amortization	10,424	1,293	349
Income from operations	3,703	(5,402)	(5,762)
Interest (income) expense	5,761	480
Income (loss) before taxes	(2,058)	(5,882)	(5,762)
Total assets	135,781	142,970	(16,902)
Capital expenditures	3,667	2,056	904
Other
Net sales
Customers	660	548	447
Depreciation and amortization	7,068	5,414	4,902
Income from operations	(54,654)	(75,023)	(54,705)
Interest (income) expense	(5,736)	(1,947)	(1,220)
Income (loss) before taxes	(48,918)	(88,671)	(53,318)
Total assets	(456,839)	(281,927)	(50,039)
Capital expenditures	11,253	9,826	4,868
Consolidated Adjustments
Net sales
Intersegments	(193,804)	(172,662)	(157,799)
Depreciation and amortization	(113)	(113)	(113)
Income from operations	(305)	(21)	168
Income (loss) before taxes	$ (305)	$ (21)	$ 168