Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Service revenues	$ 52,615	$ 65,914	$ 110,897	$ 104,500
Product revenues	8,480	12,708	28,755	32,939
Total net revenues	61,095	78,622	139,652	137,439
Cost of services	26,392	40,694	73,518	93,706
Cost of products	4,594	6,163	14,306	16,045
Gross profit	30,109	31,765	51,828	27,688
Operating expenses:
Research, development and engineering	4,396	4,231	11,998	14,601
Marketing and sales	5,645	4,680	15,062	13,374
General, administrative and other operating expenses	10,132	10,990	32,316	34,566
Total operating expenses	20,173	19,901	59,376	62,541
Income (loss) from operations	9,936	11,864	(7,548)	(34,853)
Interest expense, net	(3,959)	(4,607)	(12,664)	(14,043)
Other income (expense), net	722	(2,027)	(4,154)	(3,624)
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,699	5,230	(24,366)	(52,520)
Income tax expense	1,686	3,316	3,670	5,865
Net income (loss)	5,013	1,914	(28,036)	(58,385)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(78)	(215)	(812)	(272)
Net income (loss) attributable to ION	$ 4,935	$ 1,699	$ (28,848)	$ (58,657)
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.14	$ (2.43)	$ (5.21)
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.14	$ (2.43)	$ (5.21)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic, in shares	11,890	11,786	11,862	11,269
Diluted, in shares	12,071	11,907	11,862	11,269