Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Service revenues	$ 23,828	$ 13,156
Product revenues	8,728	9,509
Total net revenues	32,556	22,665
Cost of services	22,299	25,837
Cost of products	4,156	5,758
Gross profit (loss)	6,101	(8,930)
Operating expenses:
Research, development and engineering	3,495	5,609
Marketing and sales	4,486	4,010
General, administrative and other operating expenses	12,032	11,580
Total operating expenses	20,013	21,199
Loss from operations	(13,912)	(30,129)
Interest expense, net	(4,464)	(4,734)
Other income (expense), net	(5,068)	120
Loss before income taxes	(23,444)	(34,743)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(418)	293
Net loss	(23,026)	(35,036)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(316)	22
Net loss attributable to ION	$ (23,342)	$ (35,014)
Net loss per share:
Basic, in dollars per share	$ (1.98)	$ (3.30)
Diluted, in dollars per share	$ (1.98)	$ (3.30)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic, in shares	11,818	10,600
Diluted, in shares	11,818	10,600