Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Nov. 30, 2011	Aug. 31, 2011
Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Contractual allowances for accounts receivable	$ 187,007,000	$ 188,513,000
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued
Preferred stock, shares outstanding
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, issued	14,426,960	14,426,960