Leases

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Leases

Leases

9. Leases

The Company has entered into various building and equipment capital and operating leases for its surgery centers in operation and under development and for office space, expiring at various dates through 2031. Future minimum lease payments, including payments during expected renewal option periods, at December 31, 2011 were as follows (in thousands):

		Capitalized		Operating
Year Ended December 31,		Equipment Leases		Leases
2012		$	3,448	$	42,483
2013			1,762		41,861
2014			1,171		41,385
2015			986		40,434
2016			924		39,744
Thereafter			8,847		314,692
	Total minimum rentals		17,138	$	520,599
Less amounts representing interest at rates ranging from 3.8% to 14.0%			4,427
	Capital lease obligations	$	12,711

At December 31, 2011, buildings and equipment with a cost of approximately $18,968,000 and accumulated depreciation of approximately $5,583,000 were held under capital leases. The Company and the partners in the partnerships have guaranteed payment of certain of these leases. Rental expense for operating leases for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was approximately $42,413,000, $37,301,000 and $35,401,000, respectively.