Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jul. 01, 2011	Apr. 01, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Oct. 01, 2010	Jul. 02, 2010	Mar. 30, 2012	Apr. 01, 2011	Apr. 02, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 538,869	$ 527,695	$ 521,756	$ 513,682	$ 549,658	$ 510,087	$ 496,188	$ 478,856	$ 2,102,002	$ 2,034,789	$ 2,055,171
Income from operations									133,356	133,556	120,981
Depreciation									26,847	25,065	21,940
Amortization of intangible assets									8,930	6,378	5,121
Provisions for doubtful accounts and notes receivable									2,858	1,741	3,795
Interest expense									20,148	17,121	17,295
Provision for income taxes									41,063	44,561	40,767
Capital expenditures									23,918	18,227	25,923
Total assets	1,155,970				951,672				1,155,970	951,672
Consumable Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,497,146	1,504,255	1,563,462
Pharmaceutical Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									350,704	330,572	333,026
Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									146,030	138,414	134,067
Physician Dispensing Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									84,328	36,899	0
Billing Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									10,549	11,956	13,219
Customer Freight Charges [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									15,544	13,382	10,926
Vendor Incentive And Other Income [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									(2,299)	(689)	471
Physician Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,512,719	1,425,012	1,437,823
Income from operations									144,767	137,995	137,261
Depreciation									11,100	9,515	7,983
Amortization of intangible assets									5,798	2,956	2,343
Provisions for doubtful accounts and notes receivable									2,288	1,792	1,944
Interest expense									4,706	4,631	4,110
Provision for income taxes									50,248	49,951	49,982
Capital expenditures									2,864	1,554	1,282
Total assets	606,725				570,278				606,725	570,278	440,916
Extended Care Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									587,388	607,750	614,937
Income from operations									27,620	37,782	38,017
Depreciation									5,341	5,024	4,984
Amortization of intangible assets									2,491	2,757	2,432
Provisions for doubtful accounts and notes receivable									570	(51)	1,851
Interest expense									8,391	8,157	8,192
Provision for income taxes									6,938	11,212	11,103
Capital expenditures									911	1,659	509
Total assets	323,710				298,016				323,710	298,016	298,063
Shared Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,895	2,027	2,411
Income from operations									(39,031)	(42,221)	(54,297)
Depreciation									10,406	10,526	8,973
Amortization of intangible assets									641	665	346
Interest expense									7,051	4,333	4,993
Provision for income taxes									(16,123)	(16,602)	(20,318)
Capital expenditures									20,143	15,014	24,132
Total assets	$ 225,535				$ 83,378				$ 225,535	$ 83,378	$ 133,087