<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000805274 <NAME> NATIONAL HEALTHCARE L.P. <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 5,116,000 <SECURITIES> 16,889,000 <RECEIVABLES> 61,400,000 <ALLOWANCES> 5,116,000 <INVENTORY> 4,301,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 89,006,000 <PP&E> 302,408,000 <DEPRECIATION> (78,734,000) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 429,412,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 77,565,000 <BONDS> 199,824,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 135,182,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 429,412,000 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 105,863,000 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 91,720,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 621,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,829,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,958,000 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,958,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .79 <EPS-DILUTED> .69