<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000805274 <NAME> NATIONAL HEALTHCARE L.P. <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 15,945,000 <SECURITIES> 17,298,000 <RECEIVABLES> 84,058,000 <ALLOWANCES> 5,472,000 <INVENTORY> 4,077,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 126,279,000 <PP&E> 305,843,000 <DEPRECIATION> (26,453,000) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 462,505,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 120,867,000 <BONDS> 205,730,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 137,767,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 462,505,000 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 212,054,000 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 182,716,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,253,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,073,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 14,300,000 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 14,300,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.62 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.41