<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000805274 <NAME>National HealthCare L.P. <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 7,271,000 <SECURITIES> 19,130,000 <RECEIVABLES> 69,099,000 <ALLOWANCES> 5,925,000 <INVENTORY> 4,258,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 100,853,000 <PP&E> 314,538,000 <DEPRECIATION> (56,892,000) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 444,455,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 81,841,000 <BONDS> 202,922,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 144,084,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 444,455,000 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 324,043,000 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 276,972,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,946,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,387,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 23,677,000 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 23,677,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.68 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.33