<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS OF NATIONAL HEALTHCARE AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1994 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1994 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1994 <CASH> 3,046,000 <SECURITIES> 4,010,000 <RECEIVABLES> 89,292,000 <ALLOWANCES> (3,367,000) <INVENTORY> 2,952,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 97,506,000 <PP&E> 264,513,000 <DEPRECIATION> (77,104,000) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 396,133,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 55,038,000 <BONDS> 224,007,000 <COMMON> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 101,006,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 396,133,000 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 298,901,000 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 254,298,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,118,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,050,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 15,853,000 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 15,853,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.02 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.80