SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                              --------------------


                                    FORM 8-K


                              --------------------

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)     September 25, 1996
                                                  ----------------------------

                        INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         Delaware                 1-12306                        23-2428312
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission                   (IRS Employer
      of corporation)           File Number)                Identification No.)

10065 Red Run Boulevard, Owings Mills, Maryland                   21117
- -----------------------------------------------                -------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (410) 998-8400
                                                     -----------------

                                 Not Applicable
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




Item 2.     Acquisition or Disposition of Assets

         On September 25, 1996 Integrated Health Services,  Inc. ("the Company")
acquired  all  the  outstanding   stock  of  Signature  Home  Care  Group,  Inc.
("Signature")  headquartered in Irving, Texas. The total purchase price was $9.2
million,  of which $4.7 million represents the issuance of 196,374 shares of the
Company's  common  stock,  with the  remaining  being  paid  with the  Company's
revolving credit facility. The Company will use its best efforts to register the
shares with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, within ninety days of the Closing.

         Signature  is a full  service  home health care  company with 22 branch
locations  in five states.  Signature  offers home  nursing  services,  infusion
services,  respiratory  therapy and home medical equipment in Arizona,  Florida,
Kansas,  New Jersey and Texas, in addition to providing  management  services to
home health providers.




Item 7.     Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

         a.       Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.

         Pursuant  to  Instruction  (a)(4)  of Item 7 to Form 8-K,  the  Company
intends to file the required historical financial statements of Signature within
60 days after the date this report was required to be filed.

         b.       Pro Forma Financial Information.

         Pursuant  to  Instruction  (b)(2)  of Item 7 of Form 8-K,  the  Company
intends to file required pro forma  financial  information  within 60 days after
the date this report was required to be filed.

         c.       Exhibits.

         2.01     Stock  Purchase  Agreement  dated as of August 23, 1996 by and
                  among the  Company,  Signature  and  Selling  Shareholders  of
                  Signature.



                                   SIGNATURES
                                   ----------





         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant has duly caused this amendment to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                             INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES, INC.




Date: October 8, 1996                        By  /s/ W. Bradley Bennett
                                                 -----------------------
                                             Name: W. Bradley Bennett
                                             Title: Executive Vice President and
                                                      Chief Accounting Officer