EXHIBIT 23.1

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     We consent to  incorporation  by reference in the  registration  statements
(Nos. 33-44648,  33-44649,  33-44650,  33-44651,  33-44653,  33-53914, 33-53912,
33-53916,  33-86684,  33-97190,  333-01432,   333-28289,  333-28293,  333-28317,
333-28321 and  333-47853) on Form S-8 and (Nos.  33-66126,  33-68302,  33-77380,
33-81378,  33-87890,  33-98764,  333-4053,  333-12685,   333-31121,   333-35577,
333-35851,  333-41973 and  333-42169)  on Forms S-3 or S-4 of Integrated  Health
Services,  Inc. of our report dated March 25, 1998, relating to the consolidated
balance  sheets of  Integrated  Health  Services,  Inc. and  subsidiaries  as of
December  31,  1996  and  1997  and  the  related  consolidated   statements  of
operations,  stockholders'  equity  and cash  flows for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 1997 and the related schedule, which report
appears in the December 31, 1997 annual report on Form 10-K of Integrated Health
Services, Inc.

     Our report  refers to  changes in  accounting  methods,  in 1995,  to adopt
Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 121 relating to impairment of
long-lived assets and, in 1996, from deferring and amortizing pre-opening  costs
of medical specialty units to recording them as expenses when incurred.

                                                           KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP

Baltimore, Maryland
March 27, 1998