<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-QSB
PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000895659
<NAME> DIAGNOSTIC HEALTH SERVICES, INC.
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                               0               8,270,287
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0              17,913,492
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                (300,450)
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0              29,939,356
<PP&E>                                               0              36,220,512
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0              (8,497,611)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       0              99,114,679
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0              13,683,276
<BONDS>                                              0              36,058,537
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                     649
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                  10,144
<OTHER-SE>                                           0              44,084,145
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         0              99,114,679
<SALES>                                     14,889,977              37,932,629
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            14,889,977              37,932,629
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               11,357,636              29,334,243
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               (79,960)               (304,293)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               182,901                 458,420
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,146,705               2,550,911
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              2,282,695               5,893,348
<INCOME-TAX>                                   777,778               2,005,400
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,504,917               3,887,948
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,504,917               3,887,948
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.14                    0.37
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.13                    0.34
        

</TABLE>