Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Information
Net operating revenue	$ 750,193	$ 698,749	$ 1,494,214	$ 1,391,935
Adjusted EBITDA	110,279	99,925	219,343	205,659
Total assets:	2,779,637		2,779,637		2,772,147
Capital expenditures	16,183	10,776	27,934	23,696
Select Medical Corporation
Segment Information
Net operating revenue	750,193	698,749	1,494,214	1,391,935
Total assets:	2,778,414	2,786,433	2,778,414	2,786,433	2,770,738
Capital expenditures			27,934	23,696
Select Medical Holdings Corporation
Segment Information
Total assets:	2,779,637	2,788,022	2,779,637	2,788,022
Specialty Hospitals
Segment Information
Net operating revenue	557,130	520,261	1,110,168	1,040,185
Adjusted EBITDA	102,166	91,081	202,120	191,434
Capital expenditures	12,631	6,130	19,682	16,617
Specialty Hospitals | Select Medical Corporation
Segment Information
Total assets:	2,184,743	2,202,994	2,184,743	2,202,994
Specialty Hospitals | Select Medical Holdings Corporation
Segment Information
Total assets:	2,184,743	2,202,994	2,184,743	2,202,994
Outpatient Rehabilitation
Segment Information
Number of operating segments			2
Net operating revenue	193,050	178,473	383,949	351,664
Adjusted EBITDA	25,837	24,467	48,315	45,873
Capital expenditures	2,922	2,801	6,713	4,982
Outpatient Rehabilitation | Select Medical Corporation
Segment Information
Total assets:	437,591	471,175	437,591	471,175
Outpatient Rehabilitation | Select Medical Holdings Corporation
Segment Information
Total assets:	437,591	471,175	437,591	471,175
All Other
Segment Information
Net operating revenue	13	15	97	86
Adjusted EBITDA	(17,724)	(15,623)	(31,092)	(31,648)
Capital expenditures	630	1,845	1,539	2,097
All Other | Select Medical Corporation
Segment Information
Total assets:	156,080	112,264	156,080	112,264
All Other | Select Medical Holdings Corporation
Segment Information
Total assets:	$ 157,303	$ 113,853	$ 157,303	$ 113,853