Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 EmCare	Mar. 31, 2013 HCA-EmCare JV	Dec. 31, 2012 HCA-EmCare JV
Variable Interest Entities
Voting control (as a percent)			50.00%
Summary of the assets and liabilities which are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements
Current assets	$ 814,896	$ 753,009		$ 4,666,339	$ 33,141,502
Current liabilities	$ 494,640	$ 477,072		$ 30,718,349	$ 20,081,084