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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

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The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

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The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

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The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

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The cash outflow for purchases of and capital improvements on property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

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The cash inflow from the sale of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale.

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Dispositions And Acquisitions Of Assets And Businesses And Assets Held For Sale (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010 Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire administrative office buildings	$ 9,000,000
Net cash proceeds from divestitures			24,000,000	21,000,000
Previously held minority ownership interest percentage		20.00%		20.00%
Pro forma net revenues					1,830,000,000	5,500,000,000
Pro forma net income attributable to UHS		$ 91,400,000		$ 269,500,000
Pro forma net income attributable to UHS per diluted share		$ 0.93		$ 2.74
Number of inpatient and outpatient facilities a company operates							105
Number of states in which entity operates							32