Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Net revenues	$ 1,848,662	$ 1,323,264	$ 5,661,424	$ 4,008,732
Salaries, wages and benefits	845,818	572,742	2,543,760	1,715,220
Other operating expenses	350,358	258,388	1,054,639	754,530
Supplies expense	202,817	180,024	615,581	543,766
Provision for doubtful accounts	155,899	133,467	469,932	402,621
Depreciation and amortization	75,166	55,530	219,751	163,066
Lease and rental expense	23,076	18,429	69,583	54,548
Total operating charges	1,653,134	1,218,580	4,973,246	3,633,751
Income from operations	195,528	104,684	688,178	374,981
Interest expense, net	48,452	11,478	154,677	36,132
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	147,076	93,206	533,501	338,849
Provision for income taxes	52,234	27,404	192,638	113,870
Net income	94,842	65,802	340,863	224,979
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9,788	10,192	37,967	31,978
Net income attributable to UHS	85,054	55,610	302,896	193,001
Parent [Member]
Net revenues	0	0	0	0
Salaries, wages and benefits	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	0	0	0	(349)
Supplies expense	0	0	0	0
Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Lease and rental expense	0	0	0	0
Total operating charges	0	0	0	(349)
Income from operations	0	0	0	349
Interest expense, net	47,113	10,568	150,369	33,669
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(113,314)	(62,098)	(394,754)	(213,497)
Income before income taxes	66,201	51,530	244,385	180,177
Provision for income taxes	(18,853)	(4,080)	(58,511)	(12,824)
Net income	85,054	55,610	302,896	193,001
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	85,054	55,610	302,896	193,001
Guarantors [Member]
Net revenues	1,271,186	855,865	3,890,041	2,578,478
Salaries, wages and benefits	604,833	390,628	1,826,384	1,169,676
Other operating expenses	239,152	165,274	721,674	485,100
Supplies expense	127,227	106,000	388,598	322,579
Provision for doubtful accounts	93,934	77,160	274,603	209,305
Depreciation and amortization	55,214	38,376	160,711	111,394
Lease and rental expense	15,321	11,762	46,970	35,105
Total operating charges	1,135,681	789,200	3,418,940	2,333,159
Income from operations	135,505	66,665	471,101	245,319
Interest expense, net	810	730	2,412	2,125
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	15,904	15,219	47,712	45,657
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(29,851)	(28,903)	(118,102)	(92,978)
Income before income taxes	148,642	79,619	539,079	290,515
Provision for income taxes	51,165	21,093	191,297	92,075
Net income	97,477	58,526	347,782	198,440
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	97,477	58,526	347,782	198,440
Non Guarantors [Member]
Net revenues	583,581	473,278	1,790,141	1,448,278
Salaries, wages and benefits	240,985	182,114	717,376	545,544
Other operating expenses	117,216	98,898	351,438	287,518
Supplies expense	75,590	74,024	226,983	221,187
Provision for doubtful accounts	61,965	56,307	195,329	193,316
Depreciation and amortization	19,952	17,154	59,040	51,672
Lease and rental expense	7,850	6,762	22,898	19,728
Total operating charges	523,558	435,259	1,573,064	1,318,965
Income from operations	60,023	38,019	217,077	129,313
Interest expense, net	529	180	1,896	338
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	(15,904)	(15,219)	(47,712)	(45,657)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	75,398	53,058	262,893	174,632
Provision for income taxes	19,922	10,391	59,852	34,619
Net income	55,476	42,667	203,041	140,013
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9,788	10,192	37,967	31,978
Net income attributable to UHS	45,688	32,475	165,074	108,035
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Net revenues	(6,105)	(5,879)	(18,758)	(18,024)
Salaries, wages and benefits	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	(6,010)	(5,784)	(18,473)	(17,739)
Supplies expense	0	0	0	0
Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Lease and rental expense	(95)	(95)	(285)	(285)
Total operating charges	(6,105)	(5,879)	(18,758)	(18,024)
Income from operations	0	0	0	0
Interest expense, net	0	0	0	0
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	143,165	91,001	512,856	306,475
Income before income taxes	(143,165)	(91,001)	(512,856)	(306,475)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	(143,165)	(91,001)	(512,856)	(306,475)
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	$ (143,165)	$ (91,001)	$ (512,856)	$ (306,475)