Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Net revenues									$ 7,500,198	$ 5,568,185	$ 5,202,379
Salaries, wages and benefits									3,394,967	2,423,102	2,204,422
Other operating expenses									1,385,680	1,005,288	994,923
Supplies expense									821,811	733,093	699,249
Provision for doubtful accounts									613,619	546,909	508,603
Depreciation and amortization									295,228	223,915	204,703
Lease and rental expense									91,765	76,961	69,947
Transaction costs										53,220
Total operating charges									6,603,070	5,062,488	4,681,847
Income from operations									897,128	505,697	520,532
Interest expense									200,792	77,600	45,810
Interest (income) expense, affiliate									0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									696,336	428,097	474,722
Provision for income taxes									247,466	152,302	170,475
Net income	108,007	94,842	116,034	129,987	50,816	65,802	76,415	82,762	448,870	275,795	304,247
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	12,736	9,788	12,385	15,794	13,634	10,192	10,843	10,943	50,703	45,612	43,874
Net income attributable to UHS	95,271	85,054	103,649	114,193	37,182	55,610	65,572	71,819	398,167	230,183	260,373
Parent [Member]
Net revenues									0	648	980
Salaries, wages and benefits									0	0	0
Other operating expenses									200	(255)	140
Supplies expense									0	0	0
Provision for doubtful accounts									0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization									0	0	0
Lease and rental expense									0	0	0
Transaction costs										0
Total operating charges									200	(255)	140
Income from operations									(200)	903	840
Interest expense									195,404	70,283	40,555
Interest (income) expense, affiliate									0	0	1,628
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates									(518,797)	(271,944)	(286,714)
Income before income taxes									323,193	202,564	245,371
Provision for income taxes									(74,974)	(27,619)	(15,002)
Net income									398,167	230,183	260,373
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS									398,167	230,183	260,373
Guarantors [Member]
Net revenues									5,046,459	3,631,814	3,322,936
Salaries, wages and benefits									2,433,871	1,670,276	1,492,008
Other operating expenses									949,475	670,043	631,659
Supplies expense									514,574	438,901	411,074
Provision for doubtful accounts									356,976	290,152	265,223
Depreciation and amortization									215,697	154,597	140,223
Lease and rental expense									62,118	50,455	45,366
Transaction costs										53,220
Total operating charges									4,532,711	3,327,644	2,985,553
Income from operations									513,748	304,170	337,383
Interest expense									90,417	6,729	2,870
Interest (income) expense, affiliate									87,205	60,876	47,744
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates									(157,009)	(134,760)	(125,784)
Income before income taxes									493,135	371,325	412,553
Provision for income taxes									164,666	134,547	149,229
Net income									328,469	236,778	263,324
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS									328,469	236,778	263,324
Non Guarantors [Member]
Net revenues									2,480,215	1,983,060	1,902,618
Salaries, wages and benefits									961,096	752,826	712,414
Other operating expenses									460,692	381,689	386,405
Supplies expense									307,237	294,192	288,175
Provision for doubtful accounts									256,643	256,757	243,380
Depreciation and amortization									79,531	69,318	64,480
Lease and rental expense									31,436	27,654	26,831
Transaction costs										0
Total operating charges									2,096,635	1,782,436	1,721,685
Income from operations									383,580	200,624	180,933
Interest expense									(85,029)	588	1,009
Interest (income) expense, affiliate									(87,205)	(60,876)	(49,372)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									555,814	260,912	229,296
Provision for income taxes									157,774	45,374	36,248
Net income									398,040	215,538	193,048
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									50,703	45,612	43,874
Net income attributable to UHS									347,337	169,926	149,174
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Net revenues									(26,476)	(47,337)	(24,155)
Salaries, wages and benefits									0	0	0
Other operating expenses									(24,687)	(46,189)	(23,281)
Supplies expense									0	0	0
Provision for doubtful accounts									0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization									0	0	0
Lease and rental expense									(1,789)	(1,148)	(2,250)
Transaction costs										0
Total operating charges									(26,476)	(47,337)	(25,531)
Income from operations									0	0	1,376
Interest expense									0	0	1,376
Interest (income) expense, affiliate									0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates									675,806	406,704	412,498
Income before income taxes									(675,806)	(406,704)	(412,498)
Provision for income taxes									0	0	0
Net income									(675,806)	(406,704)	(412,498)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS									$ (675,806)	$ (406,704)	$ (412,498)