Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	$ 1,869,263	$ 1,814,686	$ 5,718,676	$ 5,553,268
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	188,910	152,011	522,203	456,042
Net revenues	1,680,353	1,662,675	5,196,473	5,097,226
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	838,075	828,606	2,565,052	2,492,570
Other operating expenses	362,687	343,873	1,059,048	1,030,492
Supplies expense	191,747	198,794	594,924	603,657
EHR incentive income	(10,551)	0	(12,506)	0
Depreciation and amortization	77,032	73,170	221,807	213,828
Lease and rental expense	23,481	22,704	70,906	68,501
Costs related to extinguishment of debt	29,170	0	29,170	0
Operating expenses	1,511,641	1,467,147	4,528,401	4,409,048
Income from operations	168,712	195,528	668,072	688,178
Interest expense, net	45,207	48,452	137,805	154,677
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	123,505	147,076	530,267	533,501
Provision for income taxes	42,132	52,234	188,880	192,638
Net income	81,373	94,842	341,387	340,863
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9,556	9,788	33,402	37,967
Net income attributable to UHS	71,817	85,054	307,985	302,896
Parent [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	0	0	0	0
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0	0	0
Net revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	0	0	0	0
Supplies expense	0	0	0	0
EHR incentive income	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Lease and rental expense	0	0	0	0
Costs related to extinguishment of debt	29,710		29,170
Operating expenses	29,170	0	29,170	0
Income from operations	(29,710)	0	(29,170)	0
Interest expense, net	43,649	47,113	133,101	150,369
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(116,764)	113,314	(408,146)	(394,754)
Income before income taxes	43,945	66,201	245,875	244,385
Provision for income taxes	(27,872)	(18,853)	(62,110)	58,511
Net income	71,817	85,054	307,985	302,896
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	71,817	85,054	307,985	302,896
Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	1,269,429	1,237,210	3,896,741	3,781,885
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	110,187	90,046	304,955	260,713
Net revenues	1,159,242	1,147,164	3,591,786	3,521,172
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	595,752	587,621	1,825,547	1,775,194
Other operating expenses	236,012	232,667	695,599	697,527
Supplies expense	118,357	123,204	369,190	376,674
EHR incentive income	(3,109)		(5,064)
Depreciation and amortization	52,986	53,218	155,242	154,788
Lease and rental expense	14,884	14,949	44,122	45,888
Costs related to extinguishment of debt	0		0
Operating expenses	1,014,882	1,011,659	3,084,636	3,050,071
Income from operations	144,360	135,505	507,150	471,101
Interest expense, net	886	810	2,511	2,412
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	22,782	15,904	68,347	47,712
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(25,037)	(29,851)	(94,662)	(118,102)
Income before income taxes	145,729	148,642	530,954	539,079
Provision for income taxes	50,012	51,165	186,641	191,297
Net income	95,717	97,477	344,313	347,782
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	95,717	97,477	344,313	347,782
Non Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	605,991	583,581	1,840,971	1,790,141
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	78,723	61,965	217,248	195,329
Net revenues	527,268	521,616	1,623,723	1,594,812
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	242,323	240,985	739,505	717,376
Other operating expenses	132,737	117,216	382,201	351,438
Supplies expense	73,390	75,590	225,734	151,393
EHR incentive income	(7,442)		(7,442)
Depreciation and amortization	24,046	19,952	66,565	59,040
Lease and rental expense	8,692	7,850	27,068	22,898
Costs related to extinguishment of debt	0		0
Operating expenses	473,746	461,593	1,433,631	1,377,735
Income from operations	53,522	60,023	190,092	217,077
Interest expense, net	672	529	2,193	1,896
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	(22,782)	(15,904)	(68,347)	(47,712)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	75,632	75,398	256,246	262,893
Provision for income taxes	19,992	19,922	64,349	59,852
Net income	55,640	55,476	191,897	203,041
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9,556	9,788	33,402	37,967
Net income attributable to UHS	46,084	45,688	158,495	165,074
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	(6,157)	(6,105)	(19,036)	18,758
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0	0	0
Net revenues	(6,157)	(6,105)	(19,036)	(18,758)
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	(6,062)	(6,010)	(18,752)	(18,473)
Supplies expense	0	0	0	0
EHR incentive income	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Lease and rental expense	(95)	(95)	(284)	(285)
Costs related to extinguishment of debt	0		0
Operating expenses	(6,157)	(6,010)	(19,036)	(18,758)
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	(141,801)	143,165	502,808	512,856
Income before income taxes	(141,801)	(143,165)	(502,808)	(512,856)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	(141,801)	(143,165)	(502,808)	(512,856)
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	$ (141,801)	$ (143,165)	$ (502,808)	$ (512,856)