Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (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 Comprehensive Income
Net income	$ 81,373	$ 94,842	$ 341,387	$ 340,863
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(45)	(21,360)	1,782	(39,636)
Amortization of terminated hedge	(84)	(84)	(252)	(252)
Other comprehensive income before tax	(129)	(21,444)	1,530	(39,888)
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	(47)	(8,214)	585	(15,270)
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	(82)	(13,230)	945	(24,618)
Comprehensive income	81,291	81,612	342,332	316,245
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9,556	9,788	33,402	37,967
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	71,735	71,824	308,930	278,278
Parent [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Net income	71,817	85,054	307,985	302,896
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(45)	(21,360)	1,782	(39,636)
Amortization of terminated hedge	(84)	(84)	(252)	(252)
Other comprehensive income before tax	(129)	(21,444)	1,530	(39,888)
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	(47)	(8,214)	585	(15,270)
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	(82)	13,230	945	(24,618)
Comprehensive income	71,735	71,824	308,930	278,278
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	71,735	71,824	308,930	278,278
Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Net income	95,717	97,477	344,313	347,782
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	0	0	0	0
Amortization of terminated hedge	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income before tax	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	95,717	97,477	344,313	347,782
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	95,717	97,477	344,313	347,782
Non Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Net income	55,640	55,476	191,897	203,041
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	0	0	0	0
Amortization of terminated hedge	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income before tax	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	55,640	55,476	191,897	203,041
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9,556	9,788	33,402	37,967
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	46,084	45,688	158,495	165,074
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Net income	(141,801)	(143,165)	(502,808)	(512,856)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	0	0	0	0
Amortization of terminated hedge	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income before tax	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	(141,801)	(143,165)	(502,808)	512,856
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	$ (141,801)	$ (143,165)	$ (502,808)	$ (512,856)