Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	$ 2,134,740	$ 1,869,263	$ 6,294,750	$ 5,718,676
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	318,371	188,910	811,774	522,203
Net revenues	1,816,369	1,680,353	5,482,976	5,196,473
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	903,212	838,075	2,702,842	2,565,052
Other operating expenses	393,549	362,687	1,100,118	1,059,048
Supplies expense	206,995	191,747	613,981	594,924
Electronic health records incentive income	(23,148)	(10,551)	(27,943)	(12,506)
Depreciation and amortization	86,971	77,032	248,465	221,807
Lease and rental expense	23,904	23,481	72,651	70,906
Costs related to extinguishment of debt	0	29,170	0	29,170
Operating expenses	1,591,483	1,511,641	4,710,114	4,528,401
Income from operations	224,886	168,712	772,862	668,072
Interest expense	32,314	45,207	110,488	137,805
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	192,572	123,505	662,374	530,267
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	69,473	42,132	241,537	188,880
Net income	123,099	81,373	420,837	341,387
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	8,512	9,556	34,625	33,402
Net income attributable to UHS	114,587	71,817	386,212	307,985
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
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
Electronic health records incentive income	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Lease and rental expense	0	0	0	0
Costs related to extinguishment of debt		29,170		29,170
Operating expenses	0	29,170	0	29,170
Income from operations	0	(29,170)	0	(29,170)
Interest expense	30,853	43,649	105,571	133,101
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(133,630)	(116,764)	(451,375)	(408,146)
Income before income taxes	102,777	43,945	345,804	245,875
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(11,810)	(27,872)	(40,408)	(62,110)
Net income	114,587	71,817	386,212	307,985
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	114,587	71,817	386,212	307,985
Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	1,451,793	1,269,429	4,289,656	3,896,741
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	188,151	110,187	488,213	304,955
Net revenues	1,263,642	1,159,242	3,801,443	3,591,786
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	646,595	595,546	1,931,610	1,825,547
Other operating expenses	255,295	236,218	693,102	695,599
Supplies expense	128,284	118,357	380,888	369,190
Electronic health records incentive income	(16,089)	(3,109)	(19,657)	(5,064)
Depreciation and amortization	60,615	52,985	173,991	155,242
Lease and rental expense	15,518	14,884	46,729	44,122
Costs related to extinguishment of debt		0		0
Operating expenses	1,090,218	1,014,881	3,206,663	3,084,636
Income from operations	173,424	144,361	594,780	507,150
Interest expense	840	886	2,540	2,511
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	24,391	22,782	73,173	68,347
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(28,048)	(25,037)	(98,326)	(94,662)
Income before income taxes	176,241	145,730	617,393	530,954
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	62,429	50,012	221,322	186,641
Net income	113,812	95,718	396,071	344,313
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	113,812	95,718	396,071	344,313
Non Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	690,311	605,991	2,026,466	1,840,971
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	130,220	78,723	323,561	217,248
Net revenues	560,091	527,268	1,702,905	1,623,723
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	256,617	242,529	771,232	739,505
Other operating expenses	145,222	132,531	427,488	382,201
Supplies expense	78,711	73,390	233,093	225,734
Electronic health records incentive income	(7,059)	(7,442)	(8,286)	(7,442)
Depreciation and amortization	26,356	24,047	74,474	66,565
Lease and rental expense	8,782	8,692	26,822	27,068
Costs related to extinguishment of debt		0		0
Operating expenses	508,629	473,747	1,524,823	1,433,631
Income from operations	51,462	53,521	178,082	190,092
Interest expense	621	672	2,377	2,193
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	(24,391)	(22,782)	(73,173)	(68,347)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	75,232	75,631	248,878	256,246
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	18,854	19,992	60,623	64,349
Net income	56,378	55,639	188,255	191,897
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	8,512	9,556	34,625	33,402
Net income attributable to UHS	47,866	46,083	153,630	158,495
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	(7,364)	(6,157)	(21,372)	(19,036)
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0	0	0
Net revenues	(7,364)	(6,157)	(21,372)	(19,036)
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	(6,968)	(6,062)	(20,472)	(18,752)
Supplies expense	0	0	0	0
Electronic health records incentive income	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Lease and rental expense	(396)	(95)	(900)	(284)
Costs related to extinguishment of debt		0		0
Operating expenses	(7,364)	(6,157)	(21,372)	(19,036)
Income from operations	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	161,678	141,801	549,701	502,808
Income before income taxes	(161,678)	(141,801)	(549,701)	(502,808)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	(161,678)	(141,801)	(549,701)	(502,808)
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	$ (161,678)	$ (141,801)	$ (549,701)	$ (502,808)