Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	$ 2,128,350	$ 2,078,348
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	208,184	246,716
Net revenues	1,920,166	1,831,632
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	935,365	902,296
Other operating expenses	381,760	381,007
Supplies expense	215,798	204,642
EHR incentive income	(430)	(4,712)
Depreciation and amortization	93,359	79,812
Lease and rental expense	23,338	24,665
Operating expenses	1,649,190	1,587,710
Income from operations	270,976	243,922
Interest expense, net	35,193	39,938
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0
Income before income taxes	235,783	203,984
Provision for income taxes	83,931	74,049
Net income	151,852	129,935
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	13,774	10,151
Net income attributable to UHS	138,078	119,784
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	0	0
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0
Net revenues	0	0
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	0	0
Other operating expenses	0	0
Supplies expense	0	0
EHR incentive income	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Lease and rental expense	0	0
Operating expenses	0	0
Income from operations	0	0
Interest expense, net	33,573	37,946
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(158,801)	(143,206)
Income before income taxes	125,228	105,260
Provision for income taxes	(12,850)	(14,524)
Net income	138,078	119,784
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	138,078	119,784
Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	1,463,920	1,421,852
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	135,986	149,768
Net revenues	1,327,934	1,272,084
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	669,253	645,594
Other operating expenses	240,176	244,419
Supplies expense	131,475	128,710
EHR incentive income	(430)	(3,116)
Depreciation and amortization	67,714	55,779
Lease and rental expense	14,349	15,675
Operating expenses	1,122,537	1,087,061
Income from operations	205,397	185,023
Interest expense, net	824	854
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	22,112	24,391
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(42,952)	(31,781)
Income before income taxes	225,413	191,559
Provision for income taxes	78,753	65,323
Net income	146,660	126,236
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	146,660	126,236
Non Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	671,587	663,206
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	72,198	96,948
Net revenues	599,389	566,258
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	266,112	256,702
Other operating expenses	148,525	143,203
Supplies expense	84,323	75,932
EHR incentive income	0	(1,596)
Depreciation and amortization	25,645	24,033
Lease and rental expense	9,205	9,085
Operating expenses	533,810	507,359
Income from operations	65,579	58,899
Interest expense, net	796	1,138
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	(22,112)	(24,391)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0
Income before income taxes	86,895	82,152
Provision for income taxes	18,028	23,250
Net income	68,867	58,902
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	13,774	10,151
Net income attributable to UHS	55,093	48,751
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	(7,157)	(6,710)
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0
Net revenues	(7,157)	(6,710)
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	0	0
Other operating expenses	(6,941)	(6,615)
Supplies expense	0	0
EHR incentive income	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Lease and rental expense	(216)	(95)
Operating expenses	(7,157)	(6,710)
Income from operations	0	0
Interest expense, net	0	0
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	201,753	174,987
Income before income taxes	(201,753)	(174,987)
Provision for income taxes	0	0
Net income	(201,753)	(174,987)
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	$ (201,753)	$ (174,987)