Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 16,261	$ 17,238	$ 17,395	$ 23,471
Accounts receivable, net	1,212,594	1,116,961
Supplies	102,276	101,781
Other current assets	97,685	76,446
Deferred income taxes	114,297	119,903
Total current assets	1,543,113	1,432,329
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany receivable	0	0
Intercompany note receivable	0	0
Property and equipment	5,789,393	5,691,902
Less: accumulated depreciation	(2,321,221)	(2,249,733)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	3,468,172	3,442,169
Other assets:
Goodwill	3,053,666	3,049,016
Deferred charges	53,521	57,881
Other	312,913	330,328
Total assets	8,431,385	8,311,723	8,316,508
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	103,641	99,312
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	954,902	953,449
Federal and state taxes	51,905	7,127
Total current liabilities	1,110,448	1,059,888
Intercompany payable	0	0
Other noncurrent liabilities	282,173	284,589
Long-term debt	3,109,158	3,209,762
Intercompany note payable	0	0
Deferred income taxes	257,344	239,148
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	228,107	218,107
UHS common stockholders' equity	3,392,119	3,249,979
Noncontrolling interest	52,036	50,250
Total equity	3,444,155	3,300,229
Liabilities and Equity, Total	8,431,385	8,311,723
Parent
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Supplies	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Deferred income taxes	71,108	76,719
Total current assets	71,108	76,719
Investments in subsidiaries	6,537,300	6,378,499
Intercompany receivable	205,674	226,592
Intercompany note receivable	0	0
Property and equipment	0	0
Less: accumulated depreciation	0	0
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	0	0
Other assets:
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred charges	45,425	49,866
Other	7,923	8,411
Total assets	6,867,430	6,740,087
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	101,903	97,403
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	38,901	28,099
Federal and state taxes	49,753	4,963
Total current liabilities	190,557	130,465
Intercompany payable	0	0
Other noncurrent liabilities	4,202	7,591
Long-term debt	3,079,123	3,168,819
Intercompany note payable	0	0
Deferred income taxes	201,429	183,233
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	0
UHS common stockholders' equity	3,392,119	3,249,979
Noncontrolling interest	0	0
Total equity	3,392,119	3,249,979
Liabilities and Equity, Total	6,867,430	6,740,087
Guarantors
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	7,719	7,990	8,317	11,949
Accounts receivable, net	864,487	799,898
Supplies	63,952	63,562
Other current assets	85,134	63,786
Deferred income taxes	43,189	43,184
Total current assets	1,064,481	978,420
Investments in subsidiaries	1,519,863	1,476,911
Intercompany receivable	0	0
Intercompany note receivable	0	0
Property and equipment	4,171,728	4,093,914
Less: accumulated depreciation	(1,532,857)	(1,478,758)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	2,638,871	2,615,156
Other assets:
Goodwill	2,553,615	2,552,190
Deferred charges	5,683	5,577
Other	243,381	251,365
Total assets	8,025,894	7,879,619
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	916	916
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	822,487	837,354
Federal and state taxes	2,152	2,164
Total current liabilities	825,555	840,434
Intercompany payable	649,425	758,003
Other noncurrent liabilities	200,091	199,104
Long-term debt	5,109	5,337
Intercompany note payable	1,104,881	982,568
Deferred income taxes	55,915	55,915
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	0
UHS common stockholders' equity	5,184,918	5,038,258
Noncontrolling interest	0	0
Total equity	5,184,918	5,038,258
Liabilities and Equity, Total	8,025,894	7,879,619
Non Guarantors
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	8,542	9,248	9,078	11,522
Accounts receivable, net	348,107	317,063
Supplies	38,324	38,219
Other current assets	12,551	12,660
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Total current assets	407,524	377,190
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany receivable	443,751	531,411
Intercompany note receivable	1,104,881	982,568
Property and equipment	1,617,665	1,597,988
Less: accumulated depreciation	(788,364)	(770,975)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	829,301	827,013
Other assets:
Goodwill	500,051	496,826
Deferred charges	2,413	2,438
Other	61,609	70,552
Total assets	3,349,530	3,287,998
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	822	993
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	93,514	87,996
Federal and state taxes	0	0
Total current liabilities	94,336	88,989
Intercompany payable	0	0
Other noncurrent liabilities	77,880	77,894
Long-term debt	24,926	35,606
Intercompany note payable	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	228,107	218,107
UHS common stockholders' equity	2,872,245	2,817,152
Noncontrolling interest	52,036	50,250
Total equity	2,924,281	2,867,402
Liabilities and Equity, Total	3,349,530	3,287,998
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Supplies	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Total current assets	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	(8,057,163)	(7,855,410)
Intercompany receivable	(649,425)	(758,003)
Intercompany note receivable	(1,104,881)	(982,568)
Property and equipment	0	0
Less: accumulated depreciation	0	0
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	0	0
Other assets:
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred charges	0	0
Other	0	0
Total assets	(9,811,469)	(9,595,981)
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	0	0
Federal and state taxes	0	0
Total current liabilities	0	0
Intercompany payable	(649,425)	(758,003)
Other noncurrent liabilities	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Intercompany note payable	(1,104,881)	(982,568)
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	0
UHS common stockholders' equity	(8,057,163)	(7,855,410)
Noncontrolling interest	0	0
Total equity	(8,057,163)	(7,855,410)
Liabilities and Equity, Total	$ (9,811,469)	$ (9,595,981)