Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	$ 2,195,776	$ 2,081,662	$ 4,324,126	$ 4,160,010
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	175,955	246,687	384,139	493,403
Net revenues	2,019,821	1,834,975	3,939,987	3,666,607
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	961,920	897,334	1,897,285	1,799,630
Other operating expenses	428,720	325,562	810,480	706,569
Supplies expense	223,774	202,344	439,572	406,986
Depreciation and amortization	90,691	81,682	184,050	161,494
Lease and rental expense	23,458	24,082	46,796	48,747
Electronic health records incentive income	(2,174)	(83)	(2,604)	(4,795)
Operating expenses	1,726,389	1,530,921	3,375,579	3,118,631
Income from operations	293,432	304,054	564,408	547,976
Interest expense	35,087	38,236	70,280	78,174
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	258,345	265,818	494,128	469,802
Provision for income taxes	91,731	98,015	175,662	172,064
Net income	166,614	167,803	318,466	297,738
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	14,943	15,962	28,717	26,113
Net income attributable to UHS	151,671	151,841	289,749	271,625
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
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Lease and rental expense	0	0	0	0
Electronic health records incentive income	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	0	0	0	0
Income from operations	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	33,589	36,772	67,162	74,718
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(172,404)	(174,539)	(331,205)	(317,745)
Income before income taxes	138,815	137,767	264,043	243,027
Provision for income taxes	(12,856)	(14,074)	(25,706)	(28,598)
Net income	151,671	151,841	289,749	271,625
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	151,671	151,841	289,749	271,625
Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	1,520,223	1,416,011	2,984,143	2,837,863
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	121,531	150,294	257,517	300,062
Net revenues	1,398,692	1,265,717	2,726,626	2,537,801
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	688,041	639,421	1,357,294	1,285,015
Other operating expenses	283,869	193,388	524,045	437,807
Supplies expense	136,754	123,894	268,229	252,604
Depreciation and amortization	64,622	57,597	132,336	113,376
Lease and rental expense	14,444	15,536	28,793	31,211
Electronic health records incentive income	(1,704)	(452)	(2,134)	(3,568)
Operating expenses	1,186,026	1,029,384	2,308,563	2,116,445
Income from operations	212,666	236,333	418,063	421,356
Interest expense	1,147	846	1,971	1,700
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	22,112	24,391	44,224	48,782
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(49,911)	(38,497)	(92,863)	(70,278)
Income before income taxes	239,318	249,593	464,731	441,152
Provision for income taxes	84,448	93,570	163,201	158,893
Net income	154,870	156,023	301,530	282,259
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	154,870	156,023	301,530	282,259
Non Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	683,074	672,949	1,354,661	1,336,155
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	54,424	96,393	126,622	193,341
Net revenues	628,650	576,556	1,228,039	1,142,814
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	273,879	257,913	539,991	514,615
Other operating expenses	151,927	139,063	300,452	282,266
Supplies expense	87,020	78,450	171,343	154,382
Depreciation and amortization	26,069	24,085	51,714	48,118
Lease and rental expense	9,459	8,955	18,664	18,040
Electronic health records incentive income	(470)	369	(470)	(1,227)
Operating expenses	547,884	508,835	1,081,694	1,016,194
Income from operations	80,766	67,721	146,345	126,620
Interest expense	351	618	1,147	1,756
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	(22,112)	(24,391)	(44,224)	(48,782)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	102,527	91,494	189,422	173,646
Provision for income taxes	20,139	18,519	38,167	41,769
Net income	82,388	72,975	151,255	131,877
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	14,943	15,962	28,717	26,113
Net income attributable to UHS	67,445	57,013	122,538	105,764
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	(7,521)	(7,298)	(14,678)	(14,008)
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0	0	0
Net revenues	(7,521)	(7,298)	(14,678)	(14,008)
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	(7,076)	(6,889)	(14,017)	(13,504)
Supplies expense	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Lease and rental expense	(445)	(409)	(661)	(504)
Electronic health records incentive income	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	(7,521)	(7,298)	(14,678)	(14,008)
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	222,315	213,036	424,068	388,023
Income before income taxes	(222,315)	(213,036)	(424,068)	(388,023)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	(222,315)	(213,036)	(424,068)	(388,023)
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	$ (222,315)	$ (213,036)	$ (424,068)	$ (388,023)