Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	$ 2,175,554	$ 2,134,740	$ 6,499,680	$ 6,294,750
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	157,796	318,371	541,935	811,774
Net revenues	2,017,758	1,816,369	5,957,745	5,482,976
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	953,583	903,212	2,850,868	2,702,842
Other operating expenses	512,794	393,549	1,323,274	1,100,118
Supplies expense	222,708	206,995	662,280	613,981
Depreciation and amortization	93,456	86,971	277,506	248,465
Lease and rental expense	23,860	23,904	70,656	72,651
Electronic health records incentive income	(1,425)	(23,148)	(4,029)	(27,943)
Costs related to extinguishment of debt	36,171	0	36,171	0
Operating expenses	1,841,147	1,591,483	5,216,726	4,710,114
Income from operations	176,611	224,886	741,019	772,862
Interest expense	32,133	32,314	102,413	110,488
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	144,478	192,572	638,606	662,374
Provision for income taxes	48,440	69,473	224,102	241,537
Net income	96,038	123,099	414,504	420,837
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	13,241	8,512	41,958	34,625
Net income attributable to UHS	82,797	114,587	372,546	386,212
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
Costs related to extinguishment of debt	36,171		36,171
Operating expenses	36,171	0	36,171	0
Income from operations	(36,171)	0	(36,171)	0
Interest expense	30,503	30,853	97,665	105,571
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(123,951)	(133,630)	(455,156)	(451,375)
Income before income taxes	57,277	102,777	321,320	345,804
Provision for income taxes	(25,520)	(11,810)	(51,226)	(40,408)
Net income	82,797	114,587	372,546	386,212
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	82,797	114,587	372,546	386,212
Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	1,530,301	1,451,793	4,514,444	4,289,656
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	109,858	188,151	367,375	488,213
Net revenues	1,420,443	1,263,642	4,147,069	3,801,443
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	680,877	646,595	2,038,171	1,931,610
Other operating expenses	366,675	255,295	890,720	693,102
Supplies expense	134,966	128,284	403,195	380,888
Depreciation and amortization	67,204	60,615	199,540	173,991
Lease and rental expense	15,034	15,518	43,827	46,729
Electronic health records incentive income	(531)	(16,089)	(2,665)	(19,657)
Costs related to extinguishment of debt	0		0
Operating expenses	1,264,225	1,090,218	3,572,788	3,206,663
Income from operations	156,218	173,424	574,281	594,780
Interest expense	1,277	840	3,248	2,540
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	22,113	24,391	66,337	73,173
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(32,595)	(28,048)	(125,458)	(98,326)
Income before income taxes	165,423	176,241	630,154	617,393
Provision for income taxes	54,139	62,429	217,340	221,322
Net income	111,284	113,812	412,814	396,071
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	111,284	113,812	412,814	396,071
Non Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	652,376	690,311	2,007,037	2,026,466
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	47,938	130,220	174,560	323,561
Net revenues	604,438	560,091	1,832,477	1,702,905
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	272,706	256,617	812,697	771,232
Other operating expenses	152,813	145,222	453,265	427,488
Supplies expense	87,742	78,711	259,085	233,093
Depreciation and amortization	26,252	26,356	77,966	74,474
Lease and rental expense	9,255	8,782	27,919	26,822
Electronic health records incentive income	(894)	(7,059)	(1,364)	(8,286)
Costs related to extinguishment of debt	0		0
Operating expenses	547,874	508,629	1,629,568	1,524,823
Income from operations	56,564	51,462	202,909	178,082
Interest expense	353	621	1,500	2,377
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	(22,113)	(24,391)	(66,337)	(73,173)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	78,324	75,232	267,746	248,878
Provision for income taxes	19,821	18,854	57,988	60,623
Net income	58,503	56,378	209,758	188,255
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	13,241	8,512	41,958	34,625
Net income attributable to UHS	45,262	47,866	167,800	153,630
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	(7,123)	(7,364)	(21,801)	(21,372)
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0	0	0
Net revenues	(7,123)	(7,364)	(21,801)	(21,372)
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	(6,694)	(6,968)	(20,711)	(20,472)
Supplies expense	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Lease and rental expense	(429)	(396)	(1,090)	(900)
Electronic health records incentive income	0	0	0	0
Costs related to extinguishment of debt	0		0
Operating expenses	(7,123)	(7,364)	(21,801)	(21,372)
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	156,546	161,678	580,614	549,701
Income before income taxes	(156,546)	(161,678)	(580,614)	(549,701)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	(156,546)	(161,678)	(580,614)	(549,701)
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	$ (156,546)	$ (161,678)	$ (580,614)	$ (549,701)