Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts									$ 8,764,309	$ 8,411,038	$ 7,688,071
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts									698,983	1,127,216	726,671
Net revenues	2,107,581	2,017,758	2,019,821	1,920,166	1,800,846	1,816,369	1,834,975	1,831,632	8,065,326	7,283,822	6,961,400
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits									3,845,461	3,604,620	3,440,917
Other operating expenses									1,782,981	1,468,744	1,376,122
Supplies expense									895,693	821,089	799,621
Depreciation and amortization									375,624	337,172	302,426
Lease and rental expense									93,993	97,758	94,885
Transaction costs									0	0	5,716
EHR incentive income									(27,902)	(61,024)	(30,038)
Costs related to extinguishment of debt									36,171	0	29,170
Operating expenses									7,002,021	6,268,359	6,018,819
Income from operations									1,063,305	1,015,463	942,581
Interest expense									133,638	146,131	178,918
Interest (income) expense, affiliate									0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									929,667	869,332	763,663
Provision for income taxes									324,671	315,309	274,616
Net income	190,492	96,038	166,614	151,852	133,186	123,099	167,803	129,935	604,996	554,023	489,047
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	17,695	13,241	14,943	13,774	8,665	8,512	15,962	10,151	59,653	43,290	45,601
Net income attributable to UHS	172,797	82,797	151,671	138,078	124,521	114,587	151,841	119,784	545,343	510,733	443,446
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts									0	0	0
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts									0	0	0
Net revenues									0	0	0
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits									0	0	0
Other operating expenses									0	0	0
Supplies expense									0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization									0	0	0
Lease and rental expense									0	0	0
Transaction costs											0
EHR incentive income									0	0	0
Costs related to extinguishment of debt									36,171		29,170
Operating expenses									36,171	0	29,170
Income from operations									(36,171)	0	(29,170)
Interest expense									127,528	139,793	172,467
Interest (income) expense, affiliate									0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates									(646,386)	(597,020)	(567,906)
Income before income taxes									482,687	457,227	366,269
Provision for income taxes									(62,656)	(53,506)	(77,177)
Net income									545,343	510,733	443,446
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS									545,343	510,733	443,446
Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts									6,100,777	5,658,699	5,152,816
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts									471,181	657,106	411,538
Net revenues									5,629,596	5,001,593	4,741,278
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits									2,757,738	2,573,205	2,452,187
Other operating expenses									1,217,525	972,170	899,274
Supplies expense									546,578	510,078	496,848
Depreciation and amortization									269,490	236,958	210,867
Lease and rental expense									58,619	62,518	59,596
Transaction costs											5,716
EHR incentive income									(19,480)	(43,027)	(14,284)
Costs related to extinguishment of debt									0		0
Operating expenses									4,830,470	4,311,902	4,110,204
Income from operations									799,126	689,691	631,074
Interest expense									4,516	3,365	3,749
Interest (income) expense, affiliate									88,246	84,640	93,363
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates									(184,385)	(141,004)	(141,983)
Income before income taxes									890,749	742,690	675,945
Provision for income taxes									305,320	262,346	237,072
Net income									585,429	480,344	438,873
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS									585,429	480,344	438,873
Non Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts									2,692,752	2,780,983	2,562,781
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts									227,802	470,110	315,133
Net revenues									2,464,950	2,310,873	2,247,648
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits									1,087,723	1,031,415	988,730
Other operating expenses									592,556	523,382	502,592
Supplies expense									349,115	311,011	302,773
Depreciation and amortization									106,134	100,214	91,559
Lease and rental expense									37,494	37,076	37,071
Transaction costs											0
EHR incentive income									(8,422)	(17,997)	(15,754)
Costs related to extinguishment of debt									0		0
Operating expenses									2,164,600	1,985,101	1,906,971
Income from operations									300,350	325,772	340,677
Interest expense									1,594	2,973	2,702
Interest (income) expense, affiliate									(88,246)	(84,640)	(93,363)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									387,002	407,439	431,338
Provision for income taxes									82,007	106,469	114,721
Net income									304,995	300,970	316,617
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests									59,653	43,290	45,601
Net income attributable to UHS									245,342	257,680	271,016
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts									(29,220)	(28,644)	(27,526)
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts									0	0	0
Net revenues									(29,220)	(28,644)	(27,526)
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits									0	0	0
Other operating expenses									(27,100)	(26,808)	(25,744)
Supplies expense									0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization									0	0	0
Lease and rental expense									(2,120)	(1,836)	(1,782)
Transaction costs											0
EHR incentive income									0	0	0
Costs related to extinguishment of debt									0		0
Operating expenses									(29,220)	(28,644)	(27,526)
Income from operations									0	0	0
Interest expense									0	0	0
Interest (income) expense, affiliate									0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates									830,771	738,024	709,889
Income before income taxes									(830,771)	(738,024)	(709,889)
Provision for income taxes									0	0	0
Net income									(830,771)	(738,024)	(709,889)
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS									$ (830,771)	$ (738,024)	$ (709,889)