Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Comprehensive Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 201,404	$ 166,614	$ 395,727	$ 318,466
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges	806	4,465	4,938	8,210
Amortization of terminated hedge	(84)	(84)	(168)	(168)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	2,626	0	2,208	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	3,348	4,381	6,978	8,042
Income tax (benefit) expense related to items of other comprehensive income	715	1,620	2,212	2,974
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	2,633	2,761	4,766	5,068
Comprehensive income	204,037	169,375	400,493	323,534
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	19,211	14,943	39,235	28,717
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	184,826	154,432	361,258	294,817
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net income	(259,049)	(222,315)	(510,462)	(424,068)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges	0	0	0	0
Amortization of terminated hedge	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(2,626)		(2,208)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	(2,626)	0	(2,208)	0
Income tax (benefit) expense related to items of other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	(2,626)	0	(2,208)	0
Comprehensive income	(261,675)	(222,315)	(512,670)	(424,068)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	(261,675)	(222,315)	(512,670)	(424,068)
Parent
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net income	182,193	151,671	356,492	289,749
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges	806	4,465	4,938	8,210
Amortization of terminated hedge	(84)	(84)	(168)	(168)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	2,626		2,208
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	3,348	4,381	6,978	8,042
Income tax (benefit) expense related to items of other comprehensive income	715	1,620	2,212	2,974
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	2,633	2,761	4,766	5,068
Comprehensive income	184,826	154,432	361,258	294,817
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	184,826	154,432	361,258	294,817
Guarantors
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net income	181,394	154,870	362,911	301,530
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges	0	0	0	0
Amortization of terminated hedge	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	2,626		2,208
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	2,626	0	2,208	0
Income tax (benefit) expense related to items of other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	2,626	0	2,208	0
Comprehensive income	184,020	154,870	365,119	301,530
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	184,020	154,870	365,119	301,530
Non Guarantors
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net income	96,866	82,388	186,786	151,255
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges	0	0	0	0
Amortization of terminated hedge	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	0	0	0	0
Income tax (benefit) expense related to items of other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	96,866	82,388	186,786	151,255
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	19,211	14,943	39,235	28,717
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	$ 77,655	$ 67,445	$ 147,551	$ 122,538