Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Comprehensive Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 163,654	$ 96,038	$ 559,381	$ 414,504
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges	(9,888)	4,712	(4,950)	12,922
Amortization of terminated hedge	(84)	(84)	(252)	(252)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(2,304)	(2,506)	(96)	(2,506)
Other comprehensive income before tax	(12,276)	2,122	(5,298)	10,164
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	(3,742)	1,620	(1,530)	4,685
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	(8,534)	502	(3,768)	5,479
Comprehensive income	155,120	96,540	555,613	419,983
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	13,367	13,241	52,602	41,958
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	141,753	83,299	503,011	378,025
Parent
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net income	150,287	82,797	506,779	372,546
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges	(9,888)	4,712	(4,950)	12,922
Amortization of terminated hedge	(84)	(84)	(252)	(252)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(2,304)	(2,506)	(96)	(2,506)
Other comprehensive income before tax	(12,276)	2,122	(5,298)	10,164
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	(3,742)	1,620	(1,530)	4,685
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	(8,534)	502	(3,768)	5,479
Comprehensive income	141,753	83,299	503,011	378,025
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	141,753	83,299	503,011	378,025
Guarantors
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net income	150,352	111,284	513,263	412,814
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	(2,304)	0	(96)	0
Other comprehensive income before tax	(2,304)	0	(96)	0
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	(2,304)	0	(96)	0
Comprehensive income	148,048	111,284	513,167	412,814
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	148,048	111,284	513,167	412,814
Non Guarantors
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net income	69,247	58,503	256,033	209,758
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	0	0
Other comprehensive income before tax	0	0	0	0
Income tax 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	69,247	58,503	256,033	209,758
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	13,367	13,241	52,602	41,958
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	55,880	45,262	203,431	167,800
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net income	(206,232)	(156,546)	(716,694)	(580,614)
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	2,304	0	96	0
Other comprehensive income before tax	2,304	0	96	0
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	2,304	0	96	0
Comprehensive income	(203,928)	(156,546)	(716,598)	(580,614)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	$ (203,928)	$ (156,546)	$ (716,598)	$ (580,614)