Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	$ 2,619,593	$ 2,380,101
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	169,795	154,748
Net revenues	2,449,798	2,225,353
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	1,148,139	1,031,703
Other operating expenses	561,584	505,966
Supplies expense	255,250	238,741
Depreciation and amortization	104,049	98,998
Lease and rental expense	24,452	22,891
Operating Expenses, Total	2,093,474	1,898,299
Income from operations	356,324	327,054
Interest expense	29,600	30,037
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0
Income before income taxes	326,724	297,017
Provision for income taxes	111,005	102,694
Net income	215,719	194,323
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	24,960	20,024
Net income attributable to UHS	190,759	174,299
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	0	0
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0
Net revenues	0	0
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	0	0
Other operating expenses	0	0
Supplies expense	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Lease and rental expense	0	0
Operating Expenses, Total	0	0
Income from operations	0	0
Interest expense	28,300	28,512
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(208,227)	(191,898)
Income before income taxes	179,927	163,386
Provision for income taxes	(10,832)	(10,913)
Net income	190,759	174,299
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	190,759	174,299
Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	1,812,098	1,661,612
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	107,680	106,304
Net revenues	1,704,418	1,555,308
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	824,295	740,554
Other operating expenses	387,677	351,580
Supplies expense	153,387	141,361
Depreciation and amortization	72,253	69,645
Lease and rental expense	15,294	13,755
Operating Expenses, Total	1,452,906	1,316,895
Income from operations	251,512	238,413
Interest expense	1,136	1,227
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	23,054	23,054
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(70,175)	(59,515)
Income before income taxes	297,497	273,647
Provision for income taxes	97,979	92,130
Net income	199,518	181,517
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	199,518	181,517
Non Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	815,838	726,080
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	62,115	48,444
Net revenues	753,723	677,636
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	323,844	291,149
Other operating expenses	181,980	161,686
Supplies expense	101,863	97,380
Depreciation and amortization	31,796	29,353
Lease and rental expense	9,428	9,427
Operating Expenses, Total	648,911	588,995
Income from operations	104,812	88,641
Interest expense	164	298
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	(23,054)	(23,054)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0
Income before income taxes	127,702	111,397
Provision for income taxes	23,858	21,477
Net income	103,844	89,920
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	24,960	20,024
Net income attributable to UHS	78,884	69,896
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	(8,343)	(7,591)
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0
Net revenues	(8,343)	(7,591)
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	0	0
Other operating expenses	(8,073)	(7,300)
Supplies expense	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Lease and rental expense	(270)	(291)
Operating Expenses, Total	(8,343)	(7,591)
Income from operations	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Interest (income) expense, affiliate	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	278,402	251,413
Income before income taxes	(278,402)	(251,413)
Provision for income taxes	0	0
Net income	(278,402)	(251,413)
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS	$ (278,402)	$ (251,413)