Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Comprehensive Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 215,719	$ 194,323
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges	(14,299)	4,132
Amortization of terminated hedge	(84)	(84)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	5,986	(418)
Other comprehensive income before tax	(8,397)	3,630
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	(5,360)	1,497
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	(3,037)	2,133
Comprehensive income	212,682	196,456
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	24,960	20,024
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	187,722	176,432
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net income	190,759	174,299
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges	(14,299)	4,132
Amortization of terminated hedge	(84)	(84)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	5,986	(418)
Other comprehensive income before tax	(8,397)	3,630
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	(5,360)	1,497
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	(3,037)	2,133
Comprehensive income	187,722	176,432
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	187,722	176,432
Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net income	199,518	181,517
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges	0	0
Amortization of terminated hedge	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	5,986	(418)
Other comprehensive income before tax	5,986	(418)
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	0	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	5,986	(418)
Comprehensive income	205,504	181,099
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	205,504	181,099
Non Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net income	103,844	89,920
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges	0	0
Amortization of terminated hedge	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Other comprehensive income before tax	0	0
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	0	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	0	0
Comprehensive income	103,844	89,920
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	24,960	20,024
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	78,884	69,896
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net income	(278,402)	(251,413)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges	0	0
Amortization of terminated hedge	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(5,986)	418
Other comprehensive income before tax	(5,986)	418
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	0	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	(5,986)	418
Comprehensive income	(284,388)	(250,995)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS	$ (284,388)	$ (250,995)