Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust and Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) Facility RenewalOption	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) Hospital RenewalOption	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) Hospital	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Chief Executive Officer
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Estimated payments to acquire life insurance policies						$ 28,000,000
Payments to acquire life insurance policies						1,300,000	$ 1,300,000
Chief Executive Officer | Trust Owned by CEO
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Estimated payments to acquire life insurance policies						$ 9,000,000
McAllen Medical Center
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of renewal options at existing lease rates | RenewalOption						2
Renewal options term at existing lease rates	5 years					5 years
Renewals extend lease terms at existing lease rates	2021-12					2021-12
Wellington Regional Medical Center
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Renewal options term at fair market lease rates	5 years					5 years
Renewals extend lease terms at existing lease rates	2021-12					2021-12
Southwest Healthcare System, Inland Valley Campus
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Renewal options term at fair market lease rates	5 years					5 years
Renewals extend lease terms at existing lease rates	2021-12					2021-12
Minimum | Chief Executive Officer
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Estimated death benefit proceeds						$ 37,000,000
Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Trust outstanding shares held, percentage		5.80%				5.80%
Advisory fee earned		$ 800,000	$ 700,000			$ 2,400,000	2,100,000
Pre-tax share of income from the Trust		250,000	100,000			750,000	1,100,000
Carrying value of investment in Trust		7,900,000				7,900,000		$ 8,700,000
Market value of investment in Trust		49,600,000				49,600,000		$ 39,400,000
Rent expense under operating leases		$ 4,000,000	$ 4,000,000			$ 12,000,000	$ 12,000,000
Non-controlling ownership interests by subsidiaries		100.00%				100.00%
Number of hospital facilities | Hospital						3	3
Lease renewal period, years						5 years
Aggregate construction cost/sales proceeds				$ 13,000,000
Aggregate rent expense paid				$ 900,000
Notice period on renewal of lease						90 days
Period of rights of refusal to leased facilities						180 days
Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust | Texas
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lease initial terms				10 years
Number of free-standing emergency departments to be acquired | Facility				2
Number of renewal options at existing lease rates | RenewalOption				6
Renewal options term at existing lease rates				5 years
Renewal options term at fair market lease rates				5 years
Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust | Minimum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lease initial terms						13 years
Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lease initial terms						15 years
Premier, Inc. | Group Purchasing Organization Agreement | Restricted Stock
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Shares vesting period					7 years
Shares vesting period start year					2014
Shares vesting period end year					2020