Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust and Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) Hospital Facility	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) Hospital	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2016 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		1,200,000	$ 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]
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%
Advisory fee earned		$ 900,000	800,000
Pre-tax share of income from the Trust		1,800,000	250,000
Carrying value of investment in Trust		9,000,000			$ 7,700,000
Market value of investment in Trust		50,800,000			51,700,000
Rent expense under operating leases		$ 4,000,000	$ 4,000,000
Number of hospital facilities | Hospital		3	3
Number of free-standing emergency departments to be acquired | Facility		2
Lease renewal period, years		5 years
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 | Minimum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Non-controlling ownership interests by subsidiaries		95.00%
Lease initial terms		13 years
Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Non-controlling ownership interests by subsidiaries		100.00%
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
Market value of retained vested shares		$ 24,000,000			$ 23,000,000