Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust and Other Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) Facility	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) Hospital Facility	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Hospital	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Hospital
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 2,754,496	$ 2,648,913	$ 2,681,353	$ 2,687,516	$ 2,642,787	$ 2,541,864	$ 2,612,356	$ 2,612,858		$ 10,772,278	$ 10,409,865	$ 9,766,210
Number of hospital facilities | Hospital										3
Chief Executive Officer
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Estimated payments to acquire life insurance policies										$ 28,000
Payments to acquire life insurance policies, net										1,100	$ 1,200
Chief Executive Officer | Trust Owned by CEO
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Estimated payments to acquire life insurance policies										$ 9,000
McAllen Medical Center
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lease renewal option, exercised			5 years
End of lease term			2026-12							2026-12
Minimum | Chief Executive Officer
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Estimated death benefit proceeds										$ 37,000
Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Trust outstanding shares held, percentage	5.70%									5.70%
Percentage of annual incentive fee										20.00%
Percentage of advisory fee on average invested real estate assets										0.70%	0.70%	0.70%
Pre-tax share of income from the Trust										$ 1,400	$ 2,600	$ 1,000
Dividends received from the Trust										2,100	2,100	2,000
Carrying value of investment in Trust	$ 7,500				8,200					7,500	8,200
Market value of investment in Trust	$ 48,300				$ 59,200					$ 48,300	59,200
Lease renewal period, years										5 years
Rent expense under operating leases										$ 16,000	$ 16,000	$ 15,900
Number of hospital facilities | Hospital										3	3	3
Notice period on renewal of lease										90 days
Period of rights of refusal to leased facilities										180 days
Number of free-standing emergency departments to be acquired | Facility	2									2
Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust | Minimum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lease initial terms	13 years									13 years
Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust | Minimum | Medical Office Buildings and Free Standing Emergency Departments
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Non-controlling ownership interests by subsidiaries	95.00%									95.00%
Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lease initial terms	15 years									15 years
Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust | Maximum | Medical Office Buildings and Free Standing Emergency Departments
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Non-controlling ownership interests by subsidiaries	100.00%									100.00%
Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust | Advisory Fee
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Net revenues										$ 3,800	$ 3,600	$ 3,300
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										56,000	33,000
Unrealized gain										23,000
Additional vested shares, value										17,000
Premier, Inc. | Other (Income) Expense, Net | ASU 2016-01
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unrealized gain										$ 6,000	$ 6,000