Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 2,804,391	$ 2,687,516
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	1,365,546	1,300,148
Other operating expenses	644,780	620,819
Supplies expense	307,463	292,929
Depreciation and amortization	120,040	113,103
Lease and rental expense	26,125	26,703
Operating Expenses, Total	2,463,954	2,353,702
Income from operations	340,437	333,814
Interest expense, net	39,640	37,576
Other (income) expense, net	4,501
Income before income taxes	296,296	296,238
Provision for income taxes	58,898	67,569
Net income	237,398	228,669
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,230	4,837
Net income attributable to UHS	$ 234,168	$ 223,832
Basic earnings per share attributable to UHS	$ 2.57	$ 2.37
Diluted earnings per share attributable to UHS	$ 2.57	$ 2.36
Weighted average number of common shares - basic	90,776	94,226
Add: Other share equivalents	191	457
Weighted average number of common shares and equivalents - diluted	90,967	94,683