Lease expiration term.

No definition available.

Name:	uhs_LeaseExpirationTerm
Namespace Prefix:	uhs_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of hospital facilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	uhs_NumberOfHospitalFacilities
Namespace Prefix:	uhs_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase in lease obligation from new lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
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+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicates (true false) whether lessee has option to extend operating lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888426&loc=SL77918673-209980

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease renewal, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888426&loc=SL77918673-209980

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseRenewalTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of increase in right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for operating lease liability.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=uhs_NewOperatingLeasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis=uhs_ThirdHospitalFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

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Lease Commitments - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
Lease Commitments - Additional Information (Detail)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) Hospital	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, existence of option to extend [true false]	true
Number of hospital facilities \| Hospital	3
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations	$ 383,857,000	$ 0	$ 0
Additional capital lease obligations incurred		$ 0
New Operating Leases
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations	$ 29,300,000
Two Hospital Facilities
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Lease Expiration Term	2021
Third Hospital Facilities
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Lease Expiration Term	2026
Minimum
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Initial term of real estate lease	5 years
Real estate leases option to extend lease term	5 years
Maximum
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Initial term of real estate lease	10 years
Real estate leases option to extend lease term	10 years