Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 11,558,897	$ 11,378,259	$ 10,772,278
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits	5,613,097	5,588,893	5,254,536
Other operating expenses	2,672,762	2,723,911	2,614,687
Supplies expense	1,288,132	1,251,346	1,168,654
Depreciation and amortization	510,493	490,392	453,045
Lease and rental expense	116,059	107,809	106,094
Operating Expenses, Total	10,200,543	10,162,351	9,597,016
Income from operations	1,358,354	1,215,908	1,175,262
Interest expense, net	106,285	162,733	154,956
Other (income) expense, net	(14)	(13,162)	(14,219)
Income before income taxes	1,252,083	1,066,337	1,034,525
Provision for income taxes	299,293	238,794	236,642
Net income	952,790	827,543	797,883
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	8,837	12,689	18,178
Net income attributable to UHS	$ 943,953	$ 814,854	$ 779,705
Basic earnings per share attributable to UHS	$ 11.06	$ 9.16	$ 8.35
Diluted earnings per share attributable to UHS	$ 10.99	$ 9.13	$ 8.31
Weighted average number of common shares—basic	85,061	88,762	93,276
Add: Other share equivalents	526	278	474
Weighted average number of common shares and equivalents—diluted	85,587	89,040	93,750