Earnings per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 30.7	$ 54.2	$ 104.7	$ 103.4
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations	(11.3)	(10.3)	(23.1)	(20.0)
Less: Convertible perpetual preferred stock dividends	(6.5)	(6.5)	(13.0)	(13.0)
Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	12.9	37.4	68.6	70.4
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	2.5	3.4	20.1	4.6
Net income (loss) attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	$ 15.4	$ 40.8	$ 88.7	$ 75.0
Denominator:
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	93.3	92.8	93.2	92.7
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	109.5	108.2	109.3	108.2
Basic and diluted earnings per common share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	$ 0.14	$ 0.40	$ 0.74	$ 0.76
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	$ 0.03	$ 0.04	$ 0.21	$ 0.05
Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	$ 0.17	$ 0.44	$ 0.95	$ 0.81
Earnings per Common Share (Textuals)
Number of dilutive potential common shares	16.2	15.4	16.1	15.5
Potential shares, convertible perpetual preferred stock	13.1	13.1	13.1	13.1
Option to purchase, outstanding common stock not included in computation of diluted weighted-average shares			1.1	2.0

Earnings Per Common Share Textuals Abstract.

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The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share in instances when basic and diluted earnings per share are the same amount and reported as a single line item on the face of the financial statements. Basic earnings per share is the amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share includes the amount of net income or loss for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted.

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Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders basic

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The amount of net income (loss) from continuing operations per each basic and diluted share of common stock or unit when the per share amount is the same for both basic and diluted shares.

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The amount of income (loss) derived from discontinued operations during the period, net of related tax effect, per each basic and diluted share of common stock or unit when the per share amount is the same for both basic and diluted shares.

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Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would increase EPS amounts or decrease loss per share amounts for the period presented.

+ References

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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, if any, which may also be defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items and cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles which are apportioned to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.

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-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items, cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, and noncontrolling interest.

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This element represents the overall income (loss) from a disposal group apportioned to the parent that is classified as a component of the entity, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items and the cumulative effect of accounting changes after deduction or consideration of the amount which may be allocable to noncontrolling interests, if any. Includes the following (net of tax): income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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-Publisher AICPA
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Convertible preferred stock, if dilutive, shall be assumed to have been converted at the beginning of the period (or at time of issuance, if later), and the resulting common shares shall be included in common shares used to calculate diluted earnings per shares.

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Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

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- Definition

The amount of dividends declared or paid in the period to preferred shareholders, or the amount for which the obligation to pay them dividends arose in the period.

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-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
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The sum of dilutive potential common shares used in the calculation of the diluted per-share computation.

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The average number of shares issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS, determined based on the timing of issuance of shares in the period.

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Number of [basic] shares, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares and other shares not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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