Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net operating revenues	$ 497.7	$ 460.8	$ 1,508.8	$ 1,386.7
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	245.0	231.7	730.6	684.2
Other operating expenses	70.3	65.4	216.6	197.4
General and administrative expenses	26.4	24.9	80.7	77.9
Supplies	24.7	24.1	76.7	73.3
Depreciation and amortization	19.5	18.4	58.6	53.7
Occupancy costs	12.5	11.4	36.2	33.0
Provision for doubtful accounts	5.1	3.7	14.9	14.8
Loss on disposal of assets	2.8	0.1	3.9	0.5
Government, class action, and related settlements		0.8	(10.6)	0.8
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal	4.0	5.2	16.2	13.8
Total operating expenses	410.3	385.7	1,223.8	1,149.4
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	12.7		38.8	0.4
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	26.3	30.8	96.3	91.4
Other expense (income)	(0.2)	(0.7)	(1.5)	(2.8)
Loss on interest rate swaps		9.0		13.0
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	(3.1)	(2.3)	(8.8)	(7.5)
Income from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense	51.7	38.3	160.2	142.8
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	18.1	(0.4)	21.9	0.7
Income from continuing operations	33.6	38.7	138.3	142.1
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	34.7	3.2	53.8	7.8
Net income	68.3	41.9	192.1	149.9
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(11.3)	(10.1)	(33.4)	(30.1)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	57.0	31.8	158.7	119.8
Less: Convertible perpetual preferred stock dividends	(6.5)	(6.5)	(19.5)	(19.5)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	50.5	25.3	139.2	100.3
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	93.3	92.8	93.2	92.7
Diluted	109.2	108.3	109.1	108.3
Basic and diluted earnings per common share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	$ 0.17	$ 0.24	$ 0.90	$ 0.99
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	$ 0.37	$ 0.03	$ 0.59	$ 0.09
Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	$ 0.54	$ 0.27	$ 1.49	$ 1.08
Amounts attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:
Income from continuing operations	22.2	28.4	103.8	111.8
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	34.8	3.4	54.9	8.0
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	$ 57.0	$ 31.8	$ 158.7	$ 119.8