Earnings per Common Share (Details) (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	Oct. 31, 2011
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 33.6	$ 38.7	$ 138.3	$ 142.1
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations	(11.4)	(10.3)	(34.5)	(30.3)
Less: Convertible perpetual preferred stock dividends	(6.5)	(6.5)	(19.5)	(19.5)
Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	15.7	21.9	84.3	92.3
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	34.8	3.4	54.9	8.0
Net income (loss) attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	$ 50.5	$ 25.3	$ 139.2	$ 100.3
Denominator:
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	93.3	92.8	93.2	92.7
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	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
Earnings per Common Share (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of dilutive potential common shares	15.9	15.5	15.9	15.6
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
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased					125

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

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Equity impact of aggregate cash, stock, and paid-in-kind dividends declared for preferred shareholders during the period.

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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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