Financial Information for the Company and Its Subsidiaries (Income Statements) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 281,105	$ 267,102	$ 544,212	$ 525,291
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	84,866	81,085	168,060	162,043
Supply cost	41,283	38,989	80,003	76,202
Other operating expenses	60,331	53,925	115,600	106,652
Depreciation and amortization	8,550	8,125	16,924	16,133
Total operating expenses	195,030	182,124	380,587	361,030
Gain (loss) on deconsolidation	1,366	0	3,411	2,237
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	539	696	1,303	1,098
Operating income	87,980	85,674	168,339	167,596
Interest expense	6,894	7,512	13,857	15,054
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	81,086	78,162	154,482	152,542
Income tax expense	12,921	12,710	25,978	24,979
Net earnings from continuing operations	68,165	65,452	128,504	127,563
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	7	384	(218)	546
Net earnings and comprehensive income	68,172	65,836	128,286	128,109
Less net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Net earnings from continuing operations	49,211	47,035	92,046	91,396
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0	238	84	339
Total net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	49,211	47,273	92,130	91,735
Net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	18,961	18,563	36,156	36,374
Amounts attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders:
Earnings from continuing operations, net of income tax	18,954	18,417	36,458	36,167
Discontinued operations, net of income tax, attributable to AmSurg Corp.	7	146	(302)	207
Net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	18,961	18,563	36,156	36,374
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	(4,777)	(4,353)	(9,386)	(8,591)
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	(124)	(117)	(246)	(230)
Supply cost	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	(4,653)	(4,236)	(9,140)	(8,361)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	(4,777)	(4,353)	(9,386)	(8,591)
Gain (loss) on deconsolidation	(1,366)	0	(3,411)	(2,237)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(108,739)	(105,156)	(204,079)	(204,664)
Operating income	(110,105)	(105,156)	(207,490)	(206,901)
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	(110,105)	(105,156)	(207,490)	(206,901)
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Net earnings from continuing operations	(110,105)	(105,156)	(207,490)	(206,901)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0	0	0
Net earnings and comprehensive income	(110,105)	(105,156)	(207,490)	(206,901)
Less net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Net earnings from continuing operations	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0	0	0
Total net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	(110,105)	(105,156)	(207,490)	(206,901)
Amounts attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders:
Earnings from continuing operations, net of income tax	(110,105)	(105,156)	(207,490)	(206,901)
Discontinued operations, net of income tax, attributable to AmSurg Corp.	0	0	0	0
Net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	(110,105)	(105,156)	(207,490)	(206,901)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	6,364	5,460	12,491	11,176
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	15,282	14,431	29,767	29,852
Supply cost	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	8,427	5,171	12,594	10,231
Depreciation and amortization	815	760	1,640	1,532
Total operating expenses	24,524	20,362	44,001	41,615
Gain (loss) on deconsolidation	1,366	0	3,411	2,237
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	54,639	52,926	102,691	102,881
Operating income	37,845	38,024	74,592	74,679
Interest expense	6,342	7,026	12,793	13,949
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	31,503	30,998	61,799	60,730
Income tax expense	12,549	12,332	25,253	24,210
Net earnings from continuing operations	18,954	18,666	36,546	36,520
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	7	(103)	(390)	(146)
Net earnings and comprehensive income	18,961	18,563	36,156	36,374
Less net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Net earnings from continuing operations	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0	0	0
Total net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	18,961	18,563	36,156	36,374
Amounts attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders:
Earnings from continuing operations, net of income tax	18,954	18,666	36,546	36,520
Discontinued operations, net of income tax, attributable to AmSurg Corp.	7	(103)	(390)	(146)
Net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	18,961	18,563	36,156	36,374
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	0	0	0	0
Supply cost	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	0	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on deconsolidation	1,366	0	3,411	2,237
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	54,639	52,926	102,691	102,881
Operating income	56,005	52,926	106,102	105,118
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	56,005	52,926	106,102	105,118
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Net earnings from continuing operations	56,005	52,926	106,102	105,118
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0	0	0
Net earnings and comprehensive income	56,005	52,926	106,102	105,118
Less net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Net earnings from continuing operations	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0	0	0
Total net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	56,005	52,926	106,102	105,118
Amounts attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders:
Earnings from continuing operations, net of income tax	56,005	52,926	106,102	105,118
Discontinued operations, net of income tax, attributable to AmSurg Corp.	0	0	0	0
Net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	56,005	52,926	106,102	105,118
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	279,518	265,995	541,107	522,706
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	69,708	66,771	138,539	132,421
Supply cost	41,283	38,989	80,003	76,202
Other operating expenses	56,557	52,990	112,146	104,782
Depreciation and amortization	7,735	7,365	15,284	14,601
Total operating expenses	175,283	166,115	345,972	328,006
Gain (loss) on deconsolidation	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Operating income	104,235	99,880	195,135	194,700
Interest expense	552	486	1,064	1,105
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	103,683	99,394	194,071	193,595
Income tax expense	372	378	725	769
Net earnings from continuing operations	103,311	99,016	193,346	192,826
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0	487	172	692
Net earnings and comprehensive income	103,311	99,503	193,518	193,518
Less net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Net earnings from continuing operations	49,211	47,035	92,046	91,396
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0	238	84	339
Total net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	49,211	47,273	92,130	91,735
Net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	54,100	52,230	101,388	101,783
Amounts attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders:
Earnings from continuing operations, net of income tax	54,100	51,981	101,300	101,430
Discontinued operations, net of income tax, attributable to AmSurg Corp.	0	249	88	353
Net earnings and comprehensive income attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	$ 54,100	$ 52,230	$ 101,388	$ 101,783