Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation Ambulatory Services AmSurg Corp. (the “Company”), through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, owns interests, primarily 51%, in LPs and LLCs which own and operate ASCs primarily in the following specialties: gastroenterology; multi-specialty; ophthalmology; and orthopaedics. The Company does not have an ownership interest in a LP or LLC greater than 51% which it does not consolidate. The Company has ownership interests of less than 51% in ten LPs and LLCs, one of which it consolidates as the Company has substantive participation rights and nine of which it does not consolidate as the Company’s rights are limited to protective rights only. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and the consolidated LPs and LLCs. Consolidation of such LPs and LLCs is necessary as the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries have primarily 51% or more of the financial interest of the LPs and LLCs, are the general partner or majority member with all the duties, rights and responsibilities thereof, are responsible for the day-to-day management of the LPs and LLCs, and have control of the entities. The responsibilities of the Company’s noncontrolling partners (LPs and noncontrolling members) are to supervise the delivery of medical services, with their rights being restricted to those that protect their financial interests, such as approval of the acquisition of significant assets or the incurrence of debt which they are generally required to guarantee on a pro rata basis based upon their respective ownership interests. Intercompany profits, transactions and balances have been eliminated. All LPs and LLCs and noncontrolling partners are referred to herein as “partnerships” and “partners”, respectively. Ownership interests in consolidated subsidiaries held by parties other than the Company are identified and generally presented in the consolidated financial statements within the equity section but separate from the Company’s equity. However, for instances in which certain redemption features that are not solely within the control of the Company are present, classification of noncontrolling interests outside of permanent equity is required. Consolidated net income attributable to the Company and to the noncontrolling interests are identified and presented on the consolidated statements of operations; changes in ownership interests are accounted for as equity transactions; and when a subsidiary is deconsolidated, any retained noncontrolling equity investment in the former subsidiary and the gain or loss on the deconsolidation of the subsidiary are measured at fair value. Certain transactions with noncontrolling interests are also classified within financing activities in the statements of cash flows. As further described in note 19, upon the occurrence of various fundamental regulatory changes, the Company would be obligated, under the terms of certain partnership and operating agreements, to purchase the noncontrolling interests related to a substantial majority of the Company’s partnerships. While the Company believes that the likelihood of a change in current law that would trigger such purchases was remote as of December 31, 2014, the occurrence of such regulatory changes is outside the control of the Company. As a result, these noncontrolling interests that are subject to this redemption feature are not included as part of the Company’s equity and are classified as noncontrolling interests – redeemable on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Center profits and losses of consolidated entities are allocated to the Company’s partners in proportion to their ownership percentages and reflected in the aggregate as net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests. The partners of the Company’s center partnerships typically are organized as general partnerships, LPs or LLCs that are not subject to federal income tax. Each partner shares in the pre-tax earnings of the center in which it is a partner. Accordingly, the earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests in each of the Company’s consolidated partnerships are generally determined on a pre-tax basis, and total net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests are presented after net earnings. However, the Company considers the impact of the net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests on earnings before income taxes in order to determine the amount of pre-tax earnings on which the Company must determine its tax expense. In addition, distributions from the partnerships are made to both the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries and the partners on a pre-tax basis. Physician Services On July 16, 2014, the Company completed its acquisition of Sheridan. Sheridan is a national provider of multi-specialty physician and administrative services to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and other healthcare facilities. Sheridan focuses on delivering comprehensive physician services, primarily in the areas of anesthesiology, children's services, radiology and emergency medicine to healthcare facilities. Through its contracts with healthcare facilities, Sheridan is authorized to bill and collect charges for fee for service medical services rendered by its healthcare professionals and employees in exchange for the provision of services to the patients of these facilities. Contract revenue is earned directly from hospital customers through a variety of payment arrangements that are established when payments from third-party payors are inadequate to support the costs of providing the services required under the contract. Sheridan also provides physician services and manages office-based practices in the areas of gynecology, obstetrics and perinatology. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Sheridan and its wholly-owned subsidiaries along with the accounts of affiliated PCs with which Sheridan currently has management arrangements. Sheridan's agreements with these PCs provide that the term of the arrangements is permanent, subject only to termination by the Company, except in the case of gross negligence, fraud or bankruptcy of the Company. These arrangements are captive in nature as a majority of the outstanding voting equity instruments of the PCs are owned by nominee shareholders appointed at the sole discretion of the Company. The Company has a contractual right to transfer the ownership of the PCs at any time to any person it designates as the nominee shareholder. The Company has the right to receive income, both as ongoing fees and as proceeds from the sale of its interest in the PCs, in an amount that fluctuates based on the performance of the PCs and the change in the fair value of the Company’s interest in the PCs. The Company has exclusive responsibility for the provision of all non-medical services required for the day-to-day operation and management of the PCs and establishes the guidelines for the employment and compensation of the physicians and other employees of the PCs. In addition, the agreements provide that the Company has the right, but not the obligation, to purchase, or to designate a person(s) to purchase, the stock of the PCs for a nominal amount. Separately, in its sole discretion, the Company has the right to assign its interest in the management and purchase agreements. Based upon the provisions of these agreements, the Company has determined that the PCs are variable interest entities and that the Company is the primary beneficiary as defined in the accounting guidance for consolidation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents are comprised principally of demand deposits at banks and other highly liquid short-term investments with maturities of less than three months when purchased. Cash and cash equivalents are reflected in the financial statements at cost, which approximates fair value.
Restricted Cash	Restricted Cash and Marketable Securities As of December 31, 2014 the Company had $30.3 million of restricted cash and marketable securities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, which is restricted for the purpose of satisfying the obligations of the Company's wholly-owned captive insurance company. The Company has reflected $20.1 million of its restricted cash and marketable securities as a component of other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The remaining $10.2 million is reflected as a component of total current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as such amount is available to satisfy the claims payments estimated to occur in the next twelve months. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $3.0 million included in restricted cash and marketable securities which are certificates of deposit with maturities less than 180 days, which approximates fair value.
Supplies Inventory	Supplies Inventory Supplies inventory consists of medical and drug supplies and is recorded at cost on a first-in, first-out basis.
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in an orderly transaction between market participants to sell the asset or transfer the liability. The inputs used by the Company to measure fair value are classified into the following hierarchy: Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with market data at the measurement date. Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. In determining the fair value of assets and liabilities that are measured on a recurring basis at December 31, 2014 and 2013, with the exception of the contingent purchase price payable (further discussed in note 4), the Company utilized Level 1 and 2 inputs to perform such measurements methods, which were commensurate with the market approach. There were no transfers to or from Levels 1 and 2 during the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company's non-patient receivables and accounts payable are reflected in the financial statements at cost, which approximates fair value.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications	Reclassifications Certain amounts in the consolidated financial statements and these notes have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Such reclassifications primarily result from the acquisition of Sheridan and the impact of additional discontinued operations as further discussed in note 6.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2014-08 “Presentation of Financial Statements and Property, Plant and Equipment,” which raised the threshold for a disposal to qualify as a discontinued operation and requires certain new disclosures for individually material disposals that do not meet the new definition of a discontinued operation. The ASU’s intent is to reduce the number of disposals reported as discontinued operations by focusing on strategic shifts that have or will have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results rather than routine disposals that are not a change in the Company’s strategy. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, with earlier adoption permitted. From time to time, the Company will dispose of certain of its entities due to management’s assessment of the Company’s strategy in the market and due to limited growth opportunities at those entities. Historically, these dispositions were classified as discontinued operations and recorded separately from continuing operations. Upon adoption in the first quarter of 2015, this ASU will require the Company to record the results of operations and the associated gain or loss from similar dispositions as a component of continuing operations. The Company does not believe this ASU will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or cash flows. In May 2014, Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which will eliminate the transaction and industry-specific revenue recognition guidance under current GAAP and replace it with a principle-based approach using the following steps: identify the contract(s) with a customer, identify the performance obligations in the contract, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The guidance in ASU 2014-09 is effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods therein. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company has yet to assess the impact, if any, this ASU will have on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, "Consolidations (Topic 810) - Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis". The new guidance makes amendments to the current consolidation guidance, including introducing a separate consolidation analysis specific to limited partnerships and other similar entities. Under this analysis, limited partnerships and other similar entities will be considered a variable-interest entity unless the limited partners hold substantive kick-out rights or participating rights. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company has yet to assess the impact, if any, this ASU will have on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Revenue Recognition	Ambulatory Services Ambulatory services revenues consist of billing for the use of the centers’ facilities directly to the patient or third-party payor and, at certain of the Company’s centers (primarily centers that perform gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures), billing for anesthesia services provided by medical professionals employed or contracted by the Company’s centers. Such revenues are recognized when the related surgical procedures are performed. Revenues exclude any amounts billed for physicians’ surgical services, which are billed separately by the physicians to the patient or third-party payor. Revenues from ambulatory services are recognized on the date of service, net of estimated contractual adjustments from third-party medical service payors including Medicare and Medicaid. During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company derived approximately 25%, 25% and 27%, respectively, of its ambulatory services revenues from governmental healthcare programs, primarily Medicare and managed Medicare programs. Concentration of credit risk with respect to other payors is limited due to the large number of such payors. Physician Services Physician services revenue primarily consists of fee for service revenue and contract revenue and is derived principally from the provision of physician services to patients of the healthcare facilities the Company serves. Contract revenue represents income earned from the Company's hospital customers to subsidize contract costs when payments from third-party payors are inadequate to support such costs. The Company records revenue at the time services are provided, net of a contractual allowance and a provision for uncollectibles. Revenue less the contractual allowance represents the net revenue expected to be collected from third-party payors (including managed care, commercial and governmental payors such as Medicare and Medicaid) and patients insured by these payors. The Company also recognizes revenue for services provided during the period but are not yet billed. Expected collections are estimated based on fees and negotiated payment rates in the case of third-party payors, the specific benefits provided for under each patients’ healthcare plan, mandated payment rates under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and historical cash collections. The Company's provision for uncollectibles includes its estimate of uncollectible balances due from uninsured patients, uncollectible co-pay and deductible balances due from insured patients and special charges, if any, for uncollectible balances due from managed care, commercial and governmental payors. The Company records net revenue from uninsured patients at its estimated realizable value, which includes a provision for uncollectible balances, based on historical cash collections (net of recoveries).
Accounts Receivable	Accounts Receivable The Company manages accounts receivable by regularly reviewing its accounts and contracts and by providing appropriate allowances for contractual adjustments and uncollectible amounts. Some of the factors considered by management in determining the amount of such allowances are the historical trends of cash collections, contractual and bad debt write-offs, accounts receivable agings, established fee schedules, contracts with payors, changes in payor mix and procedure statistics. Actual collections of accounts receivable in subsequent periods may require changes in the estimated contractual allowance and provision for uncollectibles. The Company tests its analysis by comparing cash collections to net patient revenues and monitoring self-pay utilization. In addition, when actual collection percentages differ from expected results, on a contract by contract basis, supplemental detailed reviews of the outstanding accounts receivable balances may be performed by the Company’s billing operations to determine whether there are facts and circumstances existing that may cause a different conclusion as to the estimate of the collectability of that contract’s accounts receivable from the estimate resulting from using the historical collection experience. The Company also supplements its allowance for doubtful accounts policy for its physician services quarterly using a hindsight calculation that utilizes write-off data for all payor classes during the previous 12-month period to estimate the allowance for doubtful accounts at a point in time. Changes in these estimates are charged or credited to the consolidated statements of operations in the period of change. Material changes in estimates may result from unforeseen write-offs of patient or third party accounts receivable, unsuccessful disputes with managed care payors, adverse macro-economic conditions which limit patients’ ability to meet their financial obligations for the care provided by physicians, or broad changes to government regulations that adversely impact reimbursement rates for services provided by the Company. Significant changes in payor mix, business office operations, general economic conditions and health care coverage provided by federal or state governments or private insurers may have a significant impact on the Company’s estimates and significantly affect its results of operations and cash flows.
Acquisitions	Acquisitions The Company accounts for its business combinations under the fundamental requirements of the acquisition method of accounting and under the premise that an acquirer be identified for each business combination. The acquirer is the entity that obtains control of one or more businesses in the business combination and the acquisition date is the date the acquirer achieves control. The assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interests in the acquired business at the acquisition date are recognized at their fair values as of that date, and the direct costs incurred in connection with the business combination are recorded and expensed separately from the business combination. Acquisitions in which the Company is able to exert significant influence but does not have control are accounted for using the equity method.
Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates	Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates Investments in unconsolidated affiliates in which the Company exerts significant influence but does not control or otherwise consolidate are accounted for using the equity method. Equity method investments are initially recorded at cost, unless such investments are a result of the Company entering into a transaction whereby the Company loses control of a previously controlled entity but retains a noncontrolling interest. Such transactions, which result in the deconsolidation of a previously consolidated entity, are measured at fair value. These investments are included as investments in unconsolidated affiliates in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s share of the profits and losses from these investments are reported in equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates in the accompanying consolidated statement of earnings. The Company monitors its investments for other-than-temporary impairment by considering factors such as current economic and market conditions and the operating performance of the companies and records reductions in carrying values when necessary.
Property and Equipment	Property and Equipment Property and equipment are stated at cost. Equipment held under capital leases is stated at the present value of minimum lease payments at the inception of the related leases. Depreciation for buildings and improvements is recognized under the straight-line method over 20 to 40 years or, for leasehold improvements, over the remaining term of the lease plus renewal options for which failure to renew the lease imposes a penalty on the Company in such an amount that a renewal appears, at the inception of the lease, to be reasonably assured. The primary penalty to which the Company is subject is the economic detriment associated with existing leasehold improvements which might be impaired if a decision is made not to continue the use of the leased property. Depreciation for movable equipment is recognized over useful lives of three to ten years.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	Goodwill and Intangible Assets The Company’s intangible assets include goodwill and other intangibles, which include the fair value of both the customer relationships with hospitals and trade names acquired in our physician services segment. The Company's indefinite lived intangibles include goodwill and trade names. Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired. The Company evaluates indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill, for impairment at least on an annual basis and more frequently if certain indicators are encountered. Indefinite lived intangibles are to be tested at the reporting unit level, defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment (referred to as a component), with the fair value of the reporting unit being compared to its carrying amount. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, the indefinite lived intangibles associated with the reporting unit is not considered to be impaired. The Company completed its annual impairment test as of October 1, 2014, and determined that its indefinite lived intangibles were not impaired. The Company's finite lived intangibles includes its customer relationship with hospitals. The Company tests its finite lived intangibles for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company's policy is to recognize an impairment charge when the carrying amount is not recoverable and such amount exceeds fair value. During the year ended December 31, 2014, there were no events or circumstances that indicated a potential impairment in the Company's finite lived intangibles. In the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company prospectively changed its annual goodwill impairment testing date from the last day of its fiscal year to the first day of October. The voluntary change was to better align its goodwill impairment testing procedures with the completion of its annual financial and strategic planning process and to provide the Company with adequate time to evaluate goodwill for impairment. As a result, during 2014, the Company tested the goodwill of all of its reporting units for impairment as of October 1, 2014 and concluded that there was no impairment of the carrying value of goodwill. The change in accounting principle related to changing the annual goodwill impairment testing date did not accelerate, delay, avoid, or cause an impairment charge. This change was not applied retrospectively, as it is impracticable to objectively determine the assumptions that would have been used as of each October 1 for periods prior to October 1, 2014 without the use of hindsight. Accordingly, the change will be applied prospectively.
Amortization of Intangible Assets	Intangible assets consist primarily of customer relationships with hospitals, deferred financing costs, capitalized software and certain amortizable and non-amortizable non-compete and customer agreements. Customer relationships with hospitals are initially recorded at their estimated fair value and typically amortized on a straight-line basis over 20 years. Deferred financing costs and amortizable non-compete agreements and customer agreements are amortized over the term of the related debt as interest expense and the contractual term or estimated life (five to ten years) of the agreements as amortization expense. Capitalized software is amortized over estimated useful lives of three to eight years.
Insurance Programs	The Company maintains professional liability insurance policies with third-party insurers generally on a claims-made basis, subject to self-insured retention, exclusions and other restrictions. The Company’s self-insured retention under its professional liability insurance program is also maintained through a wholly-owned captive insurance subsidiary. The Company records an estimate of liabilities for self-insured amounts and claims incurred but not reported based on an actuarial valuation using historical loss patterns and are not discounted. Insurance Programs Given the nature of the services provided, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to professional and general liability claims and related lawsuits in the ordinary course of business. The Company maintains professional insurance with third-party insurers generally on a claims-made basis, subject to self-insured retentions, exclusions and other restrictions. A substantial portion of the professional liability loss risks are being provided by a third-party insurer which is fully reinsured by the Company's wholly-owned captive. In addition, the wholly-owned captive provides stop loss coverage for the Company’s self-insured employee health program. The assets, liabilities and results of operations of the wholly-owned captive are consolidated in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The liabilities for self-insurance in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets include estimates of the ultimate costs related to both reported claims on an individual and aggregate basis and unreported claims. The Company also obtains professional liability insurance on a claims-made basis from third party insurers for its surgery centers and certain of its owned practices and employed physicians.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return. Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company applies recognition thresholds and measurement attributes for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return as it relates to accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. In addition, it is the Company’s policy to recognize interest accrued and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized benefits as income tax expense in its statement of earnings. The Company does not expect significant changes to its tax positions or liability for tax uncertainties during the next 12 months. The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal or state income tax examinations for years prior to 2011.
Stock Incentive Plans	Stock Incentive Plans Transactions in which the Company receives employee and non-employee services in exchange for the Company’s equity instruments or liabilities that are based on the fair value of the Company’s equity securities or may be settled by the issuance of these securities are accounted using a fair value method. The Company applies the Black-Scholes method of valuation in determining share-based compensation expense for option awards. Benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost are reported as a financing cash flow, thus reducing the Company’s net operating cash flows and increasing its financing cash flows by $3.2 million, $7.2 million and $1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company examines its concentrations of holdings, its historical patterns of award exercises and forfeitures as well as forward-looking factors, in an effort to determine if there were any discernible employee populations. From this analysis, the Company has identified three employee populations, consisting of senior executives, officers and all other recipients. The expected volatility rate applied was estimated based on historical volatility. The expected term assumption applied is based on contractual terms, historical exercise and cancellation patterns and forward-looking factors where present for each population identified. The risk-free interest rate used is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The pre-vesting forfeiture rate is based on historical rates and forward-looking factors for each population identified. The Company will adjust the estimated forfeiture rate to its actual experience. The Company intends to retain its earnings to finance growth and development of the business and does not expect to declare or pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future except as required in accordance with the terms of the Company's mandatory convertible preferred stock.
Earnings per Share	Earnings per Share Basic net earnings attributable to AmSurg Corp. common stockholders, per common share, excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net earnings attributable to AmSurg Corp. common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net earnings attributable to AmSurg common stockholders, per common share is computed by dividing net earnings attributable to AmSurg Corp. common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus any potential dilutive common share equivalents, including shares issuable (1) upon the vesting of restricted stock awards as determined under the treasury stock method and (2) upon conversion of the Company's 5.250% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as determined under the if-converted method. For purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share, preferred stock dividends have been subtracted from both net earnings from continuing operations attributable to AmSurg Corp. and net earnings attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders in periods in which utilizing the if-converted method would be anti-dilutive.
Related Party Transactions	It is the Company’s policy that all transactions by the Company with officers, directors, five percent shareholders and their affiliates be entered into only if such transactions are on terms no less favorable to the Company than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties, are reasonably expected to benefit the Company and are approved by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.
Segment Reporting	Segment Reporting Prior to the Sheridan acquisition, the Company operated its centers as individual components of one operating and reportable segment. Upon completion of the Sheridan acquisition, the Company operates in two major lines of business - the operation of ambulatory surgery centers and providing multi-specialty outsourced physician services, which have been identified as its operating and reportable segments. Through the ambulatory services segment, the Company acquires, develops and operates ambulatory surgery centers in partnership with physicians. Through the physician services segment, the Company provides outsourced physician services in multiple specialties to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and other healthcare facilities, primarily in the areas of anesthesiology, children’s services, emergency medicine and radiology. The Company’s financial information by operating segment is prepared on an internal management reporting basis that the chief operating decision maker uses to allocate resources and assess the performance of the operating segments. The Company’s operating segments have been defined based on the separate financial information that is regularly produced and reviewed by the Company’s chief operating decision maker which is its Chief Executive Officer.