Financial Information for the Company and Its Subsidiaries (Income Statements) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenue	$ 724,678	$ 570,445
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	409,839	302,179
Supply cost	46,963	42,584
Other operating expenses	107,682	90,570
Transaction costs	1,390	1,471
Depreciation and amortization	29,072	22,818
Total operating expenses	594,946	459,622
Net loss on deconsolidations	0	(223)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	6,579	2,651
Operating income	136,311	113,251
Interest expense (income), net	30,810	30,247
Earnings before income taxes	105,501	83,004
Income tax expense	20,797	14,249
Net earnings	84,704	68,755
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	53,841	47,717
Net earnings attributable to AmSurg Corp. shareholders	30,863	21,038
Preferred stock dividends	(2,264)	(2,264)
Net earnings attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	28,599	18,774
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenue	(10,308)	(8,854)
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	(133)	(128)
Supply cost	(13)	0
Other operating expenses	(10,162)	(8,726)
Transaction costs	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Total operating expenses	(10,308)	(8,854)
Net loss on deconsolidations		188
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(127,899)	(112,319)
Operating income	(127,899)	(112,131)
Interest expense (income), net	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	(127,899)	(112,131)
Income tax expense	0	0
Net earnings	(127,899)	(112,131)
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings attributable to AmSurg Corp. shareholders	(127,899)	(112,131)
Preferred stock dividends	0	0
Net earnings attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	(127,899)	(112,131)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenue	8,544	7,091
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	24,095	17,643
Supply cost	0	0
Other operating expenses	7,618	6,634
Transaction costs	177	268
Depreciation and amortization	1,072	834
Total operating expenses	32,962	25,379
Net loss on deconsolidations		(188)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	69,042	60,387
Operating income	44,624	41,911
Interest expense (income), net	(2,819)	11,886
Earnings before income taxes	47,443	30,025
Income tax expense	16,580	8,987
Net earnings	30,863	21,038
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings attributable to AmSurg Corp. shareholders	30,863	21,038
Preferred stock dividends	(2,264)	(2,264)
Net earnings attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	28,599	18,774
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenue	415,830	285,579
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	309,580	211,601
Supply cost	1,007	396
Other operating expenses	43,339	29,611
Transaction costs	1,213	1,203
Depreciation and amortization	20,336	14,307
Total operating expenses	375,475	257,118
Net loss on deconsolidations		(188)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	65,436	54,583
Operating income	105,791	82,856
Interest expense (income), net	32,976	17,754
Earnings before income taxes	72,815	65,102
Income tax expense	3,774	4,903
Net earnings	69,041	60,199
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings attributable to AmSurg Corp. shareholders	69,041	60,199
Preferred stock dividends	0	0
Net earnings attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	69,041	60,199
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenue	310,612	286,629
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	76,297	73,063
Supply cost	45,969	42,188
Other operating expenses	66,887	63,051
Transaction costs	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	7,664	7,677
Total operating expenses	196,817	185,979
Net loss on deconsolidations		(35)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	0	0
Operating income	113,795	100,615
Interest expense (income), net	653	607
Earnings before income taxes	113,142	100,008
Income tax expense	443	359
Net earnings	112,699	99,649
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	53,841	47,717
Net earnings attributable to AmSurg Corp. shareholders	58,858	51,932
Preferred stock dividends	0	0
Net earnings attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	$ 58,858	$ 51,932