Finance lease obligations.

No definition available.

Name:	uhs_FinanceLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix:	uhs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Lease expiration term.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	uhs_LeaseExpirationTerm
Namespace Prefix:	uhs_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of hospital facilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	uhs_NumberOfHospitalFacilities
Namespace Prefix:	uhs_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicates (true false) whether lessee has option to extend operating lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=128292326&loc=SL77918673-209980

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseExistenceOfOptionToExtend
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease renewal, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=128292326&loc=SL77918673-209980

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseRenewalTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of increase in right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for operating lease liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 53
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123414884&loc=SL77918982-209971

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (g)(2)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=128292326&loc=SL77918686-209980

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=uhs_TwoHospitalFacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=uhs_ThirdAndFourthHospitalFacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=uhs_FifthHospitalFacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Lease Commitments - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) Hospital	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, existence of option to extend [true false]	true
Number of hospital facilities \| Hospital	5
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations	$ 163,679	$ 95,805	$ 69,678
Finance lease obligations	$ 1,000	$ 29,000	$ 37,000
Two Hospital Facilities
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Lease expiration term	2026
Third and Fourth Hospital Facilities
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Lease expiration term	2033
Fifth Hospital Facility
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Lease expiration term	2040
Minimum
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Initial term of real estate lease	5 years
Real estate leases option to extend lease term	5 years
Maximum
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Initial term of real estate lease	10 years
Real estate leases option to extend lease term	10 years