Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Redeemable Interest [Member]	Class A Common [Member]	Class B Common [Member]	Class C Common [Member]	Class D Common [Member]	Capital In Excess Of Par Value [Member]	Cumulative Dividends [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	UHS Common Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 186,097	$ 33	$ 458	$ 3	$ 0	$ 0	$ (91,921)	$ 1,666,973	$ (31,696)	$ 1,543,850	$ 40,638	$ 1,584,488
Common Stock
Issued/(converted) including tax benefits from exercise of stock options			2					3,285		3,287		3,287
Repurchased			(15)					(63,275)		(63,290)		(63,290)
Restricted share-based compensation expense								3,174		3,174		3,174
Dividends paid							(16,706)			(16,706)		(16,706)
Stock dividend		34	451	4				(489)
Stock option expense								9,940		9,940		9,940
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(23,130)										(6,736)	(6,736)
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interests											121	121
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in majority owned businesses											(229)	(229)
Other											(2,160)	(2,160)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	34,185							260,373		260,373	9,689	270,062
Amortization of terminated hedge (net of income tax effect)									(216)	(216)		(216)
Unrealized derivative losses on cash flow hedges (net of income tax effect)									1,477	1,477		1,477
Minimum pension liability (net of income tax effect)									9,182	9,182		9,182
Subtotal-comprehensive income	34,185							260,373	10,443	270,816	9,689	280,505
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	197,152	67	896	7			(108,627)	1,879,981	(21,253)	1,751,071	41,323	1,792,394
Common Stock
Issued/(converted) including tax benefits from exercise of stock options			4					10,890		10,894		10,894
Repurchased			(3)					(11,525)		(11,528)		(11,528)
Restricted share-based compensation expense								3,139		3,139		3,139
Dividends paid							(19,422)			(19,422)		(19,422)
Stock option expense								13,321		13,321		13,321
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(23,777)										(8,662)	(8,662)
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interests
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in majority owned businesses											(600)	(600)
Other	4,512
Comprehensive income:
Net income	33,874							230,183		230,183	11,738	241,921
Amortization of terminated hedge (net of income tax effect)									(216)	(216)		(216)
Unrealized derivative losses on cash flow hedges (net of income tax effect)									868	868		868
Minimum pension liability (net of income tax effect)									462	462		462
Subtotal-comprehensive income	33,874							230,183	1,114	231,297	11,738	243,035
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	211,761	67	897	7			(128,049)	2,125,989	(20,139)	1,978,772	44,999	2,023,771
Common Stock
Issued/(converted) including tax benefits from exercise of stock options		(1)	12					12,622		12,633		12,633
Repurchased			(16)					(60,466)		(60,482)		(60,482)
Restricted share-based compensation expense								1,957		1,957		1,957
Dividends paid							(19,466)			(19,466)		(19,466)
Stock option expense								15,807		15,807		15,807
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(31,016)										(7,416)	(7,416)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in majority owned businesses
Other
Comprehensive income:
Net income	37,521							398,167		398,167	13,183	411,350
Amortization of terminated hedge (net of income tax effect)									(216)	(216)		(216)
Unrealized derivative losses on cash flow hedges (net of income tax effect)									(23,114)	(23,114)		(23,114)
Minimum pension liability (net of income tax effect)									(7,706)	(7,706)		(7,706)
Subtotal-comprehensive income	37,521							398,167	(31,036)	367,131	13,183	380,314
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 218,266	$ 66	$ 893	$ 7	$ 0	$ 0	$ (147,515)	$ 2,494,076	$ (51,175)	$ 2,296,352	$ 50,766	$ 2,347,118