Relationship With Universal Health Realty Income Trust And Related Party Transactions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 years days	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Rent expense under the operating leases		$ 16.3	$ 16.2	$ 16.3
Lease renewal period, years		5
Notice period on renewal of lease		90
Period of rights of refusal to leased facilities		180
Death benefit proceeds		33
Payments to acquire life insurance policies	6.0	1.4
Net of tax present value of projected premium funding commitment	9		9
Universal Health Services Inc [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Payments to acquire life insurance policies		25.0
Universal Health Realty Income Trust [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Trust outstanding shares held, percentage	6.20%		6.20%
Advisory fee from the trust		2.0	1.8	1.6
Pre-tax share of income from trust		4.6	1.0	1.1
Share of income included in the share of trust		3.7
Current ownership percentage of the trust		100.00%
Carrying value of investment in trust	7.3	9.9	7.3
Market value of investment in trust	28.8	30.7	28.8
Payments to acquire life insurance policies		$ 8.0
Minimum [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Lease initial terms		13
Maximum [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Lease initial terms		15