Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts									$ 7,688,071	$ 7,356,798	$ 5,429,233
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts									726,671	596,576	529,086
Net revenues	1,764,927	1,680,353	1,723,084	1,793,036	1,662,996	1,662,675	1,711,255	1,723,296	6,961,400	6,760,222	4,900,147
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits									3,440,917	3,326,378	2,363,383
Other operating expenses									1,376,122	1,353,693	968,612
Supplies expense									799,621	805,489	716,925
Depreciation and amortization									302,426	287,211	216,930
Lease and rental expense									94,885	90,323	75,363
Transaction costs									5,716		53,220
EHR incentive income									(30,038)	0	0
Costs related to extinguishment of debt									29,170	0	0
Operating expenses									6,018,819	5,863,094	4,394,433
Income (loss) from operations									942,581	897,128	505,714
Interest expense									178,918	200,792	77,617
Interest (income) expense, affiliate									0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									763,663	696,336	428,097
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									274,616	247,466	152,302
Net income	147,660	81,373	117,444	142,570	108,007	94,842	116,034	129,987	489,047	448,870	275,795
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	12,199	9,556	9,883	13,963	12,736	9,788	12,385	15,794	45,601	50,703	45,612
Net income attributable to UHS	135,461	71,817	107,561	128,607	95,271	85,054	103,649	114,193	443,446	398,167	230,183
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts									0	0	903
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts									0	0	0
Net revenues									0	0	903
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits									0	0	0
Other operating expenses									0	200	0
Supplies expense									0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization									0	0	0
Lease and rental expense									0	0	0
Transaction costs									0		0
EHR incentive income									0
Costs related to extinguishment of debt									29,170
Operating expenses									29,170	200	0
Income (loss) from operations									(29,170)	(200)	903
Interest expense									172,467	195,404	70,283
Interest (income) expense, affiliate									0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates									(567,906)	(518,797)	(271,944)
Income before income taxes									366,269	323,193	202,564
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									(77,177)	(74,974)	(27,619)
Net income									443,446	398,167	230,183
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS									443,446	398,167	230,183
Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts									5,152,816	4,917,358	3,494,351
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts									411,538	340,121	272,335
Net revenues									4,741,278	4,577,237	3,222,016
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits									2,452,187	2,371,961	1,611,394
Other operating expenses									899,274	923,579	633,838
Supplies expense									496,848	499,200	422,877
Depreciation and amortization									210,867	207,981	147,645
Lease and rental expense									59,596	60,768	48,872
Transaction costs									5,716		53,220
EHR incentive income									(14,284)
Costs related to extinguishment of debt									0
Operating expenses									4,110,204	4,063,489	2,917,846
Income (loss) from operations									631,074	513,748	304,170
Interest expense									3,749	3,212	6,729
Interest (income) expense, affiliate									93,363	87,205	60,876
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates									(141,983)	(157,009)	(134,760)
Income before income taxes									675,945	580,340	371,325
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									237,072	198,091	134,547
Net income									438,873	382,249	236,778
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS									438,873	382,249	236,778
Non Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts									2,562,781	2,465,916	1,981,571
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts									315,133	256,455	256,751
Net revenues									2,247,648	2,209,461	1,724,820
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits									988,730	954,417	751,989
Other operating expenses									502,592	454,601	381,218
Supplies expense									302,773	306,289	294,048
Depreciation and amortization									91,559	79,230	69,285
Lease and rental expense									37,071	31,344	27,639
Transaction costs									0		0
EHR incentive income									(15,754)
Costs related to extinguishment of debt									0
Operating expenses									1,906,971	1,825,881	1,524,179
Income (loss) from operations									340,677	383,580	200,641
Interest expense									2,702	2,176	605
Interest (income) expense, affiliate									(93,363)	(87,205)	(60,876)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									431,338	468,609	260,912
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									114,721	124,349	45,374
Net income									316,617	344,260	215,538
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests									45,601	50,703	45,612
Net income attributable to UHS									271,016	293,557	169,926
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts									(27,526)	(26,476)	(47,592)
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts									0	0	0
Net revenues									(27,526)	(26,476)	(47,592)
Operating charges:
Salaries, wages and benefits									0	0	0
Other operating expenses									(25,744)	(24,687)	(46,444)
Supplies expense									0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization									0	0	0
Lease and rental expense									(1,782)	(1,789)	(1,148)
Transaction costs									0		0
EHR incentive income									0
Costs related to extinguishment of debt									0
Operating expenses									(27,526)	(26,476)	(47,592)
Income (loss) from operations									0	0	0
Interest expense									0	0	0
Interest (income) expense, affiliate									0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates									709,889	675,806	406,704
Income before income taxes									(709,889)	(675,806)	(406,704)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									0	0	0
Net income									(709,889)	(675,806)	(406,704)
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to UHS									$ (709,889)	$ (675,806)	$ (406,704)