Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 23,471	$ 41,229
Accounts receivable, net	1,067,197	969,802
Supplies	99,000	96,775
Deferred income taxes	104,461	108,324
Other current assets	87,936	99,859
Current assets held for sale	25,431	48,916
Total current assets	1,407,496	1,364,905
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany receivable	0	0
Intercompany note receivable	0	0
Property and equipment	5,368,345	5,106,160
Less: accumulated depreciation	(1,986,110)	(1,818,180)
Property Equipment, net	3,382,235	3,287,980
Other assets:
Goodwill	3,036,765	2,627,602	2,589,914
Deferred charges	75,888	111,780
Other	298,459	272,978
Total assets	8,200,843	7,665,245	7,527,936
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	2,589	2,479
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	889,557	832,125
Current liabilities held for sale	850	2,329
Federal and state taxes	1,062	0
Total current liabilities	894,058	836,933
Intercompany payable	0	0
Other noncurrent liabilities	395,355	401,908
Long-term debt	3,727,431	3,651,428
Intercompany note payable	0	0
Deferred income taxes	183,747	209,592
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	234,303	218,266
UHS common stockholders' equity	2,713,345	2,296,352
Noncontrolling interest	52,604	50,766
Total equity	2,765,949	2,347,118	2,023,771	1,792,394
Liabilities and Equity, Total	8,200,843	7,665,245
Parent
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	7,154	8,891
Supplies	0	0
Deferred income taxes	61,364	67,189
Other current assets	2,188	33,057
Current assets held for sale	0	0
Total current assets	70,706	109,137
Investments in subsidiaries	5,781,479	5,213,573
Intercompany receivable	644,105	669,112
Intercompany note receivable	0	0
Property and equipment	0	0
Less: accumulated depreciation	0	0
Property Equipment, net	0	0
Other assets:
Goodwill	820	820
Deferred charges	67,831	103,434
Other	9,645	10,412
Total assets	6,574,586	6,106,488
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	10,985	14,201
Current liabilities held for sale	0	0
Federal and state taxes	0	0
Total current liabilities	10,985	14,201
Intercompany payable	0	0
Other noncurrent liabilities	46,048	49,840
Long-term debt	3,676,940	3,594,182
Intercompany note payable	0	0
Deferred income taxes	127,268	151,913
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	0
UHS common stockholders' equity	2,713,345	2,296,352
Noncontrolling interest	0	0
Total equity	2,713,345	2,296,352
Liabilities and Equity, Total	6,574,586	6,106,488
Guarantors
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	11,949	33,221
Accounts receivable, net	741,983	663,593
Supplies	61,100	59,467
Deferred income taxes	43,555	41,755
Other current assets	75,117	56,864
Current assets held for sale	0	48,916
Total current assets	933,704	903,816
Investments in subsidiaries	1,323,832	1,181,849
Intercompany receivable	0	0
Intercompany note receivable	0	0
Property and equipment	3,867,471	3,650,025
Less: accumulated depreciation	(1,288,975)	(1,184,283)
Property Equipment, net	2,578,496	2,465,742
Other assets:
Goodwill	2,554,531	2,132,103
Deferred charges	5,839	5,972
Other	209,558	241,107
Total assets	7,605,960	6,930,589
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	990	1,133
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	740,484	616,026
Current liabilities held for sale	0	2,329
Federal and state taxes	900	0
Total current liabilities	742,374	619,488
Intercompany payable	1,004,643	689,487
Other noncurrent liabilities	243,478	249,033
Long-term debt	5,372	3,616
Intercompany note payable	1,007,453	1,148,839
Deferred income taxes	56,801	58,001
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	0
UHS common stockholders' equity	4,545,839	4,162,125
Noncontrolling interest	0	0
Total equity	4,545,839	4,162,125
Liabilities and Equity, Total	7,605,960	6,930,589
Non Guarantors
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	11,522	8,008
Accounts receivable, net	318,060	297,318
Supplies	37,900	37,308
Deferred income taxes	322	322
Other current assets	10,631	9,938
Current assets held for sale	25,431	0
Total current assets	403,866	352,894
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany receivable	360,538	20,375
Intercompany note receivable	1,007,453	1,148,839
Property and equipment	1,500,874	1,456,135
Less: accumulated depreciation	(697,135)	(633,897)
Property Equipment, net	803,739	822,238
Other assets:
Goodwill	481,414	494,679
Deferred charges	2,218	2,374
Other	79,256	21,459
Total assets	3,138,484	2,862,858
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	1,599	1,346
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	138,088	201,898
Current liabilities held for sale	850	0
Federal and state taxes	620	620
Total current liabilities	141,157	203,864
Intercompany payable	0	0
Other noncurrent liabilities	105,829	103,035
Long-term debt	45,119	53,630
Intercompany note payable	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	234,303	218,266
UHS common stockholders' equity	2,559,472	2,233,297
Noncontrolling interest	52,604	50,766
Total equity	2,612,076	2,284,063
Liabilities and Equity, Total	3,138,484	2,862,858
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Supplies	0	0
Deferred income taxes	(780)	(942)
Other current assets	0	0
Current assets held for sale	0	0
Total current assets	(780)	(942)
Investments in subsidiaries	(7,105,311)	(6,395,422)
Intercompany receivable	(1,004,643)	(689,487)
Intercompany note receivable	(1,007,453)	(1,148,839)
Property and equipment	0	0
Less: accumulated depreciation	0	0
Property Equipment, net	0	0
Other assets:
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred charges	0	0
Other	0	0
Total assets	(9,118,187)	(8,234,690)
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	0	0
Current liabilities held for sale	0	0
Federal and state taxes	(458)	(620)
Total current liabilities	(458)	(620)
Intercompany payable	(1,004,643)	(689,487)
Other noncurrent liabilities	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Intercompany note payable	(1,007,453)	(1,148,839)
Deferred income taxes	(322)	(322)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	0
UHS common stockholders' equity	(7,105,311)	(6,395,422)
Noncontrolling interest	0	0
Total equity	(7,105,311)	(6,395,422)
Liabilities and Equity, Total	$ (9,118,187)	$ (8,234,690)