Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust and Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Trust outstanding shares held, percentage	6.20%		6.20%
Advisory fee earned	$ 603,000	$ 540,000	$ 1,800,000	$ 1,600,000
Pre-tax share of income from the Trust	86,000	31,000	599,000	922,000
Carrying value of investment in Trust	8,400,000		8,400,000		9,300,000
Market value of investment in Trust	33,000,000		33,000,000		39,900,000
Rent expense under operating leases	4,000,000	4,100,000	12,000,000	12,200,000
Non-controlling ownership interests by subsidiaries	100.00%		100.00%
Chief Executive Officer
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Estimated payments to acquire life insurance policies			25,000,000
Chief Executive Officer | Minimum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Estimated death benefit proceeds			33,000,000
Chief Executive Officer | Trust Owned by Chief Executive Officer
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Estimated payments to acquire life insurance policies			$ 8,000,000