Aggregate purchase price paid

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the program

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum Number Of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under Program Value

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	uhs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Cancelled In Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of shares purchased on the open market during the period for issuance to employees under the plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and have not been retired and are not held in treasury. Some state laws may govern the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased during the period and has not been retired and is not held in treasury. Some state laws may mandate the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of stock repurchase plan authorized.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total cost of shares repurchased divided by the total number of shares repurchased.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405813&loc=d3e23239-112655

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Schedule of Information Related to Stock Repurchase Programs (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2011
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Additional dollars authorized for repurchase	$ 400,000			$ 400,000
Total number of shares purchased	1,889,646
Total number of shares cancelled	767,704
Aggregate purchase price paid	147,104uhs_AggregatePurchasePricePaid
Aggregate purchase price paid for shares purchased as part of publicly announced program	100,749	27,201	19,154
Stock Repurchase Program
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced programs	548,192
Average price pad per share for shares purchased as part of publicly announced program	$ 105.71
Aggregate purchase price paid for shares purchased as part of publicly announced program	57,950
Stock Repurchase Programs Twenty Eleven
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the program					767,704
Stock Repurchase Programs Twenty Twelve
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Total number of shares purchased			433,312
Aggregate purchase price paid			19,154
Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the program			767,704
Stock Repurchase Programs Twenty Thirteen
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Total number of shares purchased		427,170
Aggregate purchase price paid		27,201
Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the program		767,704
Stock Repurchase Programs Twenty Fourteen
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Additional dollars authorized for repurchase	400,000
Total number of shares purchased	1,029,164
Total number of shares cancelled	767,704
Aggregate purchase price paid	100,749
Maximum number of dollars that may yet be purchased under the program	342,050
Stock Repurchase Programs Twenty Fourteen \| Stock Repurchase Program
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced programs	548,192
Average price pad per share for shares purchased as part of publicly announced program	$ 105.71
Aggregate purchase price paid for shares purchased as part of publicly announced program	$ 57,950