Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Redeemable Interest	Cumulative Dividends	UHS Common Stockholders' Equity	Class A Common	Class B Common	Class C Common	Class D Common	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011		$ 218,266
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	2,347,118		(147,515)	2,296,352	66	893	7	0	2,494,076	(51,575)	50,766
Common Stock
Issued/(converted) including tax benefits from exercise of stock options	21,684			21,684		14			21,670
Repurchased	(19,154)			(19,154)		(4)			(19,150)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	2,308			2,308					2,308
Dividends paid	(58,395)		(58,395)	(58,395)
Stock option expense	20,083			20,083					20,083
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(7,933)	(18,961)									(7,933)
Sale of minority ownership interests in majority owned businesses	(832)										(832)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	454,049			443,446					443,446		10,603
Net income		34,998
Amortization of terminated hedge (net of income tax effect of $120)	(216)			(216)						(216)
Unrealized derivative gains and losses on cash flow hedges (net of income tax effect of $6,529 in 2014, 6,390 in 2013, $2,528 in 2012)	4,149			4,149						4,149
Minimum pension liability (net of income tax effect of $5,356 in 2014, 5,670 in 2013, $1,898 in 2012)	3,088			3,088						3,088
Subtotal-comprehensive income	461,070			450,467					443,446	7,021	10,603
Subtotal-comprehensive income		34,998
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012		234,303
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	2,765,949		(205,910)	2,713,345	66	903	7	0	2,962,433	(44,154)	52,604
Common Stock
Issued/(converted) including tax benefits from exercise of stock options	26,880			26,880		11			26,869
Repurchased	(27,201)			(27,201)		(4)			(27,197)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	664			664					664
Dividends paid	(19,621)		(19,621)	(19,621)
Stock option expense	25,835			25,835					25,835
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(13,039)	(48,290)									(13,039)
Other	(511)										(511)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	521,929			510,733					510,733		11,196
Net income		32,094
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0
Amortization of terminated hedge (net of income tax effect of $120)	(216)			(216)						(216)
Unrealized derivative gains and losses on cash flow hedges (net of income tax effect of $6,529 in 2014, 6,390 in 2013, $2,528 in 2012)	10,573			10,573						10,573
Minimum pension liability (net of income tax effect of $5,356 in 2014, 5,670 in 2013, $1,898 in 2012)	8,987			8,987						8,987
Subtotal-comprehensive income	541,273			530,077					510,733	19,344	11,196
Subtotal-comprehensive income		32,094
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	218,107	218,107
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	3,300,229		225,531	3,249,979	66	910	7	0	3,499,337	24,810	50,250
Common Stock
Issued/(converted) including tax benefits from exercise of stock options	41,801			41,801		14			41,787
Repurchased	(100,749)			(100,749)		(10)			(100,739)
Restricted share-based compensation expense	491			491					491
Dividends paid	(29,665)		(29,665)	(29,665)
Stock option expense	29,168			29,168					29,168
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(7,666)	(26,016)									(7,666)
Other	358										358
Comprehensive income:
Net income	557,535			545,343					545,343		12,192
Net income		47,461
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(2,431)			(2,431)						(2,431)
Amortization of terminated hedge (net of income tax effect of $120)	(216)			(216)						(216)
Unrealized derivative gains and losses on cash flow hedges (net of income tax effect of $6,529 in 2014, 6,390 in 2013, $2,528 in 2012)	11,139			11,139						11,139
Minimum pension liability (net of income tax effect of $5,356 in 2014, 5,670 in 2013, $1,898 in 2012)	(8,914)			(8,914)						(8,914)
Subtotal-comprehensive income	557,113			544,921					545,343	(422)	12,192
Subtotal-comprehensive income		47,461
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	239,552	239,552
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 3,791,080		$ 255,196	$ 3,735,946	$ 66	$ 914	$ 7	$ 0	$ 4,015,387	$ 25,232	$ 55,134