Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Comprehensive Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 190,492	$ 96,038	$ 166,614	$ 151,852	$ 133,186	$ 123,099	$ 167,803	$ 129,935	$ 604,996	$ 554,023	$ 489,047
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains (losses) on cash flow hedges									17,668	16,963	6,677
Amortization of terminated hedge									(336)	(336)	(336)
Minimum pension liability									(14,270)	14,657	4,986
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(2,431)	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax									631	31,284	11,327
Income tax (benefit) expense related to items of other comprehensive income									1,053	11,940	4,306
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									(422)	19,344	7,021
Comprehensive income									604,574	573,367	496,068
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									59,653	43,290	45,601
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS									544,921	530,077	450,467
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net income									(830,771)	(738,024)	(709,889)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains (losses) on cash flow hedges									0	0	0
Amortization of terminated hedge									0	0	0
Minimum pension liability									14,270	(14,657)	(4,986)
Foreign currency translation adjustment									2,431
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax									16,701	(14,657)	(4,986)
Income tax (benefit) expense related to items of other comprehensive income									5,356	(5,670)	(1,898)
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									11,345	(8,987)	(3,088)
Comprehensive income									(819,426)	(747,011)	(712,977)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS									(819,426)	(747,011)	(712,977)
Parent
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net income									545,343	510,733	443,446
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains (losses) on cash flow hedges									17,668	16,963	6,677
Amortization of terminated hedge									(336)	(336)	(336)
Minimum pension liability									(14,270)	14,657	4,986
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(2,431)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax									631	31,284	11,327
Income tax (benefit) expense related to items of other comprehensive income									1,053	11,940	4,306
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									(422)	19,344	7,021
Comprehensive income									544,921	530,077	450,467
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS									544,921	530,077	450,467
Guarantors
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net income									585,429	480,344	438,873
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains (losses) on cash flow hedges									0	0	0
Amortization of terminated hedge									0	0	0
Minimum pension liability									(14,270)	14,657	4,986
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(2,431)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax									(16,701)	14,657	4,986
Income tax (benefit) expense related to items of other comprehensive income									(5,356)	5,670	1,898
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									(11,345)	8,987	3,088
Comprehensive income									574,084	489,331	441,961
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS									574,084	489,331	441,961
Non Guarantors
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net income									304,995	300,970	316,617
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains (losses) on cash flow hedges									0	0	0
Amortization of terminated hedge									0	0	0
Minimum pension liability									0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment									0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax									0	0	0
Income tax (benefit) expense related to items of other comprehensive income									0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									0	0	0
Comprehensive income									304,995	300,970	316,617
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									59,653	43,290	45,601
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS									$ 245,342	$ 257,680	$ 271,016