Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Comprehensive Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 191,317	$ 163,654	$ 201,404	$ 194,323	$ 190,492	$ 96,038	$ 166,614	$ 151,852	$ 750,698	$ 604,996	$ 554,023
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges									4,970	17,668	16,963
Amortization of terminated hedge									(336)	(336)	(336)
Minimum pension liability									2,177	(14,270)	14,657
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(1,728)	(2,431)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax									5,083	631	31,284
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income									2,980	1,053	11,940
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									2,103	(422)	19,344
Comprehensive income									752,801	604,574	573,367
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									70,170	59,653	43,290
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS									682,631	544,921	530,077
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net income									680,528	545,343	510,733
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges									4,970	17,668	16,963
Amortization of terminated hedge									(336)	(336)	(336)
Minimum pension liability									2,177	(14,270)	14,657
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(1,728)	(2,431)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax									5,083	631	31,284
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income									2,980	1,053	11,940
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									2,103	(422)	19,344
Comprehensive income									682,631	544,921	530,077
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS									682,631	544,921	530,077
Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net income									701,995	585,429	480,344
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges									0	0	0
Amortization of terminated hedge									0	0	0
Minimum pension liability									2,177	(14,270)	14,657
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(1,728)	(2,431)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax									449	(16,701)	14,657
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income									817	(5,356)	5,670
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(368)	(11,345)	8,987
Comprehensive income									701,627	574,084	489,331
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS									701,627	574,084	489,331
Non Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net income									330,278	304,995	300,970
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains 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	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax									0	0	0
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income									0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									0	0	0
Comprehensive income									330,278	304,995	300,970
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									70,170	59,653	43,290
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS									260,108	245,342	257,680
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net income									(962,103)	(830,771)	(738,024)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges									0	0	0
Amortization of terminated hedge									0	0	0
Minimum pension liability									(2,177)	14,270	(14,657)
Foreign currency translation adjustment									1,728	2,431
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax									(449)	16,701	(14,657)
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income									(817)	5,356	(5,670)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									368	11,345	(8,987)
Comprehensive income									(961,735)	(819,426)	(747,011)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to UHS									$ (961,735)	$ (819,426)	$ (747,011)