Consolidating Financial Statements - Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Revenue
Medical equipment solutions	$ 74,396	$ 74,940	$ 153,056	$ 155,170
Clinical engineering solutions	35,103	25,464	69,766	51,042
Surgical services	18,711	17,214	36,041	33,532
Total revenues	128,210	117,618	258,863	239,744
Cost of Revenue
Cost of medical equipment solutions	33,415	33,213	67,211	71,494
Cost of clinical engineering solutions	27,884	20,644	54,390	40,668
Cost of surgical services	9,966	8,956	19,422	17,722
Medical equipment depreciation	14,930	16,077	30,057	31,247
Total costs of revenues	86,195	78,890	171,080	161,131
Gross margin	42,015	38,728	87,783	78,613
Selling, general and administrative	30,814	28,798	64,955	60,095
(Gain) on settlement		(2,750)		(2,750)
Operating income	11,201	12,680	22,828	21,268
Interest expense	13,219	13,061	26,514	26,130
Loss before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(2,018)	(381)	(3,686)	(4,862)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	275	228	497	387
Consolidated net loss	(2,293)	(609)	(4,183)	(5,249)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	98	75	170	135
Net loss attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc.	(2,391)	(684)	(4,353)	(5,384)
Consolidating Adjustments
Cost of Revenue
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	929	901	1,342	1,268
Loss before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(929)	(901)	(1,342)	(1,268)
Consolidated net loss	(929)	(901)	(1,342)	(1,268)
Net loss attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc.	(929)	(901)	(1,342)	(1,268)
Parent Issuer UHS
Revenue
Medical equipment solutions	74,396	74,940	153,056	155,170
Clinical engineering solutions	30,390	25,464	59,679	51,042
Total revenues	104,786	100,404	212,735	206,212
Cost of Revenue
Cost of medical equipment solutions	33,415	33,213	67,211	71,494
Cost of clinical engineering solutions	24,657	20,644	47,232	40,668
Medical equipment depreciation	13,201	14,628	26,745	28,381
Total costs of revenues	71,273	68,485	141,188	140,543
Gross margin	33,513	31,919	71,547	65,669
Selling, general and administrative	24,606	24,123	52,327	50,459
(Gain) on settlement		(2,750)		(2,750)
Operating income	8,907	10,546	19,220	17,960
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	(929)	(901)	(1,342)	(1,268)
Interest expense	12,585	12,528	25,334	25,053
Loss before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(2,749)	(1,081)	(4,772)	(5,825)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(456)	(472)	(589)	(576)
Consolidated net loss	(2,293)	(609)	(4,183)	(5,249)
Net loss attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc.	(2,293)	(609)	(4,183)	(5,249)
Subsidiary Guarantor
Revenue
Clinical engineering solutions	4,713		10,087
Surgical services	18,711	17,214	36,041	33,532
Total revenues	23,424	17,214	46,128	33,532
Cost of Revenue
Cost of clinical engineering solutions	3,227		7,158
Cost of surgical services	9,966	8,956	19,422	17,722
Medical equipment depreciation	1,729	1,449	3,312	2,866
Total costs of revenues	14,922	10,405	29,892	20,588
Gross margin	8,502	6,809	16,236	12,944
Selling, general and administrative	6,208	4,675	12,628	9,636
Operating income	2,294	2,134	3,608	3,308
Interest expense	634	533	1,180	1,077
Loss before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	1,660	1,601	2,428	2,231
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	731	700	1,086	963
Consolidated net loss	929	901	1,342	1,268
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	98	75	170	135
Net loss attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc.	$ 831	$ 826	$ 1,172	$ 1,133