Consolidating Financial Statements - Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net (loss) income	$ (2,293)	$ (609)	$ (4,183)	$ (5,249)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			35,664	36,614
Amortization of intangibles, deferred financing costs and bond premium			5,460	6,011
Provision for doubtful accounts			73	130
Provision for inventory obsolescence			122	86
Non-cash share-based compensation expense			1,551	1,514
Gain on sales and disposals of equipment			(1,046)	(1,863)
Deferred income taxes			204	120
Interest on note receivable			(11)	(3)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			158	(5,301)
Inventories			495	(80)
Other operating assets			(414)	(1,100)
Accounts payable			(3,639)	(1,338)
Other operating liabilities			(3,381)	(6,537)
Net cash provided by operating activities			31,053	23,004
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases			(24,296)	(27,412)
Property and office equipment purchases			(3,309)	(2,083)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment			2,091	6,944
Issuance of note receivable from officer			(936)	(983)
Acquisition and refund of escrow			(1,923)
Net cash used in investing activities			(28,373)	(23,534)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds under senior secured credit facility			83,200	75,700
Payments under senior secured credit facility			(79,692)	(74,500)
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations			(3,419)	(2,944)
Payment of deferred financing costs				(97)
Holdback payment related to acquisition				(500)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(133)	(196)
Dividend and equity distribution payments				(24)
Proceed from exercise of parent company stock options			29	66
Contribution from Parent			1,900
Change in book overdrafts			(4,565)	3,025
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(2,680)	530
Net change in cash and cash equivalents			0	0
Consolidating Adjustments
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net (loss) income	(929)	(901)	(1,342)	(1,268)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	929	901	1,342	1,268
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Due from affiliates			5,731	1,380
Net cash provided by operating activities			5,731	1,380
Cash flows from financing activities:
Due to affiliates			(5,731)	(1,380)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(5,731)	(1,380)
Parent Issuer UHS
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net (loss) income	(2,293)	(609)	(4,183)	(5,249)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			31,538	33,059
Amortization of intangibles, deferred financing costs and bond premium			2,929	4,304
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	(929)	(901)	(1,342)	(1,268)
Provision for doubtful accounts			85	72
Provision for inventory obsolescence			(10)	126
Non-cash share-based compensation expense			1,305	1,514
Gain on sales and disposals of equipment			(992)	(1,903)
Deferred income taxes			788	799
Interest on note receivable			(11)	(3)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			(466)	(5,110)
Due from affiliates			(5,731)	(1,380)
Inventories			14	(859)
Other operating assets			(134)	(722)
Accounts payable			(2,435)	(522)
Other operating liabilities			(2,430)	(6,254)
Net cash provided by operating activities			18,925	16,604
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases			(19,105)	(22,647)
Property and office equipment purchases			(3,206)	(2,070)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment			2,010	6,940
Issuance of note receivable from officer			(936)	(983)
Acquisition and refund of escrow			3,691
Net cash used in investing activities			(17,546)	(18,760)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds under senior secured credit facility			83,200	75,700
Payments under senior secured credit facility			(79,692)	(74,500)
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations			(2,623)	(2,341)
Payment of deferred financing costs				(97)
Dividend and equity distribution payments				(24)
Proceed from exercise of parent company stock options			29	66
Contribution from Parent			1,900
Change in book overdrafts			(4,193)	3,352
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(1,379)	2,156
Subsidiary Guarantor
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net (loss) income	$ 929	$ 901	1,342	1,268
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			4,126	3,555
Amortization of intangibles, deferred financing costs and bond premium			2,531	1,707
Provision for doubtful accounts			(12)	58
Provision for inventory obsolescence			132	(40)
Non-cash share-based compensation expense			246
Gain on sales and disposals of equipment			(54)	40
Deferred income taxes			(584)	(679)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			624	(191)
Inventories			481	779
Other operating assets			(280)	(378)
Accounts payable			(1,204)	(816)
Other operating liabilities			(951)	(283)
Net cash provided by operating activities			6,397	5,020
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases			(5,191)	(4,765)
Property and office equipment purchases			(103)	(13)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment			81	4
Acquisition and refund of escrow			(5,614)
Net cash used in investing activities			(10,827)	(4,774)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations			(796)	(603)
Holdback payment related to acquisition				(500)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(133)	(196)
Due to affiliates			5,731	1,380
Change in book overdrafts			(372)	(327)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			$ 4,430	$ (246)