Consolidating Financial Statements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Consolidating Financial Statements
Ownership interest in subsidiary (as a percent)	100.00%
Current assets:
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 84,335	$ 84,264
Inventories	10,544	11,085
Other current assets	6,690	11,098
Total current assets	101,569	106,447
Property and equipment:
Medical equipment	616,858	618,052
Property and office equipment	99,630	94,846
Accumulated depreciation	(525,678)	(504,249)
Total property and equipment, net	190,810	208,649
Other long-term assets:
Goodwill	346,097	343,766
Other intangibles, net	153,155	157,371
Other	3,202	1,890
Total assets	794,833	818,123
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	4,913	5,454
Book overdrafts	1,837	10,700
Accounts payable	28,048	38,819
Accrued compensation	13,221	19,906
Accrued interest	6,418	18,696
Other accrued expenses	16,210	16,676
Total current liabilities	70,647	110,251
Long-term debt, less current portion	719,974	701,863
Pension and other long-term liabilities	12,816	12,277
Deferred income taxes, net	53,542	53,217
Commitments and contingencies
(Deficit) Equity
Common stock
Additional paid-in capital	249,288	244,986
Accumulated deficit	(304,411)	(296,826)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(7,270)	(7,826)
Total Universal Hospital Services, Inc. deficit	(62,393)	(59,666)
Noncontrolling interest	247	181
Total deficit	(62,146)	(59,485)	$ (55,389)	$ (49,158)
Total liabilities and deficit	794,833	818,123
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Due from affiliates	(33,312)	(28,523)
Total current assets	(33,312)	(28,523)
Other long-term assets:
Investment in subsidiary	(74,879)	(72,624)
Total assets	(108,191)	(101,147)
Current liabilities:
Due to affiliates	(33,312)	(28,523)
Total current liabilities	(33,312)	(28,523)
(Deficit) Equity
Additional paid-in capital	(76,002)	(75,814)
Accumulated loss in subsidiary	1,123	3,190
Total Universal Hospital Services, Inc. deficit	(74,879)	(72,624)
Total deficit	(74,879)	(72,624)
Total liabilities and deficit	(108,191)	(101,147)
Parent Issuer UHS
Current assets:
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	72,388	71,802
Due from affiliates	33,312	28,523
Inventories	4,659	4,754
Other current assets	6,091	10,501
Total current assets	116,450	115,580
Property and equipment:
Medical equipment	556,102	562,422
Property and office equipment	88,032	83,716
Accumulated depreciation	(477,374)	(462,167)
Total property and equipment, net	166,760	183,971
Other long-term assets:
Goodwill	283,141	283,141
Investment in subsidiary	74,879	72,624
Other intangibles, net	137,387	140,944
Other	2,407	1,397
Total assets	781,024	797,657
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	3,466	3,990
Book overdrafts	1,966	9,834
Accounts payable	24,219	31,586
Accrued compensation	11,107	17,196
Accrued interest	6,418	18,696
Other accrued expenses	15,029	15,426
Total current liabilities	62,205	96,728
Long-term debt, less current portion	716,818	698,050
Pension and other long-term liabilities	12,815	12,274
Deferred income taxes, net	51,564	50,256
(Deficit) Equity
Additional paid-in capital	249,303	245,001
Accumulated deficit	(303,288)	(293,636)
Accumulated loss in subsidiary	(1,123)	(3,190)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(7,270)	(7,826)
Total Universal Hospital Services, Inc. deficit	(62,378)	(59,651)
Total deficit	(62,378)	(59,651)
Total liabilities and deficit	781,024	797,657
Subsidiary Guarantor
Current assets:
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	11,947	12,462
Inventories	5,885	6,331
Other current assets	599	597
Total current assets	18,431	19,390
Property and equipment:
Medical equipment	60,756	55,630
Property and office equipment	11,598	11,130
Accumulated depreciation	(48,304)	(42,082)
Total property and equipment, net	24,050	24,678
Other long-term assets:
Goodwill	62,956	60,625
Other intangibles, net	15,768	16,427
Other	795	493
Total assets	122,000	121,613
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	1,447	1,464
Book overdrafts	(129)	866
Due to affiliates	33,312	28,523
Accounts payable	3,829	7,233
Accrued compensation	2,114	2,710
Other accrued expenses	1,181	1,250
Total current liabilities	41,754	42,046
Long-term debt, less current portion	3,156	3,813
Pension and other long-term liabilities	1	3
Deferred income taxes, net	1,978	2,961
(Deficit) Equity
Additional paid-in capital	75,987	75,799
Accumulated deficit	(1,123)	(3,190)
Total Universal Hospital Services, Inc. deficit	74,864	72,609
Noncontrolling interest	247	181
Total deficit	75,111	72,790
Total liabilities and deficit	$ 122,000	$ 121,613