Consolidating Financial Statements - Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net (loss) income	$ (3,107)	$ (3,610)	$ (7,290)	$ (8,859)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			53,089	54,966
Amortization of intangibles, deferred financing costs and bond premium			7,692	8,736
Provision for doubtful accounts			207	3
Provision for inventory obsolescence			322	255
Non-cash share-based compensation expense			2,336	2,272
Gain on sales and disposals of equipment			(1,769)	(2,990)
Deferred income taxes			325	181
Interest on note receivable			(20)	(7)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			(278)	(10,764)
Inventories			269	(296)
Other operating assets			147	(1,201)
Accounts payable			(2,259)	(763)
Other operating liabilities			(19,037)	(19,021)
Net cash provided by operating activities			33,734	22,512
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases			(34,552)	(41,293)
Property and office equipment purchases			(4,722)	(3,655)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment			3,132	8,907
Issuance of note receivable from officer			(936)	(983)
Acquisition and refund of escrow			(1,896)
Net cash used in investing activities			(38,974)	(37,024)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds under senior secured credit facility			130,223	131,700
Payments under senior secured credit facility			(112,942)	(108,800)
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations			(4,915)	(4,683)
Payment of deferred financing costs				(97)
Holdback payment related to acquisition				(500)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(229)	(277)
Dividend and equity distribution payments				(24)
Proceed from exercise of parent company stock options			66	78
Contribution from Parent			1,900
Change in book overdrafts			(8,863)	(2,885)
Net cash provided by financing activities			5,240	14,512
Net change in cash and cash equivalents			0	0
Consolidating Adjustments
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net (loss) income	(1,020)	(689)	(2,362)	(1,957)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	1,020	689	2,362	1,957
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Due from affiliates			4,418	375
Net cash provided by operating activities			4,418	375
Cash flows from financing activities:
Due to affiliates			(4,418)	(375)
Net cash provided by financing activities			(4,418)	(375)
Parent Issuer UHS
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net (loss) income	(3,107)	(3,610)	(7,290)	(8,859)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			46,791	49,447
Amortization of intangibles, deferred financing costs and bond premium			3,841	6,185
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	(1,020)	(689)	(2,362)	(1,957)
Provision for doubtful accounts			221	(14)
Provision for inventory obsolescence			192	167
Non-cash share-based compensation expense			1,965	2,272
Gain on sales and disposals of equipment			(1,827)	(3,136)
Deferred income taxes			1,308	1,148
Interest on note receivable			(20)	(7)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			(807)	(10,402)
Due from affiliates			(4,418)	(375)
Inventories			(97)	(1,264)
Other operating assets			451	(839)
Accounts payable			(1,230)	323
Other operating liabilities			(17,667)	(18,753)
Net cash provided by operating activities			19,051	13,936
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases			(28,024)	(35,210)
Property and office equipment purchases			(4,558)	(3,619)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment			3,105	8,868
Issuance of note receivable from officer			(936)	(983)
Acquisition and refund of escrow			3,717
Net cash used in investing activities			(26,696)	(30,944)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds under senior secured credit facility			130,223	131,700
Payments under senior secured credit facility			(112,942)	(108,800)
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations			(3,734)	(3,557)
Payment of deferred financing costs				(97)
Dividend and equity distribution payments				(24)
Proceed from exercise of parent company stock options			66	78
Contribution from Parent			1,900
Change in book overdrafts			(7,868)	(2,292)
Net cash provided by financing activities			7,645	17,008
Subsidiary Guarantor
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net (loss) income	$ 1,020	$ 689	2,362	1,957
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			6,298	5,519
Amortization of intangibles, deferred financing costs and bond premium			3,851	2,551
Provision for doubtful accounts			(14)	17
Provision for inventory obsolescence			130	88
Non-cash share-based compensation expense			371
Gain on sales and disposals of equipment			58	146
Deferred income taxes			(983)	(967)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			529	(362)
Inventories			366	968
Other operating assets			(304)	(362)
Accounts payable			(1,029)	(1,086)
Other operating liabilities			(1,370)	(268)
Net cash provided by operating activities			10,265	8,201
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases			(6,528)	(6,083)
Property and office equipment purchases			(164)	(36)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment			27	39
Acquisition and refund of escrow			(5,613)
Net cash used in investing activities			(12,278)	(6,080)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations			(1,181)	(1,126)
Holdback payment related to acquisition				(500)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(229)	(277)
Due to affiliates			4,418	375
Change in book overdrafts			(995)	(593)
Net cash provided by financing activities			$ 2,013	$ (2,121)