Consolidating Financial Statements - Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Revenue
Revenues	$ 142,355	$ 130,652
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenues	90,862	84,885
Gross margin	51,493	45,767
Selling, general and administrative	33,041	33,957
Operating income	18,452	11,810
Interest expense	13,450	13,478
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	5,002	(1,668)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	262	222
Consolidated net income (loss)	4,740	(1,890)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	86	73
Net income (loss) attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries	4,654	(1,963)
Consolidating Adjustments
Cost of Revenue
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	1,119	414
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(1,119)	(414)
Consolidated net income (loss)	(1,119)	(414)
Net income (loss) attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries	(1,119)	(414)
Parent Issuer UHS
Revenue
Revenues	117,197	107,949
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenues	74,195	69,915
Gross margin	43,002	38,034
Selling, general and administrative	26,720	27,538
Operating income	16,282	10,496
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	(1,119)	(414)
Interest expense	12,892	12,933
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	4,509	(2,023)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(231)	(133)
Consolidated net income (loss)	4,740	(1,890)
Net income (loss) attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries	4,740	(1,890)
Subsidiary Guarantor
Revenue
Revenues	25,158	22,703
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenues	16,667	14,970
Gross margin	8,491	7,733
Selling, general and administrative	6,321	6,419
Operating income	2,170	1,314
Interest expense	558	545
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	1,612	769
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	493	355
Consolidated net income (loss)	1,119	414
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	86	73
Net income (loss) attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries	$ 1,033	$ 341