Consolidating Financial Statements - Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income (loss)	$ 4,740	$ (1,890)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation	16,571	17,894
Amortization of intangibles, contract costs, deferred financing costs and bond premium	2,524	3,107
Provision for doubtful accounts	222	220
Provision for inventory obsolescence	122	22
Non-cash share-based compensation expense	746	758
Gain on sales and disposals of equipment	(379)	(747)
Deferred income taxes	87	106
Interest on note receivable	(9)	(4)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(6,629)	151
Inventories	(606)	472
Other operating assets	(809)	(123)
Accounts payable	4,046	(3,064)
Other operating liabilities	(19,187)	(22,206)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	1,439	(5,304)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases	(16,838)	(17,476)
Property and office equipment purchases	(2,104)	(1,063)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment	785	1,402
Acquisitions and refund of escrow		3,691
Net cash used in investing activities	(18,157)	(13,446)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds under senior secured credit facility	82,448	70,029
Payments under senior secured credit facility	(60,848)	(43,492)
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations	(1,455)	(1,667)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(120)	(77)
Proceed from exercise of parent company stock options	277	22
Change in book overdrafts	(3,584)	(6,065)
Net cash provided by financing activities	16,718	18,750
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income (loss)	(1,119)	(414)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	1,119	414
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Due from affiliates	(2,153)	2,279
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(2,153)	2,279
Cash flows from financing activities:
Due to affiliates	2,153	(2,279)
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,153	(2,279)
Parent Issuer UHS
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income (loss)	4,740	(1,890)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation	14,199	15,899
Amortization of intangibles, contract costs, deferred financing costs and bond premium	1,274	1,867
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	(1,119)	(414)
Provision for doubtful accounts	200	228
Provision for inventory obsolescence	26	23
Non-cash share-based compensation expense	622	638
Gain on sales and disposals of equipment	(336)	(712)
Deferred income taxes	123	308
Interest on note receivable	(9)	(4)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(7,540)	(1,164)
Due from affiliates	2,153	(2,279)
Inventories	(272)	(31)
Other operating assets	(632)	168
Accounts payable	1,633	(1,768)
Other operating liabilities	(18,809)	(21,065)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(3,747)	(10,196)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases	(13,508)	(13,704)
Property and office equipment purchases	(2,054)	(1,004)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment	630	1,340
Acquisitions and refund of escrow		3,691
Net cash used in investing activities	(14,932)	(9,677)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds under senior secured credit facility	82,448	70,029
Payments under senior secured credit facility	(60,848)	(43,492)
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations	(909)	(1,258)
Proceed from exercise of parent company stock options	277	22
Change in book overdrafts	(2,289)	(5,428)
Net cash provided by financing activities	18,679	19,873
Subsidiary Guarantor
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income (loss)	1,119	414
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation	2,372	1,995
Amortization of intangibles, contract costs, deferred financing costs and bond premium	1,250	1,240
Provision for doubtful accounts	22	(8)
Provision for inventory obsolescence	96	(1)
Non-cash share-based compensation expense	124	120
Gain on sales and disposals of equipment	(43)	(35)
Deferred income taxes	(36)	(202)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	911	1,315
Inventories	(334)	503
Other operating assets	(177)	(291)
Accounts payable	2,413	(1,296)
Other operating liabilities	(378)	(1,141)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	7,339	2,613
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases	(3,330)	(3,772)
Property and office equipment purchases	(50)	(59)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment	155	62
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,225)	(3,769)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations	(546)	(409)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(120)	(77)
Due to affiliates	(2,153)	2,279
Change in book overdrafts	(1,295)	(637)
Net cash provided by financing activities	$ (4,114)	$ 1,156