Consolidating Financial Statements - Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Revenue
Revenue	$ 138,113	$ 123,772	$ 421,175	$ 382,633
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue	91,925	84,408	273,322	255,497
Gross margin	46,188	39,364	147,853	127,136
Selling, general and administrative	34,359	28,604	102,138	93,172
Gain on settlement	(2,817)		(26,291)
Intangible asset impairment charge	0	0	0	0
Operating income	14,646	10,760	72,006	33,964
Interest expense	13,140	13,474	40,128	40,366
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	1,506	(2,714)	31,878	(6,402)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	134	393	767	888
Consolidated net income (loss)	1,372	(3,107)	31,111	(7,290)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	75	125	241	295
Net income (loss) attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries	1,297	(3,232)	30,870	(7,585)
Consolidating Adjustments
Cost of Revenue
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	1,271	1,020	3,699	2,362
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(1,271)	(1,020)	(3,699)	(2,362)
Consolidated net income (loss)	(1,271)	(1,020)	(3,699)	(2,362)
Net income (loss) attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries	(1,271)	(1,020)	(3,699)	(2,362)
Parent Issuer UHS | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenue
Revenue	112,511	100,024	343,497	312,758
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue	74,746	69,220	221,842	210,408
Gross margin	37,765	30,804	121,655	102,350
Selling, general and administrative	28,336	22,486	82,911	74,432
Gain on settlement	(2,817)		(26,291)
Operating income	12,246	8,318	65,035	27,918
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	(1,271)	(1,020)	(3,699)	(2,362)
Interest expense	12,584	12,867	38,504	38,581
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	933	(3,529)	30,230	(8,301)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(439)	(422)	(881)	(1,011)
Consolidated net income (loss)	1,372	(3,107)	31,111	(7,290)
Net income (loss) attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries	1,372	(3,107)	31,111	(7,290)
Subsidiary Guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenue
Revenue	25,602	23,748	77,678	69,875
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue	17,179	15,188	51,480	45,089
Gross margin	8,423	8,560	26,198	24,786
Selling, general and administrative	6,023	6,118	19,227	18,740
Operating income	2,400	2,442	6,971	6,046
Interest expense	556	607	1,624	1,785
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	1,844	1,835	5,347	4,261
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	573	815	1,648	1,899
Consolidated net income (loss)	1,271	1,020	3,699	2,362
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	75	125	241	295
Net income (loss) attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries	$ 1,196	$ 895	$ 3,458	$ 2,067