Consolidating Financial Statements - Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income (loss)	$ 1,372	$ (3,107)	$ 31,111	$ (7,290)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			51,535	53,089
Gain on legal settlement			(23,391)
Intangible asset impairment charge	0	0	0	0
Amortization of intangibles, contract costs, deferred financing costs and bond premium			7,369	7,692
Provision for doubtful accounts			1,654	207
Provision for inventory obsolescence			(123)	322
Non-cash share-based compensation expense			2,260	2,336
Gain on sales and disposals of equipment			(1,906)	(1,769)
Deferred income taxes			239	325
Interest on note receivable			(34)	(20)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			(9,183)	(278)
Inventories			(1,374)	269
Other operating assets			202	147
Accounts payable			3,709	(2,259)
Other operating liabilities			(7,232)	(19,037)
Net cash provided by operating activities			54,836	33,734
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases			(34,107)	(34,552)
Property and office equipment purchases			(5,575)	(4,722)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment			2,911	3,132
Issuance of note receivable from officer			(581)	(936)
Acquisitions and refund of escrow				(1,896)
Net cash used in investing activities			(37,352)	(38,974)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds under senior secured credit facility			160,448	130,223
Payments under senior secured credit facility			(167,648)	(112,942)
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations			(4,747)	(4,915)
Holdback payment related to acquisition			(624)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(301)	(229)
Proceed from exercise of parent company stock options			340	66
Contribution from Parent				1,900
Shares forfeited for taxes			(1,149)
Change in book overdrafts			(3,803)	(8,863)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(17,484)	5,240
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	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income (loss)	(1,271)	(1,020)	(3,699)	(2,362)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	1,271	1,020	3,699	2,362
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Due from affiliates			(6,383)	4,418
Net cash provided by operating activities			(6,383)	4,418
Cash flows from financing activities:
Due to affiliates			6,383	(4,418)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			6,383	(4,418)
Parent Issuer UHS | Reportable Legal Entities
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income (loss)	1,372	(3,107)	31,111	(7,290)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			44,104	46,791
Gain on legal settlement			(23,391)
Amortization of intangibles, contract costs, deferred financing costs and bond premium			3,595	3,841
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	(1,271)	(1,020)	(3,699)	(2,362)
Provision for doubtful accounts			1,485	221
Provision for inventory obsolescence			(65)	192
Non-cash share-based compensation expense			1,883	1,965
Gain on sales and disposals of equipment			(1,840)	(1,827)
Deferred income taxes			786	1,308
Interest on note receivable			(34)	(20)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			(8,925)	(807)
Due from affiliates			6,383	(4,418)
Inventories			(650)	(97)
Other operating assets			104	451
Accounts payable			912	(1,230)
Other operating liabilities			(7,174)	(17,667)
Net cash provided by operating activities			44,585	19,051
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases			(26,473)	(28,024)
Property and office equipment purchases			(5,418)	(4,558)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment			2,711	3,105
Issuance of note receivable from officer			(581)	(936)
Acquisitions and refund of escrow				3,717
Net cash used in investing activities			(29,761)	(26,696)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds under senior secured credit facility			160,448	130,223
Payments under senior secured credit facility			(167,648)	(112,942)
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations			(3,232)	(3,734)
Proceed from exercise of parent company stock options			340	66
Contribution from Parent				1,900
Shares forfeited for taxes			(1,149)
Change in book overdrafts			(3,583)	(7,868)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(14,824)	7,645
Subsidiary Guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income (loss)	$ 1,271	$ 1,020	3,699	2,362
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			7,431	6,298
Amortization of intangibles, contract costs, deferred financing costs and bond premium			3,774	3,851
Provision for doubtful accounts			169	(14)
Provision for inventory obsolescence			(58)	130
Non-cash share-based compensation expense			377	371
Gain on sales and disposals of equipment			(66)	58
Deferred income taxes			(547)	(983)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			(258)	529
Inventories			(724)	366
Other operating assets			98	(304)
Accounts payable			2,797	(1,029)
Other operating liabilities			(58)	(1,370)
Net cash provided by operating activities			16,634	10,265
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases			(7,634)	(6,528)
Property and office equipment purchases			(157)	(164)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment			200	27
Acquisitions and refund of escrow				(5,613)
Net cash used in investing activities			(7,591)	(12,278)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations			(1,515)	(1,181)
Holdback payment related to acquisition			(624)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(301)	(229)
Due to affiliates			(6,383)	4,418
Change in book overdrafts			(220)	(995)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			$ (9,043)	$ 2,013