SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                   FORM 8-A


               For Registration of Certain Classes of Securities
                   Pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                       UNIVERSAL HOSPITAL SERVICES, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                Minnesota                                41-0760940
(State of incorporation or organization)    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


1250 Northland Plaza, 3800 West 80th Street, Bloomington, MN       55431-4442
          (Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)

If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is
effective upon filing pursuant to General Instruction A.(c)(1), please check the
following box.   [_]

If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is to
become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of a concurrent
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c)(2), please check the following box.   [_]


Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

    Title of each class           Name of each exchange on which
    to be so registered           each class is to be registered

           None                              None

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                        Preferred Share Purchase Rights
                               (Title of class)

 
ITEM 1.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED

          On November 8, 1996, the Board of Directors of Universal Hospital
Services, Inc. (the "Company"), declared a dividend of one preferred share
purchase right (a "Right") per share for each outstanding share of Common Stock,
par value $.01 (the "Common Shares"), of the Company.  The dividend is payable
to shareholders of record on November 21, 1996 (the "Record Date").

          Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company
one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock,
par value $.01 (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company at a price of $40.00 per
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement"), dated as of November 8, 1996, between the
Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association, as Rights Agent (the
"Rights Agent").

          Initially, the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates
representing Common Shares then outstanding and no separate Right Certificates
will be distributed.  The Rights will separate from the Common Shares, and a
Distribution Date for the Rights will occur upon the earlier of:  (i) the close
of business on the 10th day following a public announcement that a person or
group of affiliated or associated persons has become an "Acquiring Person"
(i.e., has become, subject to certain exceptions, the beneficial owner of 15% or
more of the outstanding Common Shares) and (ii) the close of business on the
10th day following the commencement or public announcement of a tender offer or
exchange offer, the consummation of which would result in a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons becoming, subject to certain exceptions, the
beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (or such later
date as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to a
person or group of affiliated or associated persons becoming an Acquiring
Person).

          Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the
Common Share certificates and will be transferred with and only with the Common
Shares, (ii) new Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date upon
transfer or new issuance of the Common Shares will contain a notation
incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference, and (iii) the surrender for
transfer of any Common Share certificate, even without such notation or a copy
of this Summary of Rights attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate.

          As promptly as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common Shares as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date, and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the
Rights.

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          The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date.  The
Rights will expire on November 8, 2006, unless extended or earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company as described below.

          The Purchase Price payable and the number of Preferred Shares or other
securities or property issuable upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution: (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain
rights, options or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares or
convertible securities at less than the then current market price of the
Preferred Shares, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred
Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash
dividends or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or
warrants (other than those described in clause (ii) of this paragraph).   With
certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until
cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in the Purchase
Price.

          No fraction of a Preferred Share (other than fractions in integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a share) will be issued and, in lieu thereof,
an adjustment in cash will be made based on the closing price on the last
trading date prior to the date of exercise.

          The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock
dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.

          Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable.  Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend payment of $1.00 per share but will be entitled to an
aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per Common Share.  In the
event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a
minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100.00 per share but will be
entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per Common Share.
Each Preferred Share will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common
Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction
in which Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to
receive 100 times the amount received per Common Share.  These rights are
subject to adjustment in the event of a stock dividend on the Common Shares or a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares.

          In the event that a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person
(except pursuant to a Permitted Offer (as defined below)), each holder of a
Right, other than the Acquiring Person or the affiliates, associates or
transferees thereof 

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(whose Rights will thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to
receive upon exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right
that number of Common Shares having a market value of two times the exercise
price of the Right, subject to certain possible adjustments.

          In the event that the Company is acquired in certain mergers or other
business combination transactions or 50% or more of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) are sold after a person
or group becomes an Acquiring Person (except pursuant to a Permitted Offer),
holders of the Rights will thereafter have the Right to receive, upon exercise
thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of Common
Shares of the acquiring company (or, in certain cases, one of its affiliates)
having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.

          A "Permitted Offer" is a tender offer or an exchange offer for all
outstanding Common Shares of the Company at a price and on terms determined by
the Board of Directors of the Company, at a time when a majority of the members
of the Board of Directors of the Company then serving are Continuing Directors
(as defined below) and after receiving advice from one or more investment
banking firms, to be (a) fair to shareholders (taking into account all factors
which the Board of Directors deems relevant) and (b) otherwise in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders and which the Board of Directors
determines to recommend to the shareholders of the Company.

          At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person (subject to
certain exceptions), and prior to the acquisition by a person of 50% or more of
the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may (if at
a time when a majority of the Board of Directors are Continuing Directors)
exchange all or part of the Rights for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one
Common Share per Right, subject to adjustment.

          At any time before a Person has become an Acquiring Person, the
Continuing Directors may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price
of $.001 per Right (the "Redemption Price"), subject to adjustment. The
redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and
with such conditions as such Continuing Directors may, in their sole discretion,
establish.

          A "Continuing Director" is a member of the Board of Directors who was
a member of the Board on November 8, 1996, or who subsequently became or becomes
a member of the Board of Directors with the recommendation or approval of a
majority of the Continuing Directors. Continuing Directors do not include any
Acquiring Person or affiliate or associate of an Acquiring Person.

          Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.

                                      -4-

 
ITEM 2.   EXHIBITS

     1.   Rights Agreement, dated as of November 8, 1996 between the Company and
          Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association, which includes as
          Exhibit B thereto the form of Right Certificate (incorporated by
          reference to Exhibit 4 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
          dated November 8, 1996).

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SIGNATURE


          Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.


Date:  November 12, 1996


                               UNIVERSAL HOSPITAL SERVICES, INC.



                               By  /s/ Thomas A. Minner
                                  ------------------------------
                                  Thomas A. Minner,
                                  President and Chief Executive Officer

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