Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenue
Medical equipment outsourcing	$ 74,134	$ 69,002	$ 226,599	$ 205,159
Technical and professional services	20,066	13,852	62,545	36,083
Medical equipment sales and remarketing	7,619	6,490	23,250	17,972
Total revenues	101,819	89,344	312,394	259,214
Cost of Sales
Cost of medical equipment outsourcing	28,736	23,814	77,273	72,785
Cost of technical and professional services	14,455	10,540	47,109	26,650
Cost of medical equipment sales and remarketing	6,014	5,215	18,112	14,115
Medical equipment depreciation	18,104	17,006	52,329	51,678
Total costs of medical equipment outsourcing, technical and professional services and medical equipment sales and remarketing	67,309	56,575	194,823	165,228
Gross margin	34,510	32,769	117,571	93,986
Selling, general and administrative	29,885	22,756	86,251	72,247
Acquisition and integration expenses	58	622	352	2,621
Operating income	4,567	9,391	30,968	19,118
Loss on extinguishment of debt	12,339		12,339
Interest expense	13,530	15,122	43,534	39,572
Loss before income taxes and non controlling interest	(21,302)	(5,731)	(24,905)	(20,454)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	90	(145)	(2,883)	(6,410)
Consolidated net loss	(21,392)	(5,586)	(22,022)	(14,044)
Net income attributable to non controlling interest	202	159	568	297
Net loss attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc.	(21,594)	(5,745)	(22,590)	(14,341)
Parent Issuer UHS
Revenue
Medical equipment outsourcing	60,618	60,595	188,954	188,698
Technical and professional services	20,066	13,852	62,545	36,083
Medical equipment sales and remarketing	7,619	6,490	23,250	17,972
Total revenues	88,303	80,937	274,749	242,753
Cost of Sales
Cost of medical equipment outsourcing	21,288	19,452	56,518	64,221
Cost of technical and professional services	14,455	10,540	47,109	26,650
Cost of medical equipment sales and remarketing	6,014	5,215	18,112	14,115
Medical equipment depreciation	16,932	16,333	48,847	50,309
Total costs of medical equipment outsourcing, technical and professional services and medical equipment sales and remarketing	58,689	51,540	170,586	155,295
Gross margin	29,614	29,397	104,163	87,458
Selling, general and administrative	24,624	20,814	72,138	68,211
Acquisition and integration expenses	34	18	264	1,623
Operating income	4,956	8,565	31,761	17,624
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	(163)	573	(1,372)	900
Loss on extinguishment of debt	12,339		12,339
Interest expense	13,140	15,060	42,442	39,423
Loss before income taxes and non controlling interest	(20,686)	(5,922)	(24,392)	(20,899)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	706	(336)	(2,370)	(6,855)
Consolidated net loss	(21,392)	(5,586)	(22,022)	(14,044)
Net income attributable to non controlling interest	202	159	568	297
Net loss attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc.	(21,594)	(5,745)	(22,590)	(14,341)
Subsidiary Guarantor Surgical Services
Revenue
Medical equipment outsourcing	13,516	8,407	37,645	16,461
Total revenues	13,516	8,407	37,645	16,461
Cost of Sales
Cost of medical equipment outsourcing	7,448	4,362	20,755	8,564
Medical equipment depreciation	1,172	673	3,482	1,369
Total costs of medical equipment outsourcing, technical and professional services and medical equipment sales and remarketing	8,620	5,035	24,237	9,933
Gross margin	4,896	3,372	13,408	6,528
Selling, general and administrative	5,261	1,942	14,113	4,036
Acquisition and integration expenses	24	604	88	998
Operating income	(389)	826	(793)	1,494
Interest expense	390	62	1,092	149
Loss before income taxes and non controlling interest	(779)	764	(1,885)	1,345
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(616)	191	(513)	445
Consolidated net loss	(163)	573	(1,372)	900
Net income attributable to non controlling interest	202	159	568	297
Net loss attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc.	(365)	414	(1,940)	603
Consolidating Adjustments
Cost of Sales
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	163	(573)	1,372	(900)
Loss before income taxes and non controlling interest	163	(573)	1,372	(900)
Consolidated net loss	163	(573)	1,372	(900)
Net income attributable to non controlling interest	(202)	(159)	(568)	(297)
Net loss attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc.	$ 365	$ (414)	$ 1,940	$ (603)