Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income (loss)	$ (22,022)	$ (14,044)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	60,435	58,351
Amortization of intangibles, deferred financing costs and bond premium	13,800	13,339
Non-cash write off of deferred financing cost and bond premium of repurchased notes	2,541
Tender premium for purchase of notes	9,798
Provision for doubtful accounts	584	593
Provision for inventory obsolescence	236	99
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense	3,225	3,294
Non-cash gain on trade-in of recalled equipment	(15,872)	(8,360)
Loss (gain) on sales and disposals of equipment	(1,237)	(1,297)
Deferred income taxes	(3,557)	(6,717)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(3,630)	(4,328)
Inventories	(1,910)	(267)
Other operating assets	(250)	(759)
Accounts payable	3,178	813
Other operating liabilities	6,294	15,350
Net cash provided by operating activities	51,613	56,067
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases	(41,901)	(60,563)
Property and office equipment purchases	(4,783)	(5,861)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment	5,675	2,599
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(14,418)	(65,039)
Net cash used in investing activities	(55,427)	(128,864)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds under senior secured credit facility	113,000	132,250
Payments under senior secured credit facility	(96,200)	(185,150)
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations	(4,909)	(4,286)
Purchase of Refinanced Bonds	(405,000)	(4,340)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(9,983)	(4,340)
Payments on acquired debt	(4,163)
Proceeds from issuance of bonds	425,000	178,938
Cash paid to non controlling interests	(571)	(291)
Proceeds from exercise of parent company stock options	150	41
Dividend and equity distribution Payments	(763)	(32,729)
Tender premium for purchase of notes	(9,798)
Change in book overdrafts	(1,648)	755
Contributions from new members to limited liability companies		7
Accrued interest received from bondholders		661
Net cash provided by financing activities	5,115	85,856
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	1,301	13,059
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	1,161
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period	2,462	13,059
Parent Issuer UHS
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income (loss)	(20,650)	(14,944)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	56,600	56,903
Amortization of intangibles, deferred financing costs and bond premium	11,411	11,985
Non-cash write off of deferred financing cost and bond premium of repurchased notes	2,541
Tender premium for purchase of notes	9,798
Provision for doubtful accounts	366	598
Provision for inventory obsolescence	219	99
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense	3,225	3,294
Non-cash gain on trade-in of recalled equipment	(15,872)	(8,360)
Loss (gain) on sales and disposals of equipment	(1,252)	(1,303)
Deferred income taxes	(2,210)	(7,151)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(541)	(4,443)
Due from (to) affiliates	(25,313)	2,162
Inventories	(1,479)	(346)
Other operating assets	(404)	(806)
Accounts payable	3,927	995
Other operating liabilities	6,747	14,610
Net cash provided by operating activities	27,113	53,293
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases	(38,744)	(59,537)
Property and office equipment purchases	(4,559)	(5,834)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment	5,675	2,594
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(436)	(66,519)
Net cash used in investing activities	(38,064)	(129,296)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds under senior secured credit facility	113,000	132,250
Payments under senior secured credit facility	(96,200)	(185,150)
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations	(3,807)	(3,223)
Purchase of Refinanced Bonds	(405,000)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(9,983)	(4,340)
Proceeds from issuance of bonds	425,000	178,938
Proceeds from exercise of parent company stock options	150	41
Dividend and equity distribution Payments	(763)	(32,729)
Tender premium for purchase of notes	(9,798)
Change in book overdrafts	(1,648)	755
Accrued interest received from bondholders		661
Net cash provided by financing activities	10,951	87,203
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		11,200
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period		11,200
Subsidiary Guarantor Surgical Services
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income (loss)	(1,372)	900
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	3,835	1,448
Amortization of intangibles, deferred financing costs and bond premium	2,389	1,354
Provision for doubtful accounts	218	(5)
Provision for inventory obsolescence	17
Loss (gain) on sales and disposals of equipment	15	6
Deferred income taxes	(1,347)	434
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(3,089)	115
Due from (to) affiliates	25,313	(2,162)
Inventories	(431)	79
Other operating assets	154	47
Accounts payable	(749)	(182)
Other operating liabilities	(453)	740
Net cash provided by operating activities	24,500	2,774
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases	(3,157)	(1,026)
Property and office equipment purchases	(224)	(27)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment		5
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(13,982)
Net cash used in investing activities	(17,363)	(1,048)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations	(1,102)	(1,063)
Payments on acquired debt	(4,163)
Cash paid to non controlling interests	(571)	(291)
Contributions from new members to limited liability companies		7
Net cash provided by financing activities	(5,836)	(1,347)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	1,301	379
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	1,161	1,480
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period	2,462	1,859
Consolidating Adjustments
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		1,480
Net cash used in investing activities		1,480
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		1,480
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period		$ (1,480)