Restatement (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Gains from non-monetary and cash refunds on recalled infusion pumps		$ 5,800,000		$ 9,700,000
Adjustment to deferred taxes recorded in connection with a 2011 acquisition and the corresponding impact on the goodwill and valuation allowance balances				1,000,000
Revenue
Medical equipment outsourcing	74,134,000	69,002,000	226,599,000	205,159,000
Technical and professional services	20,066,000	13,852,000	62,545,000	36,083,000
Medical equipment sales and remarketing	7,619,000	6,490,000	23,250,000	17,972,000
Total revenues	101,819,000	89,344,000	312,394,000	259,214,000
Cost of Sales
Cost of medical equipment outsourcing	28,736,000	23,814,000	77,273,000	72,785,000
Cost of technical and professional services	14,455,000	10,540,000	47,109,000	26,650,000
Cost of medical equipment sales and remarketing	6,014,000	5,215,000	18,112,000	14,115,000
Medical equipment depreciation	18,104,000	17,006,000	52,329,000	51,678,000
Total costs of medical equipment outsourcing, technical and professional services and medical equipment sales and remarketing	67,309,000	56,575,000	194,823,000	165,228,000
Gross margin	34,510,000	32,769,000	117,571,000	93,986,000
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	90,000	(145,000)	(2,883,000)	(6,410,000)
Consolidated net loss	(21,392,000)	(5,586,000)	(22,022,000)	(14,044,000)
Net loss attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc.	(21,594,000)	(5,745,000)	(22,590,000)	(14,341,000)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net loss	(21,392,000)	(5,586,000)	(22,022,000)	(14,044,000)
Deferred income taxes			(3,557,000)	(6,717,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities			51,613,000	56,067,000
Previously Reported
Revenue
Medical equipment outsourcing		74,787,000		214,873,000
Technical and professional services		13,852,000		36,083,000
Medical equipment sales and remarketing		6,490,000		17,972,000
Total revenues		95,129,000		268,928,000
Cost of Sales
Cost of medical equipment outsourcing		29,599,000		82,499,000
Cost of technical and professional services		10,540,000		26,650,000
Cost of medical equipment sales and remarketing		5,215,000		14,115,000
Medical equipment depreciation		17,006,000		51,678,000
Total costs of medical equipment outsourcing, technical and professional services and medical equipment sales and remarketing		62,360,000		174,942,000
Gross margin		32,769,000		93,986,000
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(145,000)		(7,451,000)
Consolidated net loss		(5,586,000)		(13,003,000)
Net loss attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc.		(5,745,000)		(13,300,000)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net loss		(5,586,000)		(13,003,000)
Deferred income taxes				(7,758,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities				56,067,000
Adjustments
Revenue
Medical equipment outsourcing		(5,785,000)		(9,714,000)
Total revenues		(5,785,000)		(9,714,000)
Cost of Sales
Cost of medical equipment outsourcing		(5,785,000)		(9,714,000)
Total costs of medical equipment outsourcing, technical and professional services and medical equipment sales and remarketing		(5,785,000)		(9,714,000)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes				1,041,000
Consolidated net loss				(1,041,000)
Net loss attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc.				(1,041,000)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net loss				(1,041,000)
Deferred income taxes				$ 1,041,000