Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income (loss)			$ (22,886)	$ (632)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			41,675	39,673
Amortization of intangibles, deferred financing costs and bond premium			8,227	9,312
Non-cash write off of deferred financing cost			1,853
Provision for doubtful accounts			1,033	392
Provision for inventory obsolescence			95	182
Non-cash share-based compensation expense - net			195	2,150
Non-cash gain on trade-in of recalled equipment				(14,122)
Loss (gain) on sales and disposals of equipment			(801)	(695)
Deferred income taxes			676	(1,450)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			(321)	(9,372)
Inventories			(921)	(1,678)
Other operating assets			(792)	(2,001)
Accounts payable			(1,465)	(608)
Other operating liabilities			3,639	(3,477)
Net cash provided by operating activities			30,207	17,674
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases			(28,478)	(32,082)
Property and office equipment purchases			(4,178)	(3,637)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment			1,929	3,935
Holdback payment related to acquisition			(1,655)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired				(11,445)
Net cash used in investing activities			(32,382)	(43,229)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds under senior secured credit facility			43,300	72,000
Payments under senior secured credit facility			(36,800)	(39,000)
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations			(4,150)	(3,398)
Payments of floating rate notes			(230,000)
Payoff of acquired debt				(3,163)
Proceeds from issuance of bonds			234,025
Accrued interest received from bondholders			8,620
Accrued interest paid to bondholders			(8,620)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(379)	(373)
Proceeds from exercise of parent company stock options				150
Dividend and equity distribution payments				(763)
Payment of deferred financing costs			(4,102)
Change in book overdrafts			281	(727)
Net cash provided by financing activities			2,175	24,726
Net change in cash and cash equivalents				(829)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period				1,161
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period		332		332
Parent Issuer UHS
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income (loss)			(22,886)	576
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			38,393	37,140
Amortization of intangibles, deferred financing costs and bond premium			6,548	7,764
Non-cash write off of deferred financing cost			1,853
Equity in loss of subsidiary	553	1,299	1,149	1,208
Provision for doubtful accounts			1,128	323
Provision for inventory obsolescence			112	182
Non-cash share-based compensation expense - net			120	2,150
Non-cash gain on trade-in of recalled equipment				(14,122)
Loss (gain) on sales and disposals of equipment			(783)	(700)
Deferred income taxes			1,889	(666)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			(694)	(7,276)
Inventories			(492)	(1,145)
Other operating assets			(853)	(1,745)
Accounts payable			(588)	471
Other operating liabilities			3,515	(1,992)
Net cash provided by operating activities			28,411	20,960
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases			(25,487)	(30,007)
Property and office equipment purchases			(4,042)	(3,450)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment			1,909	3,935
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired				(436)
Net cash used in investing activities			(27,620)	(29,958)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Due from (to) affiliates			(3,587)	(20,060)
Proceeds under senior secured credit facility			43,300	72,000
Payments under senior secured credit facility			(36,800)	(39,000)
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations			(3,486)	(2,602)
Payments of floating rate notes			(230,000)
Proceeds from issuance of bonds			234,025
Accrued interest received from bondholders			8,620
Accrued interest paid to bondholders			(8,620)
Proceeds from exercise of parent company stock options				150
Dividend and equity distribution payments				(763)
Payment of deferred financing costs			(4,102)
Change in book overdrafts			(141)	(727)
Net cash provided by financing activities			(791)	8,998
Subsidiary Guarantor Surgical Services
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income (loss)			(1,149)	(1,208)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			3,282	2,533
Amortization of intangibles, deferred financing costs and bond premium			1,679	1,548
Provision for doubtful accounts			(95)	69
Provision for inventory obsolescence			(17)
Non-cash share-based compensation expense - net			75
Loss (gain) on sales and disposals of equipment			(18)	5
Deferred income taxes			(1,213)	(784)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			373	(2,096)
Inventories			(429)	(533)
Other operating assets			61	(256)
Accounts payable			(877)	(1,079)
Other operating liabilities			124	(1,485)
Net cash provided by operating activities			1,796	(3,286)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Medical equipment purchases			(2,991)	(2,075)
Property and office equipment purchases			(136)	(187)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment			20
Holdback payment related to acquisition			(1,655)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired				(11,009)
Net cash used in investing activities			(4,762)	(13,271)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Due from (to) affiliates			3,587	20,060
Payments of principal under capital lease obligations			(664)	(796)
Payoff of acquired debt				(3,163)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(379)	(373)
Change in book overdrafts			422
Net cash provided by financing activities			2,966	15,728
Net change in cash and cash equivalents				(829)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period				1,161
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period		332		332
Consolidating Adjustments
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income (loss)			1,149
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in loss of subsidiary	$ (553)	$ (1,299)	$ (1,149)	$ (1,208)