Consolidating Financial Statements - Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Revenue
Medical equipment solutions	$ 74,940	$ 71,084	$ 155,170	$ 145,169
Clinical engineering solutions	25,464	24,784	51,042	49,179
Surgical services	17,214	16,421	33,532	31,427
Total revenues	117,618	112,289	239,744	225,775
Cost of Revenue
Cost of medical equipment solutions	33,213	31,053	71,494	62,331
Cost of clinical engineering solutions	20,644	20,041	40,668	39,271
Cost of surgical services	8,956	8,722	17,722	16,902
Medical equipment depreciation	16,077	15,501	31,247	33,635
Total costs of revenues	78,890	75,317	161,131	152,139
Gross margin	38,728	36,972	78,613	73,636
Selling, general and administrative	28,798	31,038	60,095	61,189
(Gain) on settlement	(2,750)	(5,718)	(2,750)	(5,718)
Operating income	12,680	11,652	21,268	18,165
Interest expense	13,061	13,249	26,130	26,559
Loss before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(381)	(1,597)	(4,862)	(8,394)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	228	182	387	351
Consolidated net loss	(609)	(1,779)	(5,249)	(8,745)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	75	95	135	220
Net loss attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc.	(684)	(1,874)	(5,384)	(8,965)
Consolidating Adjustments
Cost of Revenue
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	901	573	1,268	759
Loss before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(901)	(573)	(1,268)	(759)
Consolidated net loss	(901)	(573)	(1,268)	(759)
Net loss attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc.	(901)	(573)	(1,268)	(759)
Parent Issuer UHS
Revenue
Medical equipment solutions	74,940	71,084	155,170	145,169
Clinical engineering solutions	25,464	24,784	51,042	49,179
Total revenues	100,404	95,868	206,212	194,348
Cost of Revenue
Cost of medical equipment solutions	33,213	31,053	71,494	62,331
Cost of clinical engineering solutions	20,644	20,041	40,668	39,271
Medical equipment depreciation	14,628	14,009	28,381	30,669
Total costs of revenues	68,485	65,103	140,543	132,271
Gross margin	31,919	30,765	65,669	62,077
Selling, general and administrative	24,123	26,436	50,459	52,018
(Gain) on settlement	(2,750)	(5,718)	(2,750)	(5,718)
Operating income	10,546	10,047	17,960	15,777
Equity in earnings of subsidiary	(901)	(573)	(1,268)	(759)
Interest expense	12,528	12,734	25,053	25,525
Loss before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(1,081)	(2,114)	(5,825)	(8,989)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(472)	(335)	(576)	(244)
Consolidated net loss	(609)	(1,779)	(5,249)	(8,745)
Net loss attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc.	(609)	(1,779)	(5,249)	(8,745)
Subsidiary Guarantor Surgical Services
Revenue
Surgical services	17,214	16,421	33,532	31,427
Total revenues	17,214	16,421	33,532	31,427
Cost of Revenue
Cost of surgical services	8,956	8,722	17,722	16,902
Medical equipment depreciation	1,449	1,492	2,866	2,966
Total costs of revenues	10,405	10,214	20,588	19,868
Gross margin	6,809	6,207	12,944	11,559
Selling, general and administrative	4,675	4,602	9,636	9,171
Operating income	2,134	1,605	3,308	2,388
Interest expense	533	515	1,077	1,034
Loss before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	1,601	1,090	2,231	1,354
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	700	517	963	595
Consolidated net loss	901	573	1,268	759
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	75	95	135	220
Net loss attributable to Universal Hospital Services, Inc.	$ 826	$ 478	$ 1,133	$ 539