Quarterly Statement of Earnings Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 704,262	$ 650,227	$ 641,950	$ 570,445	$ 581,811	$ 502,350	$ 278,227	$ 259,561	$ 2,566,884	$ 1,621,949	$ 1,057,196
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	161,178	135,797	115,940	83,004	101,535	39,142	80,487	73,028	495,919	294,192	303,147
Net earnings from continuing operations	124,348	98,279	90,747	68,755	79,234	39,120	67,689	60,046	382,129	246,089	254,493
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(1,013)	0	0	0	(150)	(1,697)	483	68	(1,013)	(1,296)	7,051
Net earnings	123,335	98,279	90,747	68,755	79,084	37,423	68,172	60,114	381,116	244,793	261,544
Net earnings (loss) attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders:
Continuing	64,310	40,397	31,411	18,774	25,311	(10,697)	18,771	17,392	154,892	50,777	71,009
Discontinued	(1,001)	0	0	0	(196)	(1,376)	190	(197)	(1,001)	(1,579)	1,694
Net earnings attributable to AmSurg Corp. common shareholders	$ 63,309	$ 40,397	$ 31,411	$ 18,774	$ 25,115	$ (12,073)	$ 18,961	$ 17,195	$ 153,891	$ 49,198	$ 72,703
Basic net earnings (loss) from continuing operations per share	$ 1.31	$ 0.85	$ 0.66	$ 0.39	$ 0.53	$ (0.23)	$ 0.59	$ 0.55	$ 3.22	$ 1.29	$ 2.27
Basic net earnings (loss) per share	1.28	0.85	0.66	0.39	0.53	(0.26)	0.60	0.54	3.20	1.25	2.32
Diluted net earnings (loss) from continuing operations per share	1.26	0.83	0.65	0.39	0.53	(0.23)	0.58	0.54	3.18	1.28	2.22
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share	$ 1.24	$ 0.83	$ 0.65	$ 0.39	$ 0.53	$ (0.26)	$ 0.59	$ 0.54	$ 3.16	$ 1.24	$ 2.28
Debt extinguishment costs									$ 0	$ (16,887)	$ 0
Transaction costs						$ 25,100			$ 8,324	$ 33,890	$ 300