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Recent Accounting Standards (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Recent Accounting Standards
Charity care and uninsured discounts based on established rates	$ 239	$ 190	$ 462	$ 366
Estimated costs of providing charity services	$ 43	$ 38	$ 82	$ 73

X

- Definition

Charity care patient charges net of uninsured discounts.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	uhs
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of charity care provided during the period based on the provider's direct and indirect costs of providing charity care services.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-SubTopic 605
-Topic 954
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6963661&loc=d3e8255-115641

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

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