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Recent Accounting Standards (Details) (USD $) In Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010
Recent Accounting Standards [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Charity care and uninsured discounts based on established rates | $ 246 | $ 233 | $ 708 | $ 599
Estimated costs of providing charity services | $ 44 | $ 46 | $ 127 | $ 118

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- 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

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- 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

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
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Balance Type: | na
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