Accounts receivable net greater than sixty days Past due.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Liability for Claims Paid Under Commercially Insured Coverage

+ References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss, Maximum Insurance Deductible

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Loss Contingency Estimate Of Possible Loss Minimum Insurance Deductible

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of Facilities

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	uhs_NumberOfFacilities
Namespace Prefix:	uhs_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number Of Nursing Centres

+ References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of Patients

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	uhs_NumberOfPatients
Namespace Prefix:	uhs_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Payment, Period

+ References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of Insurance Deductible

+ References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of Liability for Claims Paid Under Commercially Insured Coverage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	uhs_
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- Definition

Self Insured Amount Per Occurrence

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, the amount due from customers or clients for goods or services that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to their estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 3

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.9)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.5)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3-4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph a(1)

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 4

-Article 5

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Aggregate carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the liabilities for all deferred compensation arrangements payable within one year (or the operating cycle, if longer). Represents currently earned compensation under compensation arrangements that is not actually paid until a later date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 710

-SubTopic 10

-Section 30

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6409875&loc=d3e20028-108363

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 710

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 9

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6409733&loc=d3e19512-108361

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fair value of financial liabilities, which are not recognized in the financial statements (off-balance sheet) because they fail to meet some other criterion for recognition.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13433-108611

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of estimated liability as of the balance sheet date for the specific conflagration, earthquake, windstorm, explosion, or similar event.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14764-158437

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForCatastropheClaimsCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before the balance sheet date, whether or not reported to the insurer at that date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a),(b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14764-158437

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Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions) of accrued known and estimated losses incurred as of the balance sheet date for which no insurance coverage exists, and for which a claim has been made or is probable of being asserted, typically arising from workmen's compensation-type of incidents and personal injury to nonemployees from accidents on the entity's property.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying amount of accrued known and estimated losses incurred as of the balance sheet date for which no insurance coverage exists, and for which a claim has been made or is probable of being asserted, typically arising from workmen's compensation-type of incidents and personal injury to nonemployees from accidents on the entity's property that are expected to be paid within one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of property-casualty insurance premium revenue earned on insurance policies.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 235

-Section S99

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-18)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e575016-122915

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 18

-Article 12

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Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Letters of Credit and Surety Bonds USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2010 Cygnet Health Care Limited Facility Patient	Mar. 31, 2015 Cygnet Health Care Limited GBP (£)	Nov. 30, 2010 Professional Liability Cygnet Health Care Limited GBP (£)	Nov. 30, 2010 General Liability Cygnet Health Care Limited GBP (£)	Mar. 31, 2015 Location 2 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Location 1 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Illinois USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Illinois USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Illinois Uncompensated Care Program Revenues USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Illinois Disproportionate Share Hospital Program Revenues USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Wind Storms Maximum USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Wind Storms Minimum	Mar. 31, 2015 Earthquake USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Earthquake Maximum USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Earthquake UNITED STATES Maximum USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Earthquake UNITED STATES Minimum	Mar. 31, 2015 Earthquake PUERTO RICO USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Flood Location 2 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Flood Location 1 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2010 Subsidiaries Professional Liability Maximum USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2010 Subsidiaries General Liability Maximum USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Subsidiaries General and Professional Liability Insurance Policies	Mar. 31, 2015 Subsidiaries General and Professional Liability Insurance Policies Maximum USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries General and Professional Liability Insurance Policies Maximum USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Subsidiaries General and Professional Liability Insurance Policies Minimum USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Psychiatric Solutions Inc General and Professional Liability Insurance Policies Maximum USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Behavioral Health Facilities Acquired from Ascend Health Corporation General and Professional Liability Insurance Policies USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Self Insurance Programs Letters of Credit and Surety Bonds USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Other Debt Guarantees Letters of Credit and Surety Bonds USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Self-insured for professional and general liability	$ 190,000,000us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve	$ 193,000,000us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve				£ 10,000,000	£ 25,000,000																$ 10,000,000	$ 3,000,000					$ 3,000,000	$ 12,000,000
Purchased several excess policies through commercial insurance carriers per occurrence																										250,000,000	200,000,000
Percentage of liability for claims paid under commercially insured coverage																									10.00%
Liability for claims paid under commercially insured coverage																										60,000,000		10,000,000
Minimum Insurance Deductible								250,000	50,000							250,000														100,000
Number of patients				15
Number of facilities				17
Number of nursing homes				2
Self-insured for professional and general liability, current	51,000,000us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserveCurrent	51,000,000us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserveCurrent
Compensation liability claims	66,000,000	67,000,000
Compensation and related benefits	32,000,000	32,000,000
Commercial property insurance policies covering catastrophic losses														1,000,000,000			250,000,000	100,000,000		25,000,000
Percentage of insurance deductible														5.00%	3.00%			5.00%	1.00%
Maximum insurance deductible																				25,000	250,000	500,000
Property insurance					180,000,000
Accounts receivable, net	1,383,964,000us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	1,282,735,000us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent								42,000,000	44,000,000
Accounts receivable net greater than sixty days Past due										22,000,000	23,000,000
Accounts receivable										105,000,000	102,000,000	61,000,000	44,000,000
Off-balance sheet contingent obligation			$ 114,000,000																												$ 93,000,000	$ 21,000,000
Payment suspension period increased	180 days