Other Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012
Other Contingencies [Line Items]
Bank line of credit		$ 57,000,000
Borrowings under line of credit		0
Line of credit expiration date		June 30, 2012
Cash in excess of FDIC insured limits		41,700,000
Number of states in which the entity operates		47
Percent reduction of Medicare payments to nursing centers	11.10%
Standby Letter Of Credit [Member]
Other Contingencies [Line Items]
Irrevocable standby letter of credit, outstanding		$ 40,420,000

Medicare Payments Reduction, Percentage

No definition available.

Name:	hcsg_MedicarePaymentsReductionPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	hcsg_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of states in which services are provided.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcsg_NumberOfStatesInWhichServicesAreProvided
Namespace Prefix:	hcsg_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	hcsg_OtherContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	hcsg_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of cash as of the balance sheet date that is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashUninsuredAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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

- Definition

Reflects when the credit facility terminates, which may be presented in a variety of ways (year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityExpirationDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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