| **Earnings per Common Share**     | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
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| **Earnings Per Share [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Earnings per Common Share         | Earnings per Common ShareThe calculation of earnings per common share is based on the weighted-average number of our common shares outstanding during the applicable period. The calculation for diluted earnings per common share recognizes the effect of all dilutive potential common shares that were outstanding during the respective periods, unless their impact would be antidilutive. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share (in millions, except per share amounts): Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 2011 2012 2011Numerator:       Income from continuing operations$60.4 $33.6 $174.0 $138.3Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations(12.8) (11.4) (38.6) (34.5)Less: Convertible perpetual preferred stock dividends(5.7) (6.5) (18.1) (19.5)Less: Repurchase of convertible perpetual preferred stock— — (0.8) —Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders41.9 15.7 116.5 84.3(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders(0.5) 34.8 2.6 54.9Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$41.4 $50.5 $119.1 $139.2        Denominator:       Basic weighted average common shares outstanding94.7 93.3 94.6 93.2Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding108.1 109.2 108.2 109.1        Basic and diluted earnings per common share:       Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$0.44 $0.17 $1.23 $0.90Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders— 0.37 0.03 0.59Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$0.44 $0.54 $1.26 $1.49Diluted earnings per share report the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. These potential shares include dilutive stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, and convertible perpetual preferred stock. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the number of potential shares approximated 13.4 million and 13.6 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the number of potential shares approximated 15.9 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, approximately 11.6 million and 12.2 million of the potential shares, respectively, related to our Convertible perpetual preferred stock. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, approximately 13.1 million of the potential shares related to our Convertible perpetual preferred stock. For the three months ended September 30, 2012, basic and diluted earnings per common share amounts are the same due to rounding. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, adding back the dividends for the Convertible perpetual preferred stock to our Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders causes a per share increase when calculating diluted earnings per common share resulting in an anti-dilutive per share amount. Therefore, basic and diluted earnings per common share are the same for all periods presented. Options to purchase approximately 1.8 million and 1.1 million shares of common stock were outstanding as of September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted weighted-average shares because to do so would have been antidilutive.See Note 4, Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, to these financial statements and Note 11, Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, and Note 20, Earnings per Common Share, to the consolidated financial statements accompanying the 2011 Form 10-K for additional information related to common stock, common stock warrants, and convertible perpetual preferred stock. |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for earnings per share.
+ References
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