| **Assets and Liabilities in and Results of Discontinued Operations - Textual (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|-----------------|
||
| **Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]**       |           |            |   |   |
| Gain Related to Settlement, Audits of Unclaimed Property, Included in Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax                   |           |            | $ 24.8 | $ 24.8 |
| Gain on divestitures of LTCHs/divisions                                                                                                 |           | 65.6            |   |   |
| **Assets Held for Sale and Results of Discontinued Operations (Textual) [Abstract]**                                                    |           |            |   |   |
| Number of Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals Sold                                                                                           | 5              |            |   |   |
| LTCH Sale, Purchase Price                                                                                                               | $ 117.5        |            |   |   |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount of income recognized in the period to settle audits of unclaimed property that is included in income from discontinued operations, net of tax.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**hls_GainRelatedToSettlementAuditsOfUnclaimedPropertyIncludedInIncomeFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax**Namespace Prefix:**hls_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount to be received and contractually agreed upon by two independent parties related to the sale of the long-lived assets of a disposal group.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**hls_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSalePurchasePrice**Namespace Prefix:**hls_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Number of long-term acute care hospitals sold during the period.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**hls_NumberOfLongTermAcuteCareHospitalsSold**Namespace Prefix:**hls_**Data Type:**xbrli:integerItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of gain (loss), after tax expense or benefit and not previously recognized, resulting from the sale of a business component.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 47 -Subparagraph b -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 FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e957-107759Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 43 -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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
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