Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract]
Net operating revenues	$ 3,433,829		$ 3,080,646		$ 6,787,881		$ 6,149,258
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,384,096		1,231,559		2,763,463		2,478,240
Provision for bad debts	433,002		367,002		832,971		733,503
Supplies	449,279		430,574		907,096		852,686
Other operating expenses	654,737		559,962		1,269,530		1,116,581
Rent	62,431		60,851		125,601		122,908
Depreciation and amortization	161,376		149,779		319,531		293,682
Total operating costs and expenses	3,144,921		2,799,727		6,218,192		5,597,600
Income from operations	288,908		280,919		569,689		551,658
Interest expense, net	163,230		160,759		326,448		320,182
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(12,017)		(10,980)		(30,151)		(23,570)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	137,695		131,140		273,392		255,046
Provision for income taxes	44,821		42,761		88,913		82,310
Income from continuing operations	92,874		88,379		184,479		172,736
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Income (loss) from operations of entities sold and held for sale	235		(2,037)		(1,443)		(1,398)
Impairment of hospitals held for sale	(39,562)				(47,930)
Loss on sale					(3,234)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(39,327)		(2,037)		(52,607)		(1,398)
Net income	53,547		86,342		131,872		171,338
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	18,158		16,277		35,159		31,266
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	$ 35,389		$ 70,065		$ 96,713		$ 140,072
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 0.82	[1]	$ 0.77	[1]	$ 1.64	[1]	$ 1.53	[1]
Discontinued operations	$ (0.43)	[1]	$ (0.02)	[1]	$ (0.58)	[1]	$ (0.01)	[1]
Net income	$ 0.39	[1]	$ 0.75	[1]	$ 1.06	[1]	$ 1.51	[1]
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 0.81	[1]	$ 0.76	[1]	$ 1.62	[1]	$ 1.51	[1]
Discontinued operations	$ (0.43)	[1]	$ (0.02)	[1]	$ (0.57)	[1]	$ (0.01)	[1]
Net income	$ 0.39	[1]	$ 0.74	[1]	$ 1.05	[1]	$ 1.49	[1]
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	91,130,672		93,358,771		91,069,876		92,491,839
Diluted	91,783,725		94,711,919		91,960,610		93,779,001

[1] Total per share amounts may not add due to rounding.