Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended							6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Common Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Treasury Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Treasury Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Retained Earnings [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Reconciliation of the carrying amount of total equity, equity attributable to the Company, and equity attributable to the noncontrolling interests
Beginning Balance			$ 2,250,377		$ 387,472	$ 936	$ 1,126,751	$ (6,678)	$ (6,678)	$ (230,927)	$ 1,299,382	$ 60,913
Comprehensive income:
Net income	53,547	86,342	131,872	171,338	25,211						96,713	9,948
Net change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(8,969)	(33,694)	27,477	(45,051)						27,477
Net change in fair value of available-for-sale securities	268	476	1,338	630						1,338
Amortization and recognition of unrecognized pension cost components	807	758	1,579	5,233						1,579
Total comprehensive income	45,653	53,882	162,266	132,150	25,211					30,394	96,713	9,948
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net of contribution			(9,828)		(19,387)							(9,828)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests			(498)		(2,792)		(498)
Other reclassifications of noncontrolling interests			272		(2,004)							272
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests			11,842		(11,842)		11,842
Repurchases of common stock			(50,020)			(18)	(50,002)
Issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of stock options			18,837			6	18,831
Cancellation of restricted stock for tax withholdings on vested shares			(13,113)			(3)	(13,110)
Excess tax benefit from exercise of options			4,659				4,659
Share-based compensation			20,743			11	20,732
Ending Balance	2,370,326		2,370,326		376,658	932	1,119,205	(6,678)	(6,678)	(200,533)	1,396,095	61,305
Effects of changes in the ownership interest in less-than-wholly-owned subsidiaries
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	35,389	70,065	96,713	140,072
Transfers to the noncontrolling interests:
Net decrease in Community Health Systems, Inc. paid-in capital for purchase of subsidiary partnership interests			(498)
Net transfers to noncontrolling interests			(498)
Change to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders equity from net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. and transfers to noncontrolling interests			$ 96,215