Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
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 (benefit from) 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
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(35,389)	(70,065)	(96,713)	(140,072)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	35,389	70,065	96,713	140,072
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	0
Income from continuing operations	35,389	70,065	96,713	140,072
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	35,389	70,065	96,713	140,072
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	35,389	70,065	96,713	140,072
Issuer [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Interest expense, net	22,212	28,433	50,315	57,447
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(39,072)	(82,583)	(114,604)	(166,296)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	16,860	54,150	64,289	108,849
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(18,529)	(15,915)	(32,424)	(31,223)
Income from continuing operations	35,389	70,065	96,713	140,072
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	35,389	70,065	96,713	140,072
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	35,389	70,065	96,713	140,072
Other Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Net operating revenues	2,002,412	1,770,800	3,932,956	3,546,129
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	767,262	663,919	1,510,301	1,342,015
Provision for bad debts	259,583	220,065	499,434	442,530
Supplies	262,909	242,931	525,911	482,632
Other operating expenses	393,916	309,698	738,800	613,430
Rent	31,007	28,838	61,608	58,253
Depreciation and amortization	95,559	86,401	189,419	170,605
Total operating costs and expenses	1,810,236	1,551,852	3,525,473	3,109,465
Income from operations	192,176	218,948	407,483	436,664
Interest expense, net	123,347	118,682	244,740	235,294
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(45,752)	(27,298)	(77,710)	(50,851)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	114,581	127,564	240,453	252,221
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	41,364	46,694	86,803	92,817
Income from continuing operations	73,217	80,870	153,650	159,404
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Income (loss) from operations of entities sold and held for sale	2,813	1,789	4,158	6,231
Impairment of hospitals held for sale			(47,930)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(36,749)	1,789	(43,772)	6,231
Net income	36,468	82,659	109,878	165,635
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	36,468	82,659	109,878	165,635
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Net operating revenues	1,431,417	1,309,846	2,854,925	2,603,129
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	616,834	567,640	1,253,162	1,136,225
Provision for bad debts	173,419	146,937	333,537	290,973
Supplies	186,370	187,643	381,185	370,054
Other operating expenses	260,821	250,264	530,730	503,151
Rent	31,424	32,013	63,993	64,655
Depreciation and amortization	65,817	63,378	130,112	123,077
Total operating costs and expenses	1,334,685	1,247,875	2,692,719	2,488,135
Income from operations	96,732	61,971	162,206	114,994
Interest expense, net	17,671	13,644	31,393	27,441
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	79,061	48,327	130,813	87,553
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	21,986	11,982	34,534	20,716
Income from continuing operations	57,075	36,345	96,279	66,837
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Income (loss) from operations of entities sold and held for sale	(2,578)	(3,826)	(5,601)	(7,629)
Loss on sale			(3,234)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(2,578)	(3,826)	(8,835)	(7,629)
Net income	54,497	32,519	87,444	59,208
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	18,158	16,277	35,159	31,266
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	36,339	16,242	52,285	27,942
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Net operating revenues	0
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	0
Provision for bad debts	0
Supplies	0
Other operating expenses	0
Rent	0
Depreciation and amortization	0
Total operating costs and expenses	0
Income from operations	0
Interest expense, net	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	108,196	168,966	258,876	333,649
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(108,196)	(168,966)	(258,876)	(333,649)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	0
Income from continuing operations	(108,196)	(168,966)	(258,876)	(333,649)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	(108,196)	(168,966)	(258,876)	(333,649)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	$ (108,196)	$ (168,966)	$ (258,876)	$ (333,649)