Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 224,503	$ 256,192
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	485,917	452,179
Stock-based compensation expense	31,588	29,899
Loss on sale	3,300
Impairment of hospitals held for sale	47,930
Excess tax benefit relating to stock-based compensation	(4,616)	(10,109)
Other non-cash expenses, net	14,279	8,237
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
Patient accounts receivable	(90,805)	(25,579)
Supplies, prepaid expenses and other current assets	(31,455)	4,755
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and income taxes	146,166	172,687
Other	(6,572)	10,116
Net cash provided by operating activities	820,235	898,377
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment	(209,451)	(67,541)
Purchases of property and equipment	(532,845)	(381,853)
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations	172,578
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	9,251	2,845
Increase in other non-operating assets	(130,980)	(98,502)
Net cash used in investing activities	(691,447)	(545,051)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	18,880	53,839
Deferred financing costs	(100)
Excess tax benefit relating to stock-based compensation	4,616	10,109
Stock buy-back	(85,790)	(107,932)
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	1,229	5,155
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures	(4,784)	(2,467)
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	(49,928)	(41,870)
Borrowings under credit agreement	83,000
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(128,768)	(46,952)
Net cash used in financing activities	(161,645)	(130,118)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(32,857)	223,208
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	299,169	344,541
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	266,312	567,749
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest payments	548,359	549,453
Income tax (refunds received) paid, net	$ (2,708)	$ 128,925