Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details Textual) (USD $) In Billions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011 Community Health System [Member]	Jul. 25, 2007 Community Health System [Member]	Jul. 25, 2007 Community Health System [Member] Senior Notes 8.875% Due 2015 [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Textual) [Abstract]
Senior secured financing under a new credit facility		$ 7.2	$ 7.2
Principal amount of senior notes issued		$ 3.0		$ 3.0
Percentage of owned domestic subsidiaries which guaranteed senior notes	100.00%

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant