Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract]
Net operating revenues	$ 3,442,514	$ 3,395,773	$ 3,433,829	$ 3,354,052	$ 3,314,193	$ 3,159,823	$ 3,080,646	$ 3,068,612	$ 13,626,168	$ 12,623,274	$ 11,742,454
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									5,577,925	5,093,767	4,701,231
Provision for bad debts									1,719,956	1,530,852	1,408,953
Supplies									1,834,106	1,738,088	1,649,779
Other operating expenses									2,515,638	2,296,063	2,129,081
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(63,397)
Rent									254,781	248,463	237,536
Depreciation and amortization									652,674	594,997	551,043
Total operating costs and expenses									12,491,683	11,502,230	10,677,623
Income from operations									1,134,485	1,121,044	1,064,831
Interest expense, net of interest income of $4,650, $1,757 and $3,561 in 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively									644,410	647,593	643,608
Loss (gain) from early extinguishment of debt									66,019		(2,385)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(49,491)	(45,443)	(36,531)
Impairment of long-lived and other assets									0		12,477
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	67,638	132,517	137,695	135,697	132,520	131,328	131,140	123,906	473,547	518,894	447,662
Provision for income taxes									137,653	163,681	141,851
Income from continuing operations	55,615	95,800	92,874	91,605	94,468	88,009	88,379	84,357	335,894	355,213	305,811
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold									(7,769)	(6,772)	971
Impairment of hospitals sold									(47,930)
Loss on sale, net									(2,572)		(405)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations	(2,495)	(3,169)	(39,327)	(13,280)	(2,219)	(3,155)	(2,037)	639	(58,271)	(6,772)	566
Net income									277,623	348,441	306,377
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									75,675	68,458	63,227
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	$ 30,931	$ 74,304	$ 35,389	$ 61,324	$ 69,510	$ 70,401	$ 70,065	$ 70,007	$ 201,948	$ 279,983	$ 243,150
Basic earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 0.38	$ 0.87	$ 0.82	$ 0.82	$ 0.79	$ 0.80	$ 0.77	$ 0.76	$ 2.89	$ 3.13	$ 2.68
Discontinued operations	$ (0.03)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.43)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.01	$ (0.65)	$ (0.07)
Net income	$ 0.35	$ 0.83	$ 0.39	$ 0.67	$ 0.77	$ 0.77	$ 0.75	$ 0.76	$ 2.24	$ 3.05	$ 2.68
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 0.38	$ 0.86	$ 0.81	$ 0.81	$ 0.78	$ 0.80	$ 0.76	$ 0.75	$ 2.87	$ 3.08	$ 2.65
Discontinued operations	$ (0.03)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.43)	$ (0.14)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.01	$ (0.64)	$ (0.07)
Net income	$ 0.35	$ 0.83	$ 0.39	$ 0.67	$ 0.76	$ 0.76	$ 0.74	$ 0.75	$ 2.23	$ 3.01	$ 2.66
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	88,344,566	89,412,310	91,130,672	91,008,405	90,422,331	91,484,466	93,358,771	91,615,275	89,966,933	91,718,791	90,614,886
Diluted	88,913,813	89,857,583	91,783,725	92,136,819	91,778,801	92,462,702	94,711,919	92,836,451	90,666,348	92,946,048	91,517,274