Earnings per Share (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Earnings per Share [Abstract]

Components for computation of basic and diluted earnings per share

The following table sets forth the components of the numerator and denominator for the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for income from continuing operations, discontinued operations and net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (in thousands, except share data):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations, net of taxes	$	99,718		$	91,605
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes		23,778			17,001
Income from continuing operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders — basic and diluted	$	75,940		$	74,604
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	$	(466	)	$	(13,280	)
Less: Loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes		—			—
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders — basic and diluted	$	(466	)	$	(13,280	)
Denominator:
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding — basic		88,674,779			91,008,405
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock awards		21,233			253,866
Employee stock options		147,440			865,691
Other equity-based awards		9,252			8,857
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding — diluted		88,852,704			92,136,819

Dilutive securities outstanding not included in the computation of earnings per share because their effect is antidilutive

Dilutive securities outstanding not included in the computation of earnings per share because their effect is antidilutive:
Employee stock options	6,869,031	4,395,292