Stockholders' Equity (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]

Reconciliation of the carrying amount of total equity, equity attributable to the Company, and equity attributable to the noncontrolling interests

The following schedule presents the reconciliation of the carrying amount of total equity, equity attributable to the Company, and equity attributable to the noncontrolling interests for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012 (in thousands):

				Community Health Systems, Inc. Stockholders
													Accumulated
	Redeemable						Additional						Other								Total
	Noncontrolling			Common			Paid-in			Treasury			Comprehensive			Retained		Noncontrolling			Stockholders’
	Interests			Stock			Capital			Stock			Income (Loss)			Earnings		Interests			Equity
Balance, December 31, 2011	$	395,743		$	915		$	1,086,008		$	(6,678	)	$	(184,479	)	$	1,501,330	$	67,349		$	2,464,445
Comprehensive income		17,599			—			—			—			14,343			75,474		6,179			95,996
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net of contributions		(15,904	)		—			—			—			—			—		(11,019	)		(11,019	)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests		(12,285	)		—			(18,673	)		—			—			—		(138	)		(18,811	)
Other reclassifications of noncontrolling interests		623			—			—			—			—			—		(623	)		(623	)
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests		(22,236	)		—			22,236			—			—			—		—			22,236
Repurchase of common stock		—			—			—			—			—			—		—			—
Issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of stock options		—			—			308			—			—			—		—			308
Cancellation of restricted stock for tax withholdings on vested shares		—			(3	)		(9,032	)		—			—			—		—			(9,035	)
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options		—			—			(1,895	)		—			—			—		—			(1,895	)
Share-based compensation		—			7			10,495			—			—			—		—			10,502
Balance, March 31, 2012	$	363,540		$	919		$	1,089,447		$	(6,678	)	$	(170,136	)	$	1,576,804	$	61,748		$	2,552,104

Effects of changes in the ownership interest in less-than-wholly-owned subsidiaries

The following schedule discloses the effects of changes in the Company’s ownership interest in its less-than-wholly-owned subsidiaries on Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	$	75,474
Transfers to the noncontrolling interests:
Net decrease in Community Health Systems, Inc. paid-in capital for purchase of subsidiary partnership interests		(18,673	)
Net transfers to the noncontrolling interests		(18,673	)
Change to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity from net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. and transfers to noncontrolling interests	$	56,801