Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$ 3,783,491	$ 3,354,052
Provision for bad debts	486,456	399,969
Net operating revenues	3,297,035	2,954,083
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,524,975	1,379,367
Supplies	498,579	457,817
Other operating expenses	708,943	614,793
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(26,168)	0
Rent	67,224	63,170
Depreciation and amortization	174,354	158,155
Total operating costs and expenses	2,947,907	2,673,302
Income from operations	349,128	280,781
Interest expense, net	152,175	163,218
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	63,429
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(12,013)	(18,134)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	145,537	135,697
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	45,819	44,092
Income from continuing operations	99,718	91,605
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold	(466)	(1,678)
Impairment of hospital sold		(8,368)
Loss on sale, net		(3,234)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(466)	(13,280)
Net income	99,252	78,325
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	23,778	17,001
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	75,474	61,324
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Loss from early extinguishment of debt
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(75,474)	(61,324)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	75,474	61,324
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		0
Income from continuing operations	75,474	61,324
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Impairment of hospital sold
Loss on sale, net
Net income	75,474	61,324
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		0
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	75,474	61,324
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	(1,746)
Net operating revenues	(1,746)
Operating costs and expenses:
Other operating expenses	315
Total operating costs and expenses	315
Income from operations	(2,079)
Interest expense, net	15,737	28,103
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	63,429
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(115,064)	(79,436)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	33,819	51,333
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(41,655)	(9,991)
Income from continuing operations	75,474	61,324
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Impairment of hospital sold
Loss on sale, net
Net income	75,474	61,324
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		0
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	75,474	61,324
Other Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	2,297,493	1,965,090
Provision for bad debts	323,543	245,533
Net operating revenues	1,973,950	1,719,557
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	851,412	753,989
Supplies	301,328	268,603
Other operating expenses	445,871	350,667
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(18,079)	0
Rent	34,805	31,489
Depreciation and amortization	111,133	95,556
Total operating costs and expenses	1,726,470	1,500,304
Income from operations	247,480	219,253
Interest expense, net	123,418	119,358
Loss from early extinguishment of debt
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(51,314)	(21,096)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	175,376	120,991
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	63,311	43,678
Income from continuing operations	112,065	77,313
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Impairment of hospital sold
Loss on sale, net
Net income	112,065	77,313
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		0
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	112,065	77,313
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	1,487,762	1,388,962
Provision for bad debts	162,913	154,436
Net operating revenues	1,324,849	1,234,526
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	673,563	625,378
Supplies	197,251	189,214
Other operating expenses	262,757	264,126
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(8,089)	0
Rent	32,419	31,681
Depreciation and amortization	63,221	62,599
Total operating costs and expenses	1,221,122	1,172,998
Income from operations	103,727	61,528
Interest expense, net	13,020	15,757
Loss from early extinguishment of debt
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	90,707	45,771
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	24,163	10,405
Income from continuing operations	66,544	35,366
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold	(466)	(1,678)
Impairment of hospital sold		(8,368)
Loss on sale, net		(3,234)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(466)	(13,280)
Net income	66,078	22,086
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	23,778	17,001
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	42,300	5,085
Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Loss from early extinguishment of debt
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	229,839	143,722
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(229,839)	(143,722)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		0
Income from continuing operations	(229,839)	(143,722)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Impairment of hospital sold
Loss on sale, net
Net income	(229,839)	(143,722)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		0
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	$ (229,839)	$ (143,722)