Earnings per Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

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):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations, net of taxes	$	335,894		$	355,213		$	305,811
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes		75,675			68,577			62,948
Income from continuing operations attributable to Community Health
Systems, Inc. common stockholders — basic and diluted	$	260,219		$	286,636		$	242,863
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	$	(58,271	)	$	(6,772	)	$	566
Less: (Loss) income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes		—			(119	)		279
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders - basic and diluted	$	(58,271	)	$	(6,653	)	$	287
Denominator:
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding – basic		89,966,933			91,718,791			90,614,886
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock awards		327,652			542,488			469,134
Employee stock options		361,554			667,606			422,637
Other equity-based awards		10,209			17,163			10,617
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding – diluted		90,666,348			92,946,048			91,517,274

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	6,432,281	4,882,338	6,820,393