Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ 777,865	$ 820,235
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment	(312,927)	(209,451)
Purchases of property and equipment	(557,469)	(532,845)
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations		172,578
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	4,808	9,251
Increase in other investments	(222,164)	(130,980)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,087,752)	(691,447)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	5,750	18,880
Repurchase of restricted stock shares for payroll tax withholding requirements	(9,165)
Deferred financing costs	(135,647)	(100)
Excess tax benefit relating to stock-based compensation	1,545	4,616
Stock buy-back		(85,790)
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	535	1,229
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures	(39,709)	(4,784)
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	(60,676)	(49,928)
Borrowings under credit agreements	5,924,377	83,000
Issuance of long-term debt	3,825,000
Proceeds from receivables facility	300,000
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(9,391,338)	(128,768)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	420,672	(161,645)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	110,785	(32,857)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	129,865	299,169
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	240,650	266,312
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(58,932)	(23,970)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	5,750	18,880
Repurchase of restricted stock shares for payroll tax withholding requirements	(9,165)
Excess tax benefit relating to stock-based compensation	1,545	4,616
Stock buy-back		(85,790)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	60,802	86,264
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	58,932	23,970
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(33,958)	(120,269)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Deferred financing costs	(135,647)	(100)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	(189,385)	157,854
Borrowings under credit agreements	5,904,978	83,000
Issuance of long-term debt	3,825,000
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(9,370,988)	(120,485)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	33,958	120,269
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	736,312	659,348
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment	(302,759)	(163,397)
Purchases of property and equipment	(374,940)	(301,466)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2,281	1,269
Increase in other investments	(168,506)	(90,009)
Net cash used in investing activities	(843,924)	(553,603)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	248,311	(157,936)
Borrowings under credit agreements	19,399
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(18,983)	(1,195)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	248,727	(159,131)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	141,115	(53,386)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	8,920	212,992
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	150,035	159,606
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	134,443	305,126
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment	(10,168)	(46,054)
Purchases of property and equipment	(182,529)	(231,379)
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations		172,578
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2,527	7,982
Increase in other investments	(53,658)	(40,971)
Net cash used in investing activities	(243,828)	(137,844)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	535	1,229
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures	(39,709)	(4,784)
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	(60,676)	(49,928)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	(119,728)	(86,182)
Proceeds from receivables facility	300,000
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(1,367)	(7,088)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	79,055	(146,753)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(30,330)	20,529
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	120,945	86,177
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 90,615	$ 106,706