Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract]
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$ 3,696,661		$ 3,395,773		$ 11,226,580		$ 10,183,654
Provision for bad debts	484,631		450,296		1,474,541		1,283,267
Net operating revenues	3,212,030		2,945,477		9,752,039		8,900,387
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,525,111		1,393,151		4,547,532		4,156,614
Supplies	484,212		459,146		1,472,520		1,366,242
Other operating expenses	694,857		623,608		2,140,025		1,893,138
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(30,622)		(40,227)		(73,592)		(40,227)
Rent	68,637		64,481		202,324		190,082
Depreciation and amortization	182,207		161,515		536,362		481,046
Total operating costs and expenses	2,924,402		2,661,674		8,825,171		8,046,895
Income from operations	287,628		283,803		926,868		853,492
Interest expense, net	158,565		159,480		462,347		485,928
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	52,024				115,453
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(7,419)		(8,194)		(32,613)		(38,345)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	84,458		132,517		381,681		405,909
Provision for income taxes	25,700		36,717		121,038		125,630
Income from continuing operations	58,758		95,800		260,643		280,279
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Income (loss) from operations of entities sold			(3,103)		(466)		(4,546)
Impairment of hospitals sold							(47,930)
Loss on sale, net			(66)				(3,300)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes			(3,169)		(466)		(55,776)
Net income	58,758		92,631		260,177		224,503
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	14,525		18,327		57,111		53,486
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ 44,233		$ 74,304		$ 203,066		$ 171,017
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 0.50	[1]	$ 0.87	[1]	$ 2.29	[1]	$ 2.51	[1]
Discontinued operations			$ (0.04)	[1]	$ (0.01)	[1]	$ (0.62)	[1]
Net income	$ 0.50	[1]	$ 0.83	[1]	$ 2.28	[1]	$ 1.89	[1]
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 0.49	[1]	$ 0.86	[1]	$ 2.27	[1]	$ 2.49	[1]
Discontinued operations			$ (0.04)	[1]	$ (0.01)	[1]	$ (0.61)	[1]
Net income	$ 0.49	[1]	$ 0.83	[1]	$ 2.27	[1]	$ 1.87	[1]
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	89,259,950		89,412,310		89,028,249		90,513,665
Diluted	90,009,113		89,857,583		89,464,987		91,256,469

[1] Total per share amounts may not add due to rounding.