Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, 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 (Unaudited)
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 on 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 (benefit from) 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
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(44,233)	(74,304)	(203,066)	(171,017)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	44,233	74,304	203,066	171,017
Income from continuing operations	44,233	74,304	203,066	171,017
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	44,233	74,304	203,066	171,017
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	44,233	74,304	203,066	171,017
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	(2,551)		(6,980)
Net operating revenues	(2,551)		(6,980)
Operating costs and expenses:
Other operating expenses	83		418
Total operating costs and expenses	83		418
Income from operations	(2,634)		(7,398)
Interest expense, net	11,708	15,484	45,033	65,799
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	52,024		115,453
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(82,526)	(77,141)	(287,320)	(211,395)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	16,160	61,657	119,436	145,596
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(28,073)	(12,647)	(83,630)	(25,421)
Income from continuing operations	44,233	74,304	203,066	171,017
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	44,233	74,304	203,066	171,017
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	44,233	74,304	203,066	171,017
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	2,376,462	2,307,560	7,178,086	6,438,997
Provision for bad debts	316,988	331,603	998,451	856,309
Net operating revenues	2,059,474	1,975,957	6,179,635	5,582,688
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	905,141	864,588	2,688,553	2,438,797
Supplies	317,263	317,139	968,505	882,510
Other operating expenses	459,377	431,533	1,387,034	1,214,638
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(20,587)	(28,090)	(45,732)	(28,090)
Rent	38,559	37,147	113,014	102,319
Depreciation and amortization	120,620	109,316	356,196	308,485
Total operating costs and expenses	1,820,373	1,731,633	5,467,570	4,918,659
Income from operations	239,101	244,324	712,065	664,029
Interest expense, net	132,381	132,041	379,004	372,320
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(20,074)	(9,432)	(107,110)	(32,710)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	126,794	121,715	440,171	324,419
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	45,773	43,939	158,901	117,115
Income from continuing operations	81,021	77,776	281,270	207,304
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	81,021	77,776	281,270	207,304
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	81,021	77,776	281,270	207,304
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	1,322,750	1,088,213	4,055,474	3,744,657
Provision for bad debts	167,643	118,693	476,090	426,958
Net operating revenues	1,155,107	969,520	3,579,384	3,317,699
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	619,970	528,563	1,858,979	1,717,817
Supplies	166,949	142,007	504,015	483,732
Other operating expenses	235,397	192,075	752,573	678,500
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(10,035)	(12,137)	(27,860)	(12,137)
Rent	30,078	27,334	89,310	87,763
Depreciation and amortization	61,587	52,199	180,166	172,561
Total operating costs and expenses	1,103,946	930,041	3,357,183	3,128,236
Income from operations	51,161	39,479	222,201	189,463
Interest expense, net	14,476	11,955	38,310	47,809
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	36,685	27,524	183,891	141,654
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	8,000	5,425	45,767	33,936
Income from continuing operations	28,685	22,099	138,124	107,718
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	28,685	18,930	137,658	51,942
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	14,525	18,327	57,111	53,486
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	14,160	603	80,547	(1,544)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	139,414	152,683	564,883	376,777
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(139,414)	(152,683)	(564,883)	(376,777)
Income from continuing operations	(139,414)	(152,683)	(564,883)	(376,777)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	(139,414)	(152,683)	(564,883)	(376,777)
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (139,414)	$ (152,683)	$ (564,883)	$ (376,777)