Earnings Per Share (Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations, net of taxes	$ 85,626	$ 58,758	$ 102,167	$ 99,718	$ 55,615	$ 95,800	$ 92,874	$ 91,605	$ 346,269	$ 335,894	$ 355,213
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes									80,163	75,675	68,577
Income from continuing operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders - basic and diluted									266,106	260,219	286,636
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes				(466)	(2,495)	(3,169)	(39,327)	(13,280)	(466)	(58,271)	(6,772)
Less: Loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes											(119)
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders - basic and diluted									$ (466)	$ (58,271)	$ (6,653)
Denominator:
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - basic	89,882,380	89,259,950	89,147,472	88,674,779	88,344,566	89,412,310	91,130,672	91,008,405	89,242,949	89,966,933	91,718,791
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock awards									335,664	327,652	542,488
Employee stock options									212,227	361,554	667,606
Other equity-based awards									16,097	10,209	17,163
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - diluted	90,828,119	90,009,113	89,530,639	88,852,704	88,913,813	89,857,583	91,783,725	92,136,819	89,806,937	90,666,348	92,946,048