Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Narrative) (Details) (Senior Secured Notes At 5.125 Due 2018 [Member], Senior Notes [Member])	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Senior Secured Notes At 5.125 Due 2018 [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of owned domestic subsidiaries which guaranteed notes	100.00%

The percentage ownership of domestic subsidiaries that guarantee on a senior basis the notes.

No definition available.

Name:	cyh_PercentageOwnershipOfDomesticSubsidiariesThatGuaranteeNotes
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration