Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, 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
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									$ 14,988,179	$ 13,626,168	$ 12,623,274
Provision for bad debts									1,959,194	1,719,956	1,530,852
Net operating revenues	3,276,946	3,212,030	3,242,974	3,297,035	3,005,825	2,945,477	3,000,827	2,954,083	13,028,985	11,906,212	11,092,422
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									6,103,931	5,577,925	5,093,767
Supplies									1,973,491	1,834,106	1,738,088
Other operating expenses									2,869,786	2,515,638	2,296,063
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(126,734)	(63,397)
Rent									272,829	254,781	248,463
Depreciation and amortization									725,558	652,674	594,997
Total operating costs and expenses									11,818,861	10,771,727	9,971,378
Income from operations									1,210,124	1,134,485	1,121,044
Interest expense, net									622,933	644,410	647,593
Loss (gain) on Extinguishment of Debt									115,453	66,019
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(42,033)	(49,491)	(45,443)
Impairment of long-lived assets									10,000
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	122,090	84,458	151,686	145,537	67,638	132,517	137,695	135,697	503,771	473,547	518,894
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									157,502	137,653	163,681
Income from continuing operations	85,626	58,758	102,167	99,718	55,615	95,800	92,874	91,605	346,269	335,894	355,213
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold									(466)	(7,769)	(6,772)
Impairment of hospitals sold										(47,930)
Loss on sale, net										(2,572)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes				(466)	(2,495)	(3,169)	(39,327)	(13,280)	(466)	(58,271)	(6,772)
Net income									345,803	277,623	348,441
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									80,163	75,675	68,458
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.	62,574	44,233	83,359	75,474	30,931	74,304	35,389	61,324	265,640	201,948	279,983
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(265,640)	(201,948)	(279,983)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									265,640	201,948	279,983
Income from continuing operations									265,640	201,948	279,983
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income									265,640	201,948	279,983
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.									265,640	201,948	279,983
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									(9,653)
Net operating revenues									(9,653)
Operating costs and expenses:
Other operating expenses									603
Total operating costs and expenses									603
Income from operations									(10,256)
Interest expense, net									58,726	87,095	113,464
Loss (gain) on Extinguishment of Debt									115,453	66,019
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(348,878)	(287,903)	(322,228)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									164,443	134,789	208,764
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									(101,197)	(67,159)	(71,219)
Income from continuing operations									265,640	201,948	279,983
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income									265,640	201,948	279,983
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.									265,640	201,948	279,983
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									9,579,838	8,625,818	7,959,274
Provision for bad debts									1,323,508	1,137,662	1,018,880
Net operating revenues									8,256,330	7,488,156	6,940,394
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									3,623,082	3,284,123	3,008,055
Supplies									1,297,714	1,183,817	1,113,702
Other operating expenses									1,873,782	1,634,806	1,442,230
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(79,936)	(43,959)
Rent									152,205	138,229	132,032
Depreciation and amortization									480,912	420,824	376,963
Total operating costs and expenses									7,347,759	6,617,840	6,072,982
Income from operations									908,571	870,316	867,412
Interest expense, net									505,270	495,888	478,004
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(150,606)	(65,846)	(116,313)
Impairment of long-lived assets									10,000
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									543,907	440,274	505,721
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									196,351	158,939	186,105
Income from continuing operations									347,556	281,335	319,616
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income									347,556	281,335	319,616
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.									347,556	281,335	319,616
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									5,417,994	5,000,350	4,664,000
Provision for bad debts									635,686	582,294	511,972
Net operating revenues									4,782,308	4,418,056	4,152,028
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									2,480,849	2,293,802	2,085,712
Supplies									675,777	650,289	624,386
Other operating expenses									995,401	880,832	853,833
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(46,798)	(19,438)
Rent									120,624	116,552	116,431
Depreciation and amortization									244,646	231,850	218,034
Total operating costs and expenses									4,470,499	4,153,887	3,898,396
Income from operations									311,809	264,169	253,632
Interest expense, net									58,937	61,427	56,125
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									252,872	202,742	197,507
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									62,348	45,873	48,795
Income from continuing operations									190,524	156,869	148,712
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold									(466)	(7,769)	(6,772)
Impairment of hospitals sold										(47,930)
Loss on sale, net										(2,572)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes									(466)	(58,271)	(6,772)
Net income									190,058	98,598	141,940
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									80,163	75,675	68,458
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.									109,895	22,923	73,482
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									723,091	506,206	673,081
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(723,091)	(506,206)	(673,081)
Income from continuing operations									(723,091)	(506,206)	(673,081)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income									(723,091)	(506,206)	(673,081)
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.									$ (723,091)	$ (506,206)	$ (673,081)