Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ 1,280,120	$ 1,261,908	$ 1,188,730
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment	(322,315)	(415,360)	(248,251)
Purchases of property and equipment	(768,790)	(776,713)	(667,378)
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations		173,387
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	5,897	11,160	8,401
Increase in other investments	(297,994)	(188,249)	(137,082)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,383,202)	(1,195,775)	(1,044,310)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	20,858	18,910	56,916
Repurchase of restricted stock shares for payroll tax withholding requirements	(9,314)	(13,311)
Deferred financing costs	(141,219)	(19,352)	(13,260)
Excess tax benefit relating to stock-based compensation	3,973	5,290	10,219
Payment of special dividend to stockholders	(22,535)
Stock buy-back		(85,790)	(113,961)
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	535	1,229	7,201
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures	(44,287)	(13,022)	(7,318)
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	(68,344)	(56,094)	(68,113)
Borrowings under credit agreements	3,975,866	578,236
Issuance of long-term debt	3,825,000	1,000,000
Proceeds from receivables facility	350,000
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(7,529,503)	(1,651,533)	(61,476)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	361,030	(235,437)	(189,792)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	257,948	(169,304)	(45,372)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	129,865	299,169	344,541
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	387,813	129,865	299,169
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(55,122)	(41,780)	(154,101)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	20,858	18,910	56,916
Repurchase of restricted stock shares for payroll tax withholding requirements	(9,314)	(13,311)
Excess tax benefit relating to stock-based compensation	3,973	5,290	10,219
Payment of special dividend to stockholders	(22,535)
Stock buy-back		(85,790)	(113,961)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	62,140	116,681	200,927
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	55,122	41,780	154,101
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(71,683)	(111,001)	(87,018)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Increase in other investments	10,000	(10,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	10,000	(10,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Deferred financing costs	(141,219)	(19,352)	(13,260)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	(124,560)	209,056	144,788
Borrowings under credit agreements	3,955,000	560,000
Issuance of long-term debt	3,825,000	1,000,000
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(7,452,538)	(1,628,703)	(44,510)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	61,683	121,001	87,018
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	1,156,708	918,947	774,222
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment	(309,731)	(370,243)	(204,773)
Purchases of property and equipment	(540,816)	(440,754)	(342,735)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2,756	2,283	8,140
Increase in other investments	(231,326)	(129,852)	(112,587)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,079,117)	(938,566)	(651,955)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	189,076	(175,332)	(144,642)
Borrowings under credit agreements	20,866	18,236
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(24,894)	(23,200)	(7,240)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	185,048	(180,296)	(151,882)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	262,639	(199,915)	(29,615)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	8,920	208,835	238,450
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	271,559	8,920	208,835
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	250,217	495,742	655,627
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment	(12,584)	(45,117)	(43,478)
Purchases of property and equipment	(227,974)	(335,959)	(324,643)
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations		173,387
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	3,141	8,877	261
Increase in other investments	(76,668)	(48,397)	(24,495)
Net cash used in investing activities	(314,085)	(247,209)	(392,355)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	535	1,229	7,201
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures	(44,287)	(13,022)	(7,318)
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	(68,344)	(56,094)	(68,113)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	(126,656)	(150,405)	(201,073)
Borrowings under credit agreements		2,145
Proceeds from receivables facility	350,000
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(52,071)	(1,775)	(9,726)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	59,177	(217,922)	(279,029)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(4,691)	30,611	(15,757)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	120,945	90,334	106,091
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	116,254	120,945	90,334
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under credit agreements		(2,145)
Repayments of long-term indebtedness		$ 2,145