Consolidated Statements of Income (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
Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract]
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 of interest income of $3,031, $4,650 and $1,757 in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively																	622,933		644,410		647,593
Loss from early 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 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
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 0.70	[1]	$ 0.50	[1]	$ 0.94	[1]	$ 0.86	[1]	$ 0.38	[1]	$ 0.87	[1]	$ 0.82	[1]	$ 0.82	[1]	$ 2.98	[1]	$ 2.89	[1]	$ 3.13	[1]
Discontinued operations							$ (0.01)	[1]	$ (0.03)	[1]	$ (0.04)	[1]	$ (0.43)	[1]	$ (0.15)	[1]	$ (0.01)	[1]	$ (0.65)	[1]	$ (0.07)	[1]
Net income	$ 0.70	[1]	$ 0.50	[1]	$ 0.94	[1]	$ 0.85	[1]	$ 0.35	[1]	$ 0.83	[1]	$ 0.39	[1]	$ 0.67	[1]	$ 2.98	[1]	$ 2.24	[1]	$ 3.05	[1]
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 0.69	[1]	$ 0.49	[1]	$ 0.93	[1]	$ 0.85	[1]	$ 0.38	[1]	$ 0.86	[1]	$ 0.81	[1]	$ 0.81	[1]	$ 2.96	[1]	$ 2.87	[1]	$ 3.08	[1]
Discontinued operations							$ (0.01)	[1]	$ (0.03)	[1]	$ (0.04)	[1]	$ (0.43)	[1]	$ (0.14)	[1]	$ (0.01)	[1]	$ (0.64)	[1]	$ (0.07)	[1]
Net income	$ 0.69	[1]	$ 0.49	[1]	$ 0.93	[1]	$ 0.85	[1]	$ 0.35	[1]	$ 0.83	[1]	$ 0.39	[1]	$ 0.67	[1]	$ 2.96	[1]	$ 2.23	[1]	$ 3.01	[1]
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
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

[1] Total per share amounts may not add due to rounding.