Debt Instrument, Earliest Redemption Date

No definition available.

Name:	cyh_DebtInstrumentEarliestRedemptionDate
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Future Redemption Price of Debt During Eligibility Period, as a Percentage of Principal Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cyh_FutureRedemptionPriceOfDebtDuringEligibilityPeriodAsPercentageOfPrincipalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum Period Notice for Redemption of Debt

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cyh_MaximumPeriodNoticeForRedemptionOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of principal allowed to be redeemed under the current debt agreement using the proceeds of a public equity offering during a certain durational period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Minimum Period Notice for Redemption of Debt

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cyh_MinimumPeriodNoticeForRedemptionOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period Subject to Redemption Price Commencing on Scheduled Date

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cyh_PeriodSubjectToRedemptionPriceCommencingOnScheduledDate
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the debt instrument was offered for sale, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentOfferingDate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Long-Term Debt (7.125% Senior Notes, Due 2020 Narrative) (Details) (Senior Notes [Member], USD $)	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2007
Senior Notes at 8.875, Due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount				$ 3,000,000,000
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount	934,300,000	850,000,000	1,000,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				8.875%
Senior Notes at 7.125, Due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Offering Date	Jul. 18, 2012
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 1,200,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	7.125%
Period prior to July 15, 2015 with Redemption Limited to Using Proceeds from Public Equity Offering [Member] \| Senior Notes at 7.125, Due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Earliest Redemption Date	Jul. 15, 2015
Future Redemption Price of Debt During Eligibility Period, as a Percentage of Principal Amount	107.125%
Max Principal Redeemable Using Proceeds from a Public Equity Offering, as a Percentage of Principal Amount	35.00%
Period Prior To July, 15 2016 [Member] \| Senior Notes at 7.125, Due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Minimum Period Notice for Redemption of Debt	30 days
Maximum Period Notice for Redemption of Debt	60 days
Period Subject to Redemption Price Commencing on Scheduled Date	12 months
Future Redemption Price of Debt During Eligibility Period, as a Percentage of Principal Amount	100.00%