Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$ 3,768,086	$ 3,746,428	$ 7,567,950	$ 7,529,919
Provision for bad debts	531,695	503,454	1,019,809	989,910
Net operating revenues	3,236,391	3,242,974	6,548,141	6,540,009
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,555,951	1,497,446	3,133,099	3,022,421
Supplies	498,030	489,729	995,871	988,308
Other operating expenses	729,797	736,225	1,437,771	1,445,168
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(24,384)	(16,802)	(45,300)	(42,970)
Rent	71,820	66,463	143,374	133,687
Depreciation and amortization	194,605	179,801	386,763	354,155
Total operating costs and expenses	3,025,819	2,952,862	6,051,578	5,900,769
Income from operations	210,572	290,112	496,563	639,240
Interest expense, net	155,056	151,607	311,406	303,782
Loss (gain) on the early extinguishment of debt			1,295	63,429
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(9,054)	(13,181)	(24,734)	(25,194)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	64,570	151,686	208,596	297,223
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	17,485	49,519	65,188	95,338
Income from continuing operations	47,085	102,167	143,408	201,885
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold				(466)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes				(466)
Net income	47,085	102,167	143,408	201,419
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	17,332	18,808	34,481	42,586
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	29,753	83,359	108,927	158,833
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(29,753)	(83,359)	(108,927)	(158,833)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	29,753	83,359	108,927	158,833
Income from continuing operations	29,753	83,359	108,927	158,833
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	29,753	83,359	108,927	158,833
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	29,753	83,359	108,927	158,833
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	(3,982)	(2,666)	(7,303)	(4,430)
Net operating revenues	(3,982)	(2,666)	(7,303)	(4,430)
Operating costs and expenses:
Other operating expenses	162	20	239	335
Total operating costs and expenses	162	20	239	335
Income from operations	(4,144)	(2,686)	(7,542)	(4,765)
Interest expense, net	(10,779)	17,588	3,490	33,325
Loss (gain) on the early extinguishment of debt			1,295	63,429
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(24,438)	(86,292)	(116,762)	(204,793)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	31,073	66,018	104,435	103,274
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	1,320	(17,341)	(4,492)	(55,559)
Income from continuing operations	29,753	83,359	108,927	158,833
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	29,753	83,359	108,927	158,833
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	29,753	83,359	108,927	158,833
Other Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	2,413,268	2,349,686	4,846,148	4,801,625
Provision for bad debts	368,942	332,152	707,373	681,463
Net operating revenues	2,044,326	2,017,534	4,138,775	4,120,162
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	916,695	884,820	1,835,963	1,783,411
Supplies	327,618	322,987	651,631	651,242
Other operating expenses	472,485	448,592	917,074	927,658
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(15,602)	(6,313)	(27,578)	(25,144)
Rent	40,425	37,085	80,651	74,455
Depreciation and amortization	131,310	119,909	260,187	235,575
Total operating costs and expenses	1,872,931	1,807,080	3,717,928	3,647,197
Income from operations	171,395	210,454	420,847	472,965
Interest expense, net	149,927	123,067	276,393	246,623
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(13,309)	(45,237)	(31,661)	(87,037)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	34,777	132,624	176,115	313,379
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	12,532	47,877	63,463	113,130
Income from continuing operations	22,245	84,747	112,652	200,249
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	22,245	84,747	112,652	200,249
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	22,245	84,747	112,652	200,249
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	1,358,800	1,399,408	2,729,105	2,732,724
Provision for bad debts	162,753	171,302	312,436	308,447
Net operating revenues	1,196,047	1,228,106	2,416,669	2,424,277
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	639,256	612,626	1,297,136	1,239,010
Supplies	170,412	166,742	344,240	337,066
Other operating expenses	257,150	287,613	520,458	517,175
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(8,782)	(10,489)	(17,722)	(17,826)
Rent	31,395	29,378	62,723	59,232
Depreciation and amortization	63,295	59,892	126,576	118,580
Total operating costs and expenses	1,152,726	1,145,762	2,333,411	2,253,237
Income from operations	43,321	82,344	83,258	171,040
Interest expense, net	15,908	10,952	31,523	23,834
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	27,413	71,392	51,735	147,206
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	3,633	18,983	6,217	37,767
Income from continuing operations	23,780	52,409	45,518	109,439
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold				(466)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes				(466)
Net income	23,780	52,409	45,518	108,973
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	17,332	18,808	34,481	42,586
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	6,448	33,601	11,037	66,387
Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	58,446	201,707	232,616	425,469
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(58,446)	(201,707)	(232,616)	(425,469)
Income from continuing operations	(58,446)	(201,707)	(232,616)	(425,469)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	(58,446)	(201,707)	(232,616)	(425,469)
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (58,446)	$ (201,707)	$ (232,616)	$ (425,469)