Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$ 3,766,833	$ 3,696,661	$ 11,334,783	$ 11,226,580
Provision for bad debts	548,602	484,631	1,568,411	1,474,541
Net operating revenues	3,218,231	3,212,030	9,766,372	9,752,039
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,541,692	1,525,111	4,674,791	4,547,532
Supplies	486,374	484,212	1,482,245	1,472,520
Other operating expenses	721,957	694,857	2,159,728	2,140,025
Government settlement and related costs reserve	(98,000)		(98,000)
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(65,007)	(30,622)	(110,307)	(73,592)
Rent	71,646	68,637	215,020	202,324
Depreciation and amortization	195,841	182,207	582,604	536,362
Total operating costs and expenses	3,050,503	2,924,402	9,102,081	8,825,171
Income from operations	167,728	287,628	664,291	926,868
Interest expense, net	154,329	158,565	465,735	462,347
Loss (gain) on the early extinguishment of debt		52,024	1,295	115,453
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(11,641)	(7,419)	(36,375)	(32,613)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	25,040	84,458	233,636	381,681
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	3,442	25,700	68,630	121,038
Income from continuing operations	21,598	58,758	165,006	260,643
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold				(466)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes				(466)
Net income	21,598	58,758	165,006	260,177
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	17,503	14,525	51,984	57,111
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	4,095	44,233	113,022	203,066
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(4,095)	(44,233)	(113,022)	(203,066)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	4,095	44,233	113,022	203,066
Income from continuing operations	4,095	44,233	113,022	203,066
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	4,095	44,233	113,022	203,066
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	4,095	44,233	113,022	203,066
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	(3,845)	(2,551)	(11,149)	(6,980)
Net operating revenues	(3,845)	(2,551)	(11,149)	(6,980)
Operating costs and expenses:
Other operating expenses		83	239	418
Total operating costs and expenses		83	239	418
Income from operations	(3,845)	(2,634)	(11,388)	(7,398)
Interest expense, net	(1,470)	11,708	2,020	45,033
Loss (gain) on the early extinguishment of debt		52,024	1,295	115,453
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(77,763)	(82,526)	(194,526)	(287,320)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	75,388	16,160	179,823	119,436
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	71,293	(28,073)	66,801	(83,630)
Income from continuing operations	4,095	44,233	113,022	203,066
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	4,095	44,233	113,022	203,066
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	4,095	44,233	113,022	203,066
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	2,420,377	2,376,462	7,266,525	7,178,086
Provision for bad debts	373,258	316,988	1,080,631	998,451
Net operating revenues	2,047,119	2,059,474	6,185,894	6,179,635
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	908,651	905,141	2,744,614	2,688,553
Supplies	316,598	317,263	968,229	968,505
Other operating expenses	468,293	459,377	1,385,366	1,387,034
Government settlement and related costs reserve	(98,000)		(98,000)
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(48,771)	(20,587)	(76,349)	(45,732)
Rent	40,627	38,559	121,278	113,014
Depreciation and amortization	133,773	120,620	393,959	356,196
Total operating costs and expenses	1,917,171	1,820,373	5,635,097	5,467,570
Income from operations	129,948	239,101	550,797	712,065
Interest expense, net	139,796	132,381	416,190	379,004
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(14,207)	(20,074)	(45,868)	(107,110)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	4,359	126,794	180,475	440,171
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(70,777)	45,773	(7,314)	158,901
Income from continuing operations	75,136	81,021	187,789	281,270
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	75,136	81,021	187,789	281,270
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	75,136	81,021	187,789	281,270
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	1,350,301	1,322,750	4,079,407	4,055,474
Provision for bad debts	175,344	167,643	487,780	476,090
Net operating revenues	1,174,957	1,155,107	3,591,627	3,579,384
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	633,041	619,970	1,930,177	1,858,979
Supplies	169,776	166,949	514,016	504,015
Other operating expenses	253,664	235,397	774,123	752,573
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(16,236)	(10,035)	(33,958)	(27,860)
Rent	31,019	30,078	93,742	89,310
Depreciation and amortization	62,068	61,587	188,645	180,166
Total operating costs and expenses	1,133,332	1,103,946	3,466,745	3,357,183
Income from operations	41,625	51,161	124,882	222,201
Interest expense, net	16,003	14,476	47,525	38,310
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	25,622	36,685	77,357	183,891
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	2,926	8,000	9,143	45,767
Income from continuing operations	22,696	28,685	68,214	138,124
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold				(466)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes				(466)
Net income	22,696	28,685	68,214	137,658
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	17,503	14,525	51,984	57,111
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	5,193	14,160	16,230	80,547
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	84,424	139,414	317,041	564,883
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(84,424)	(139,414)	(317,041)	(564,883)
Income from continuing operations	(84,424)	(139,414)	(317,041)	(564,883)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	(84,424)	(139,414)	(317,041)	(564,883)
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (84,424)	$ (139,414)	$ (317,041)	$ (564,883)