Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Net operating revenues	$ 3,231,321	$ 3,218,231	$ 3,236,391	$ 3,311,750	$ 3,276,946	$ 3,212,030	$ 3,242,974	$ 3,297,035		$ 12,997,693	$ 13,028,985		$ 11,906,212
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	72,226	25,040	64,570	144,026	122,090	84,458	151,686	145,537		305,862	503,771		473,547
Income from continuing operations	52,262	21,598	47,085	96,323	85,626	58,758	102,167	99,718		217,268	346,269		335,894
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes								(466)			(466)		(58,271)
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ 28,181	$ 4,095	$ 29,753	$ 79,174	$ 62,574	$ 44,233	$ 83,359	$ 75,474		$ 141,203	$ 265,640		$ 201,948
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 0.30	$ 0.04	$ 0.32	$ 0.87	$ 0.70	$ 0.50	$ 0.94	$ 0.86		$ 1.52	$ 2.98		$ 2.89
Discontinued operations								$ (0.01)			$ (0.01)		$ (0.65)
Net income	$ 0.30	$ 0.04	$ 0.32	$ 0.87	$ 0.70	$ 0.50	$ 0.94	$ 0.85		$ 1.52	$ 2.98	[1]	$ 2.24
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 0.30	$ 0.04	$ 0.32	$ 0.86	$ 0.69	$ 0.49	$ 0.93	$ 0.85		$ 1.51	$ 2.96		$ 2.87
Discontinued operations								$ (0.01)			$ (0.01)		$ (0.64)
Net income	$ 0.30	$ 0.04	$ 0.32	$ 0.86	$ 0.69	$ 0.49	$ 0.93	$ 0.85	[1]	$ 1.51	$ 2.96	[1]	$ 2.23
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	93,372,398	93,259,027	92,866,370	91,002,615	89,882,380	89,259,950	89,147,472	88,674,779		92,633,332	89,242,949		89,966,933
Diluted	94,703,458	94,483,596	94,109,368	91,998,993	90,828,119	90,009,113	89,530,639	88,852,704		93,815,013	89,806,937		90,666,348

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