Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, 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
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									$ 15,078,074	$ 14,988,179	$ 13,626,168
Provision for bad debts									2,080,381	1,959,194	1,719,956
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
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									6,217,747	6,103,931	5,577,925
Supplies									1,994,116	1,973,491	1,834,106
Other operating expenses									2,880,357	2,869,786	2,515,638
Government settlement and related costs									101,500
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(165,877)	(126,734)	(63,397)
Rent									287,412	272,829	254,781
Depreciation and amortization									782,675	725,558	652,674
Total operating costs and expenses									12,097,930	11,818,861	10,771,727
Income from operations									899,763	1,210,124	1,134,485
Interest expense, net									615,147	622,933	644,410
Loss (gain) from early extinguishment of debt									1,295	115,453	66,019
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(42,641)	(42,033)	(49,491)
Impairment of long-lived assets									20,100	10,000
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
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									88,594	157,502	137,653
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
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold										(466)	(7,769)
Impairment of hospitals sold											(47,930)
Loss on sale, net											(2,572)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes								(466)		(466)	(58,271)
Net income									217,268	345,803	277,623
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									76,065	80,163	75,675
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
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(141,203)	(265,640)	(201,948)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									141,203	265,640	201,948
Income from continuing operations									141,203	265,640	201,948
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income									141,203	265,640	201,948
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									141,203	265,640	201,948
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									(14,923)	(9,653)
Net operating revenues									(14,923)	(9,653)
Operating costs and expenses:
Other operating expenses									240	603
Total operating costs and expenses									240	603
Income from operations									(15,163)	(10,256)
Interest expense, net									(4,749)	58,726	87,095
Loss (gain) from early extinguishment of debt									1,295	115,453	66,019
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(138,906)	(348,878)	(287,903)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									127,197	164,443	134,789
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									(14,006)	(101,197)	(67,159)
Income from continuing operations									141,203	265,640	201,948
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income									141,203	265,640	201,948
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									141,203	265,640	201,948
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									9,639,380	9,579,838	8,625,818
Provision for bad debts									1,425,853	1,323,508	1,137,662
Net operating revenues									8,213,527	8,256,330	7,488,156
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									3,661,669	3,623,082	3,284,123
Supplies									1,299,607	1,297,714	1,183,817
Other operating expenses									1,869,417	1,873,782	1,634,806
Government settlement and related costs									101,500
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(107,345)	(79,936)	(43,959)
Rent									161,647	152,205	138,229
Depreciation and amortization									529,532	480,912	420,824
Total operating costs and expenses									7,516,027	7,347,759	6,617,840
Income from operations									697,500	908,571	870,316
Interest expense, net									556,691	505,270	495,888
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(85,859)	(150,606)	(65,846)
Impairment of long-lived assets									20,100	10,000
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									206,568	543,907	440,274
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									74,437	196,351	158,939
Income from continuing operations									132,131	347,556	281,335
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income									132,131	347,556	281,335
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									132,131	347,556	281,335
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									5,453,617	5,417,994	5,000,350
Provision for bad debts									654,528	635,686	582,294
Net operating revenues									4,799,089	4,782,308	4,418,056
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									2,556,078	2,480,849	2,293,802
Supplies									694,509	675,777	650,289
Other operating expenses									1,010,700	995,401	880,832
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(58,532)	(46,798)	(19,438)
Rent									125,765	120,624	116,552
Depreciation and amortization									253,143	244,646	231,850
Total operating costs and expenses									4,581,663	4,470,499	4,153,887
Income from operations									217,426	311,809	264,169
Interest expense, net									63,205	58,937	61,427
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									154,221	252,872	202,742
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									28,163	62,348	45,873
Income from continuing operations									126,058	190,524	156,869
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold										(466)	(7,769)
Impairment of hospitals sold											(47,930)
Loss on sale, net											(2,572)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes										(466)	(58,271)
Net income									126,058	190,058	98,598
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									76,065	80,163	75,675
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									49,993	109,895	22,923
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									323,327	723,091	506,206
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(323,327)	(723,091)	(506,206)
Income from continuing operations									(323,327)	(723,091)	(506,206)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income									(323,327)	(723,091)	(506,206)
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									$ (323,327)	$ (723,091)	$ (506,206)