Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 373,403	$ 387,813
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,448,432 and $2,201,875 at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively	2,353,308	2,067,379
Supplies	377,005	368,172
Prepaid income taxes	107,077	49,888
Deferred income taxes	101,372	117,045
Prepaid expenses and taxes	128,476	126,561
Other current assets	307,322	302,284
Total current assets	3,747,963	3,419,142
Property and Equipment:
Land and improvements	628,539	614,964
Buildings and improvements	6,302,739	6,086,169
Equipment and fixtures	3,675,472	3,444,275
Property and equipment, gross	10,606,750	10,145,408
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(3,492,287)	(2,993,535)
Property and equipment, net	7,114,463	7,151,873
Goodwill	4,444,135	4,408,138
Other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $535,142 and $394,827 at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively	1,810,734	1,627,182
Total assets	17,117,295	16,606,335
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	166,902	89,911
Accounts payable	958,593	825,914
Deferred income taxes	3,183
Accrued liabilities:
Employee compensation	698,987	713,685
Interest	111,891	110,702
Other	517,927	403,008
Total current liabilities	2,457,483	2,143,220
Long-term debt	9,286,495	9,451,394
Deferred income taxes	906,101	808,489
Other long-term liabilities	977,336	1,039,045
Total liabilities	13,627,415	13,442,148
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	358,410	367,666
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized; none issued
Common stock, $.01 par value per share, 300,000,000 shares authorized; 95,987,032 shares issued and 95,011,483 shares outstanding at December 31, 2013, and 92,925,715 shares issued and 91,950,166 shares outstanding at December 31, 2012	960	929
Additional paid-in capital	1,255,855	1,138,274
Treasury stock, at cost, 975,549 shares at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012	(6,678)	(6,678)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(67,505)	(145,310)
Retained earnings	1,885,195	1,743,992
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	3,067,827	2,731,207
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	63,643	65,314
Total equity	3,131,470	2,796,521
Total liabilities and equity	$ 17,117,295	$ 16,606,335