Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ 773	$ 1,137	$ 921
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related businesses	(6)	(123)	(57)
Purchases of property and equipment	(564)	(744)	(953)
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations	1,692	143	155
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	7	15	15
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(125)	(505)	(162)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	208	464	156
Proceeds from sale of investments in unconsolidated affiliates		403
Distribution from Quorum Health Corporation		1,219
Increase in other investments	(143)	(242)	(205)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	1,069	630	(1,051)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			25
Repurchase of restricted stock shares for payroll tax withholding requirements	(5)	(6)	(20)
Stock buy-back			(159)
Deferred financing costs and other debt-related costs	(66)	(26)	(30)
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	5		47
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures	(6)	(19)	(36)
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	(100)	(92)	(100)
Proceeds from sale-lease back		159
Borrowings under credit agreements	841	4,879	4,922
Issuance of long-term debt	3,100
Proceeds from receivables facility	105	107	206
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(5,391)	(6,715)	(5,050)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,517)	(1,713)	(195)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	325	54	(325)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	238	184	509
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	563	238	184
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(12)	14	(25)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			25
Repurchase of restricted stock shares for payroll tax withholding requirements	(5)	(6)	(20)
Stock buy-back			(159)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	17	(8)	179
Net cash used in financing activities	12	(14)	25
Issuer [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(317)	(335)	159
Cash flows from investing activities:
Distribution from Quorum Health Corporation		1,219
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		1,219
Cash flows from financing activities:
Deferred financing costs and other debt-related costs	(65)	(26)	(30)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	1,566	801	(181)
Borrowings under credit agreements	795	4,848	4,880
Issuance of long-term debt	3,100
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(5,079)	(6,507)	(4,828)
Net cash used in financing activities	317	(884)	(159)
Other Guarantor [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	750	1,218	349
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related businesses	(1)	(3)	(21)
Purchases of property and equipment	(365)	(474)	(600)
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations	596	16	21
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	4	6	6
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(91)	(263)	(53)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	154	218	46
Proceeds from sale of investments in unconsolidated affiliates		403
Increase in other investments	(106)	(156)	(143)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	191	(253)	(744)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	(575)	(925)	89
Proceeds from sale-lease back		147
Borrowings under credit agreements	30	28	34
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(73)	(64)	(77)
Net cash used in financing activities	(618)	(814)	46
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	323	151	(349)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	174	23	372
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	497	174	23
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	352	240	438
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related businesses	(5)	(120)	(36)
Purchases of property and equipment	(199)	(270)	(353)
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations	1,096	127	134
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	3	9	9
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(34)	(242)	(109)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	54	246	110
Increase in other investments	(37)	(86)	(62)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	878	(336)	(307)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Deferred financing costs and other debt-related costs	(1)
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	5		47
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures	(6)	(19)	(36)
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	(100)	(92)	(100)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	(1,008)	132	(87)
Proceeds from sale-lease back		12
Borrowings under credit agreements	16	3	8
Proceeds from receivables facility	105	107	206
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(239)	(144)	(145)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,228)	(1)	(107)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	2	(97)	24
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	64	161	137
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 66	$ 64	$ 161