Acquisitions and Divestitures (Schedule of Divestitures) (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 item
Highlands Regional Medical Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	126
Effective Date	Nov. 01, 2017
Merit Health Northwest Mississippi [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	181
Effective Date	Nov. 01, 2017
Weatherford Regional Medical Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	103
Effective Date	Oct. 01, 2017
Brandywine Hospital [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	169
Effective Date	Oct. 01, 2017
Chestnut Hill Hospital [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	148
Effective Date	Oct. 01, 2017
Jennersville Hospital [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	63
Effective Date	Oct. 01, 2017
Phoenixville Hospital [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	151
Effective Date	Oct. 01, 2017
Pottstown Memorial Medical Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	232
Effective Date	Oct. 01, 2017
Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	214
Effective Date	Sep. 01, 2017
Toppenish Community Hospital [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	63
Effective Date	Sep. 01, 2017
Memorial Hospital of York [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	100
Effective Date	Jul. 01, 2017
Lancaster Regional Medical Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	214
Effective Date	Jul. 01, 2017
Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	148
Effective Date	Jul. 01, 2017
Carlisle Regional Medical Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	165
Effective Date	Jul. 01, 2017
Tomball Regional Medical Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	350
Effective Date	Jul. 01, 2017
South Texas Regional Medical Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	67
Effective Date	Jul. 01, 2017
Deaconess Hospital [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	388
Effective Date	Jul. 01, 2017
Valley Hospital [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	123
Effective Date	Jul. 01, 2017
Lake Area Medical Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	88
Effective Date	Jun. 30, 2017
Easton Hospital [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	196
Effective Date	May 01, 2017
Sharon Regional Health System [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	258
Effective Date	May 01, 2017
Northside Medical Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	355
Effective Date	May 01, 2017
Trumbull Memorial Hospital [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	311
Effective Date	May 01, 2017
Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	69
Effective Date	May 01, 2017
Wuesthoff Health System - Rockledge [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	298
Effective Date	May 01, 2017
Wuesthoff Health System - Melbourne [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	119
Effective Date	May 01, 2017
Sebastian River Medical Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	154
Effective Date	May 01, 2017
Stringfellow Memorial Hospital [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	125
Effective Date	May 01, 2017
Merit Health Gilmore Memorial [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	95
Effective Date	May 01, 2017
Merit Health Batesville [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	112
Effective Date	May 01, 2017