Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Increase in number of shares to diluted shares calculation if income from continuing operations would have been generated	73,361	78,773

Increase in number of shares to diluted shares calculation if income from continuing operations would have been generated

No definition available.

Name:	cyh_IncreaseInNumberOfSharesToDilutedSharesCalculationIfIncomeFromContinuingOperationsWouldHaveBeenGenerated
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration