Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Narrative) (Details)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018 item
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Abstract]
Percentage of owned domestic subsidiaries which guaranteed senior notes	100.00%
Number of hospitals jointly owned with non-profit health organizations	3

The percentage ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted through consolidation for a domestic subsidiaries that guarantee on a senior basis the notes.

No definition available.

Name:	cyh_PercentageOwnershipOfDomesticSubsidiariesThatGuaranteeNotes
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration