Acquisitions and Divestitures (Schedule of Divestitures) (Details) - item	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Sparks Regional Medical Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	492
Effective Date	Nov. 01, 2018
Sparks Medical Center - Van Buren [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	103
Effective Date	Nov. 01, 2018
AllianceHealth Deaconess [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	238
Effective Date	Oct. 01, 2018
Munroe Regional Medical Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	425
Effective Date	Aug. 01, 2018
Tennova-Dyersburg Regional [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	225
Effective Date	Jun. 01, 2018
Tennova-Regional Jackson [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	150
Effective Date	Jun. 01, 2018
Tennova- Volunteer Martin [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	100
Effective Date	Jun. 01, 2018
Williamson Memorial Hospital [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	76
Effective Date	Jun. 01, 2018
Byrd Regional Hospital [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	60
Effective Date	Jun. 01, 2018
Tennova Healthcare - Jamestown [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	85
Effective Date	Jun. 01, 2018
Bayfront Health Dade City [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds	120
Effective Date	Apr. 01, 2018
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
Washington and 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
Alliance Health Blackwell [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds			53
Effective Date			Sep. 03, 2016
Lehigh Regional 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			Feb. 01, 2016
Bartow Regional Medical Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds			72
Effective Date			Jan. 01, 2016