Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Increase in number of shares to diluted shares calculation if income would have been generated	59,261	73,361

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