Segment Reporting (Schedule Of Financial Information By Operating Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Gross inpatient revenues	$ 17,554,869	$ 13,456,537	$ 11,976,173
Gross outpatient revenues	6,291,445	5,170,507	4,445,253
Total net revenues	7,500,198	5,568,185	5,202,379
Income (loss) before income taxes	696,336	428,097	474,722
Total assets	7,665,245	7,527,936	3,964,463
Acute Care Hospital Services [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Gross inpatient revenues	12,025,664	10,890,171	9,901,032
Gross outpatient revenues	5,629,420	4,771,070	4,100,427
Total net revenues	4,071,570	3,901,815	3,810,828
Income (loss) before income taxes	351,917	363,427	386,208
Total assets	2,852,549	2,755,697	2,748,175
Behavioral Health Services [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Gross inpatient revenues	5,529,205	2,566,366	2,075,141
Gross outpatient revenues	608,785	350,192	282,473
Total net revenues	3,401,118	1,635,455	1,315,029
Income (loss) before income taxes	732,674	353,203	281,541
Total assets	4,383,432	4,360,710	998,508
Other [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Gross outpatient revenues	53,240	49,245	62,353
Total net revenues	27,510	30,915	76,522
Income (loss) before income taxes	(388,255)	(288,533)	(193,027)
Total assets	$ 429,264	$ 411,529	$ 217,780