SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 item	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 segment
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Number of reportable segments					1
Number of hospitals owned by subsidiaries			49
Number of licensed beds in hospitals operated by subsidiaries			13,216
Number of free-standing and provider-based diagnostic imaging centers and ambulatory surgery centers operated by subsidiaries			112
Number of Tenet and non-Tenet Hospitals and other health care organizations to which Conifer provided revenue cycle services			400
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Assets	$ 8,470		$ 8,470		$ 8,462
Capital expenditures:	108	100	360	298
Net operating revenues:
Total	2,221	2,100	6,788	6,482
Intercompany eliminations	(94)	(68)	(274)	(192)
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA	269	192	867	838
Depreciation and amortization	110	100	314	298
Adjusted segments supplemental EBITDA	269	192	867	838
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA	269	192	867	838
Depreciation and amortization	(110)	(100)	(314)	(298)
Interest expense	(103)	(59)	(303)	(275)
Litigation and Investigation Costs	0	(5)	(3)	(24)
Impairment of long-lived assets	(6)	(8)	(12)	(18)
Investment earnings	1	1	2	3
Income before income taxes	51	21	237	226
Hospital Operations and other
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Assets	8,381		8,381		8,389
Capital expenditures:	105	98	352	289
Net operating revenues:
Total	2,193	2,076	6,725	6,425
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA	245	180	793	812
Depreciation and amortization	108	98	307	292
Adjusted segments supplemental EBITDA	260	180	840	812
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA	245	180	793	812
Depreciation and amortization	(108)	(98)	(307)	(292)
Conifer
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Assets	89		89		73
Capital expenditures:	3	2	8	9
Net operating revenues:
Tenet	94	68	274	192
Other customers	28	24	63	57
Conifer Total	2,315	2,168	7,062	6,674
Adjusted EBITDA
Conifer	24	12	74	26
Depreciation and amortization	2	2	7	6
Adjusted segments supplemental EBITDA	9	12	27	26
Adjusted EBITDA
Depreciation and amortization	$ (2)	$ (2)	$ (7)	$ (6)