SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 item segment	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
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	117
Number of Tenet and non-Tenet Hospitals and other health care organizations to which Conifer provided revenue cycle services	600
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Assets	$ 9,044	$ 8,462	$ 8,500
Capital expenditures:	508	475	476
Net operating revenues:
Total	9,119	8,654	8,265
Intercompany eliminations	(371)	(261)	(206)
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA	1,203	1,126	1,036
Depreciation and amortization	430	398	380
Adjusted supplemental EBITDA	1,203	1,126	1,036
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA	1,203	1,126	1,036
Depreciation and amortization	(430)	(398)	(380)
Interest expense	(412)	(375)	(424)
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	(4)	(117)	(57)
Litigation and Investigation Costs	(5)	(55)	(12)
Impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, and restructuring charges, net	(19)	(20)	(10)
Investment earnings	1	3	5
Income before income taxes	334	164	158
Hospital Operations and other
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Assets	8,825	8,389	8,437
Capital expenditures:	495	461	465
Net operating revenues:
Total	9,002	8,575	8,216
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA	1,098	1,083	1,021
Depreciation and amortization	420	389	372
Adjusted supplemental EBITDA	1,167	1,083	1,021
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA	1,098	1,083	1,021
Depreciation and amortization	(420)	(389)	(372)
Conifer
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Assets	219	73	63
Capital expenditures:	13	14	11
Net operating revenues:
Tenet	371	261	206
Other customers	117	79	49
Conifer Total	9,490	8,915	8,471
Adjusted EBITDA
Conifer	105	43	15
Depreciation and amortization	10	9	8
Adjusted supplemental EBITDA	36	43	15
Adjusted EBITDA
Depreciation and amortization	$ (10)	$ (9)	$ (8)