The attorneys fees awarded under loss contingency.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

The attorneys fees claimed by plaintiff under loss contingency.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	thc_LossContingencyAttorneysFeesClaimedByPlaintiff
Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of compensatory damages previously awarded to the plaintiff in the legal matter.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of punitive damages previously awarded to the plaintiff in the legal matter.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of punitive damages awarded to the plaintiff in the legal matter.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the multiplier applied to the compensatory award to arrive at the maximum amount of possible loss from punitive damage awards.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	thc_MultiplierOfAmountOfPunitiveAwardForCompensatoryAwards
Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the multiplier applied to a substantial compensatory award to arrive at the maximum amount of possible loss from punitive damage awards.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	thc_MultiplierOfAmountOfPunitiveAwardForSubstantialCompensatoryAwards
Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of hospitals for which agreement with DOJ on appropriate review methodology has not been reached by the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	thc_NumberOfHospitalsForWhichAgreementWithDOJOnAppropriateReviewMethodologyHasNotBeenReached
Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of hospitals for which review of billing practices has not been completed by clinical expert.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	thc_NumberOfHospitalsForWhichReviewOfBillingPracticesNotCompletedByClinicalExpert
Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of hospitals under governmental review.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	thc_NumberOfHospitalsUnderGovernmentalReview
Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of hospitals under Medicare claims review.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	thc_NumberOfHospitalsUnderMedicareClaimsReview
Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of hospitals under Medicare claims review not calculated estimate loss or range of loss.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	thc_NumberOfHospitalsUnderMedicareClaimsReviewNotCalculateEstimateRangeOfLoss
Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of hospitals which have received information requests.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	thc_NumberOfHospitalsWhichHaveReceivedInformationRequests
Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of persons identified in class certification process.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	thc_NumberOfPersonsIdentifiedInClassCertificationProcess
Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of persons in a class action lawsuits.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of expense provided in the period for legal costs incurred on or before the balance sheet date pertaining to resolved, pending or threatened litigation, including arbitration and mediation proceedings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the expenses incurred by the entity which are directly related and attributable to receiving an award in settlement of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the combined total of loss contingency liabilities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The estimated maximum amount of possible loss from the contingency.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14557-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

-Number 14

-Paragraph 3

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

The estimated minimum amount of possible loss from the contingency.

+ References

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

CLAIMS AND LAWSUITS (Details) (USD $)					1 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
CLAIMS AND LAWSUITS (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2013 Governmental Reviews	Sep. 30, 2010 Governmental Reviews hospital	Jul. 31, 2010 Governmental Reviews hospital	Mar. 31, 2010 Governmental Reviews hospital	Mar. 31, 2013 Governmental Reviews hospital	Sep. 30, 2012 Governmental Reviews hospital	May 31, 2012 Hospital-Related Tort Claim	Mar. 31, 2013 Hospital-Related Tort Claim multiplier	Dec. 31, 2011 Hospital-Related Tort Claim Discontinued operations	Mar. 31, 2013 Ordinary Course Matters person	Mar. 31, 2013 Ordinary Course Matters Minimum person
Loss Contingencies
Number of hospitals which have received information requests from the DOJ regarding Kyphoplasty billing procedures							6
Litigation reserve	$ 9,000,000	$ 10,000,000	$ 58,000,000	$ 66,000,000					$ 3,000,000				$ 6,000,000
Number of hospitals under governmental review									3
Number of hospitals under Medicare claims review						32		1
Number of hospitals under Medicare claims review not calculate estimate loss or range of loss										5
Number of hospitals for which review of billing practices not completed by clinical expert										3
Number of hospitals for which agreement with DOJ on appropriate review methodology has not been reached										2
Cash settlement payment					900,000
Probable range of loss, minimum												6,000,000
Probable range of loss, maximum												25,000,000
Attorneys' fees												1,000,000
Multiplier of amount of punitive awards for compensatory award												9
Multiplier of amount of punitive awards for substantial compensatory award												1
Previously awarded punitive damages												65,000,000
Previously awarded compensatory damages												2,400,000
Punitive damages awarded to plaintiff											5,000,000
Attorney's fees claimed												6,000,000
Attorney's fees awarded												$ 1,500,000
Number of persons in class action lawsuits															5,000
Number of persons identified in class certification process														8