EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
Loss to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders for basic earnings per share	$ (86)	$ 57
Effect of dilutive stock options, and restricted stock units (in Weighted Average Shares)	104,103	102,843
Loss to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common (Per-Share)	$ (0.83)	$ 0.55
Effect of dilutive stock options, restricted stock units and mandatory convertible preferred stock	0	6
Effect of dilutive stock options, restricted stock units and mandatory convertible preferred stock (in Weighted Average Shares)	0	18,375
Effect of dilutive stock options, restricted stock units and mandatory convertible preferred stock (Per-Share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)
Income available to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders for diluted earnings per share, Income	$ (86)	$ 63
Income available to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders for diluted earnings per share (in Weighted Average Shares)	104,103	121,218
Income available to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders for diluted earnings per share (Per-Share)	$ (0.83)	$ 0.52
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	1,472	3,829