Acquisitions and Dispositions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended									2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended														12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 American Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 American Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 American Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 National Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 National Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 National Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 HealthONE [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 HealthONE [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 HealthONE [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 HealthONE [Member] Hospitals [Member] Hospital	Dec. 31, 2013 HealthONE [Member] Freestanding Surgery Centers [Member] Hospital	Dec. 31, 2013 Outsource Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Hospitals [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Hospitals [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Hospitals [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Hospitals [Member] American Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Hospitals [Member] National Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other Healthcare Entity [Member] Hospital	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Healthcare Entity [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Healthcare Entity [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Real Estate [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Equity interest, ownership percentage by parent																				40.00%
Purchase price of acquisition																				$ 1,450
Number of acquired businesses																					7	12
Fair value of identifiable net assets of acquired entities											2,261																					265	232	68
Gain on acquisition of business											1,522
Increase in noncontrolling interests on business acquisition																			30
Decrease in property and equipment on business acquisition																			26
Increase in goodwill on business acquisition																			56
Expected tax deductible on the amount of goodwill related to acquisition																			981
Revenues	8,836	8,456	8,450	8,440	8,434	8,062	8,112	8,405	34,182	33,013	29,682	16,487	16,115	13,714	15,968	15,505	14,741	347
Net income	424	365	423	344	314	360	391	540	1,556	1,605	2,465							15
Cash paid for acquisition																							277	146	58	136			57	200	96
Payment to acquire goodwill																		2,317					183	58
Payment to acquire intangible assets																							113
Number of hospitals acquired																													3
Liability assumed on acquisition																									33
Pretax gain (loss) on sales of business																											(10)	142							15
Proceeds from sale of business																											33	281							30
Gain (loss) on sale of business after tax																											$ (7)	$ 80							$ 9