New Accounting Pronouncements New Accounting Pronouncements (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]
ASC Update No. 2017-10, Service Concession Arrangements (Topic 853): Determining the Customer of the Operation Services (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force) [Policy Text Block]	ASC Update No. 2017-10 In May 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-10, Service Concession Arrangements (Topic 853): Determining the Customer of the Operation Services (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). The purpose of Update No. 2017-10 is to address the diversity in practice as to how an operating entity determines the customer of the operation services in a service concession agreement. Update No. 2017-10 is effective the same time as Topic 606 and requires the same transition method elected for Topic 606. The adoption of Update No. 2017-10 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
ASC Update No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities [Policy Text Block]	ASC Update No. 2017-12 In August 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The purpose of Update No. 2017-12 is to simplify the application of hedge accounting and better align financial reporting of hedging relationships with risk management objectives. Update No. 2017-12 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The adoption of Update No. 2017-12 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
ASC Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) [Policy Text Block]	SC Update No. 2014-09 In May 2014, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which has been subsequently updated. The purpose of Update No. 2014-09 is to provide enhancements to the quality and consistency of how revenue is reported while also improving comparability in the financial statements of companies using U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The core principle requires entities to recognize revenue in a manner that depicts the transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration an entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Topic 606, as amended, becomes effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, at which point we will adopt the standard. We plan to adopt the standard using the modified retrospective method. Under that method, we will apply the rules to contracts that are not completed as of January 1, 2018, and recognize the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. We have reached conclusions on our accounting assessments related to the standard and finalized updates to our accounting policies, processes and controls. We expect to record a net reduction to opening retained earnings of approximately $200 million upon adoption of Topic 606 in January 2018, primarily related to the establishment of a liability for certain non-contractual promises that were deemed implied performance obligations under Topic 606. We are in the process of finalizing the adoption adjustment calculations. The adoption of Topic 606 is expected to have an immaterial impact on our 2018 results of operations. The timing of revenue recognition for our primary revenue stream, single use medical devices, will not materially change. However, Topic 606 will impact the timing of certain expense recognition. We will be required to record certain selling, general and administrative expenses associated with the aforementioned non-contractual promises earlier than under existing GAAP. In the fourth quarter of 2017, we performed a simulation of our new accounting processes and procedures to prepare our team for the month-end close process upon adoption of Topic 606. In addition, we completed our assessment of new disclosure requirements. Upon adoption of Topic 606, we will provide additional disclosures in the notes to the consolidated financial statements, specifically related to disaggregated revenue, contract balances and performance obligations. We designed new internal controls that will be implemented in the first quarter of 2018 to address risks associated with applying the five-step model, specifically related to judgments made in connection to variable consideration and applying the constraint. Additionally, we established monitoring controls to identify new sales arrangements and changes in our business environment that could impact our current accounting assessment.
ASC Update No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities [Policy Text Block]	ASC Update No. 2016-01 In January 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The purpose of Update No. 2016-01 is to improve financial reporting for financial instruments by reducing the number of items recorded to other comprehensive income. It requires entities to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value with changes recognized in net income. However, an entity may choose to measure equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. It simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment. It also requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset and liability. Update No. 2016-01 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. Upon adoption in 2018, a cumulative effect adjustment will be recorded to retained earnings for any unrealized gains and losses for available-for-sale securities previously recorded to AOCI. This adjustment will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations. We are unable to estimate the future impact resulting from fair value changes of our equity investments as it will depend on their future performance.
ASC Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) [Policy Text Block]	ASC Update No. 2016-02 In February 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The purpose of Update No. 2016-02 is to increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet, including those previously classified as operating leases under current U.S. GAAP and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Update No. 2016-02 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted and a modified retrospective approach is required for adoption. While we are still in the process of determining the effect that the new standard will have on our financial position and results of operations, we expect to recognize additional assets and corresponding liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets, as a result of our operating lease portfolio as it exists at the date we adopt the new standard. Please refer to Note F - Leases and Other Purchase Obligations for information regarding our current lease activity. Additionally, we are in the process of updating our systems, controls and procedures for maintaining and accounting for our lease portfolio under the new standard. As a result, we anticipate adopting the new standard on January 1, 2019.
ASC Update No. 2016-09, Compensation- Stock Compensation (Topic 718) [Policy Text Block]	ASC Update No. 2016-09 In March 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The purpose of Update No. 2016-09 is to simplify accounting for share-based payment transactions, such as, the accounting for income taxes, statutory tax withholding requirements, forfeitures and statements of cash flows presentation. Update No. 2016-09 was effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those annual periods. We adopted Update No. 2016-09 prospectively in the first quarter of 2017 and, as such, no prior periods were adjusted. We previously recorded income tax benefits or deficiencies to additional paid-in capital; however, Update No. 2016-09 requires that all tax benefits or deficiencies be recorded to the provision for income taxes. In 2017, we recorded an income tax benefit of $38 million associated with Update No. 2016-09. The actual impact to future periods will depend on the price of our stock, number of stock options exercised and other factors that are difficult to predict, due to the adoption of Update No. 2016-09. In 2017, a cumulative effect adjustment of $86 million was recorded to retained earnings upon adoption for windfall tax benefits not previously recognized.
ASC Update No. 2016-13 [Policy Text Block]	ASC Update No. 2016-13 In June 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The purpose of Update No. 2016-13 is to replace the current incurred loss impairment methodology for financial assets measured at amortized cost with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information, including forecasted information, to develop credit loss estimates. Update No. 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption will have on our financial position and results of operations.
ASC Update No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows [Policy Text Block]	ASC Update No. 2016-15 In August 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The purpose of Update No. 2016-15 is to reduce the diversity in practice in presentation and classification of the following items within the statement of cash flows: debt prepayments or debt extinguishment costs, settlement of zero coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, distributions received from equity method investments and beneficial interests in securitization transactions. It also addresses classification of transactions that have characteristics of more than one class of cash flows. Update No. 2016-15 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and a retrospective transition method is required. We early adopted the standard in the fourth quarter of 2017. The adoption increased our 2015 cash provided by operating activities by approximately $45 million with a corresponding decrease in our cash provided by financing activities related to classification of debt repayment costs incurred in connection with our 2015 debt financing activities. The adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated statements of cash flows for 2016 or 2017.
ASU Update No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory [Policy Text Block]	ASC Update No. 2016-16 In October 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. The purpose of Update No. 2016-16 is to allow an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs, as opposed to waiting until the asset is sold to a third party, or impaired. Update No. 2016-16 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual period for which financial statements have not been issued or made available for issuance. Upon adoption in 2018, a cumulative effect adjustment will be recorded to retained earnings for income tax consequences not previously recognized for intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventories. All future income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventories will be recognized through income tax expense. The adoption of Update No. 2016-16 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
ASC Update No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash [Policy Text Block]	ASC Update No. 2016-18 In November 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. The purpose of Update No. 2016-18 is to clarify guidance and presentation related to restricted cash in the consolidated statements of cash flows as well as increased disclosure requirements. It requires beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statements of cash flows to include cash and cash equivalents as well as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Update No. 2016-18 was effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those annual periods. We early adopted Update No. 2016-18 in 2017 and retrospectively applied the guidance to our consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. As a result of adopting Update No. 2016-18, our cash provided by operating activities increased by $537 million for 2017, $210 million for 2016 and $46 million for 2015.
ASC Update No. 2016-19, Technical Corrections and Improvements [Policy Text Block]	ASC Update No. 2016-19 In December 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-19, Technical Corrections and Improvements. The purpose of Update No. 2016-19 is to clarify or correct unintended applications of guidance that affect a wide variety of topics in the ASC. Most of the amendments in this Update did not require transition guidance and were effective immediately. Six amendments in this update clarified guidance or corrected references in the ASC and were effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within these annual periods. We adopted these amendments in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of Update No. 2016-19 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
ASC Update No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business [Policy Text Block]	ASC Update No. 2017-01 In January 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The purpose of Update No. 2017-01 is to change the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. Update No. 2017-01 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual or interim period for which financial statements have not been issued or made available for issuance. The adoption of Update No. 2017-01 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
ASC Update No. 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting [Policy Text Block]	ASC Update No. 2017-09 In May 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. The purpose of Update No. 2017-09 is to provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. Update No. 2017-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual or interim period for which financial statements have not been issued or made available for issuance. The adoption of Update No. 2017-09 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
ASC Update No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other Topics (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. [Policy Text Block]	ASC Update No. 2017-04 In January 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other Topics (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The purpose of Update No. 2017-04 is to reduce the cost and complexity of evaluating goodwill for impairment. It eliminates the need for entities to calculate the impaired fair value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. Under this amendment, an entity will perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit's fair value. We elected to early adopt Update No. 2017-04 prospectively in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of Update No. 2017-04 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
ASC Update No. 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost [Policy Text Block]	ASC Update No. 2017-07 In March 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The purpose of Update No. 2017-07 is to improve the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost. Update No. 2017-07 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. That is, early adoption should be within the first interim period if an employer issues interim financial statements. We early adopted Update No. 2017-07 for the year ended December 31, 2017 and retrospectively applied the guidance to the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. Update No. 2017-07 impacted our 2015 consolidated statement of operations and required the reclassification of $44 million of pension termination charges from Operating expenses to Other, net. Update No 2017-07 did not have a material impact on our financial position or consolidated statement of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.