Segment Reporting (Schedule Of Financial Information By Operating Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010		Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Gross inpatient revenues	$ 4,262,510	$ 3,238,232		$ 13,293,743	$ 9,745,087
Gross outpatient revenues	1,597,152	1,337,162		4,717,212	3,809,330
Total net revenues	1,848,662	1,323,264		5,661,424	4,008,732
Income/(loss) before income taxes	147,076	93,206		533,501	338,849
Total assets as of 9/30/11	7,605,931	4,267,714	[1]	7,605,931	4,267,714	[1]
Restricted cash related to bond issuance held in escrow pending completion of PSI acquisition				0	256,972
Acute Care Hospital Services [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Gross inpatient revenues	2,888,527	2,687,619		9,123,916	8,095,552
Gross outpatient revenues	1,435,706	1,246,661		4,220,883	3,535,220
Total net revenues	996,213	965,807		3,083,530	2,929,128
Income/(loss) before income taxes	57,027	65,746		275,156	262,404
Total assets as of 9/30/11	2,797,029	2,739,577	[1]	2,797,029	2,739,577	[1]
Behavioral Health Services [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Gross inpatient revenues	1,373,983	550,613		4,169,827	1,649,535
Gross outpatient revenues	147,904	78,354		455,247	238,318
Total net revenues	847,418	350,728		2,560,975	1,056,918
Income/(loss) before income taxes	184,305	77,969		559,683	241,942
Total assets as of 9/30/11	4,421,040	1,006,141	[1]	4,421,040	1,006,141	[1]
Other [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Gross outpatient revenues	13,542	12,147		41,082	35,792
Total net revenues	5,031	6,729		16,919	22,686
Income/(loss) before income taxes	(94,256)	(50,509)		(301,338)	(165,497)
Total assets as of 9/30/11	$ 387,862	$ 521,996	[1]	$ 387,862	$ 521,996	[1]

[1] Included in "Other" Total assets as of September 30, 2010 is $256 million of restricted use cash which was used in the acquisition of Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. ("PSI") in November, 2010.