Recent Accounting Standards (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Recent Accounting Standards [Abstract]
Charity care and uninsured discounts based on established rates	$ 246	$ 233	$ 708	$ 599
Estimated costs of providing charity services	$ 44	$ 46	$ 127	$ 118

The amount of charity care provided during the period based on the provider's direct and indirect costs of providing charity care services.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-SubTopic 605

-Topic 954

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6963661&loc=d3e8255-115641

Name:	us-gaap_CharityCareDirectAndIndirectCostBasisAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration