CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net operating revenues	$ 4,520	$ 4,545
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	28	34
Operating expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits	2,187	2,151
Supplies	763	741
Other operating expenses, net	1,013	1,065
Depreciation and amortization	203	208
Impairment and restructuring charges, and acquisition-related costs	55	19
Litigation and investigation costs	2	13
Net losses (gains) on sales, consolidation and deconsolidation of facilities	(2)	1
Operating income	327	381
Interest expense	(243)	(251)
Other non-operating income, net	1	1
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	0	(47)
Income from continuing operations, before income taxes	85	84
Income tax benefit (expense)	75	(20)
Income from continuing operations, before discontinued operations	160	64
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from operations	(1)	10
Income tax expense	0	(2)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1)	8
Net income	159	72
Less: Net income available to noncontrolling interests	66	84
Net income available (loss attributable) to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders	93	(12)
Amounts available (attributable) to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	94	(20)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1)	8
Net income available (loss attributable) to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders	$ 93	$ (12)
Basic
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.90	$ (0.19)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.01)	0.08
Total loss per share, Basic (in dollars per share)	0.89	(0.11)
Diluted
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.89	(0.19)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.01)	0.08
Total loss per share, Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.88	$ (0.11)
Weighted average shares and dilutive securities outstanding (in thousands):
Basic (in shares)	104,353	102,788
Diluted (in shares)	105,733	102,788