GUARANTEES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Income and Revenue Collection Guarantee
Guarantee Obligations
Maximum potential amount of future payments under guarantees	$ 104
Liability for the fair value of guarantees	76
Guaranteed Minimum Rent
Guarantee Obligations
Maximum potential amount of future payments under guarantees	2
Liability for the fair value of guarantees	2
Guarantee obligations for recorded liabilities, current	1
Guarantee obligations for recorded liabilities, long term	$ 1

The carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees excluding current portion.

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	thc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The current carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of guarantee, including, but not limited to, financial standby letter of credit, fair value guarantee, guarantee of collection of scheduled contractual cash flows from financial assets, and contracts that contingently require the guarantor to make payments or perform services.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12201-110248

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant