Interim Statement Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Interim Statement Presentation	Interim Statement Presentation The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Cerner Corporation (we or the Company) without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in our latest annual report on Form 10-K. In management’s opinion, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Our interim results as presented in this Form 10-Q are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the entire year. The condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared using GAAP. These principles require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Our third fiscal quarter ends on the Saturday closest to September 30. The 2012 and 2011 third quarters ended on September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011, respectively. All references to years in these notes to condensed consolidated financial statements represent the respective three or nine months ended on such dates, unless otherwise noted. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Comprehensive Income. On January 1, 2012, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income. ASU 2011-05 requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in equity. These condensed consolidated financial statements include separate Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Goodwill Impairment. On January 1, 2012, we adopted FASB ASU 2011-08, Testing for Goodwill Impairment. ASU 2011-08 amends existing guidance by giving an entity the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying amount. The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent. If an entity determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test, as currently prescribed by FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 350. Otherwise, the two-step goodwill impairment test is not required. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Interim Statement Presentation

The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Cerner Corporation (we or the Company) without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in our latest annual report on Form 10-K.

In management’s opinion, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Our interim results as presented in this Form 10-Q are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the entire year.

The condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared using GAAP. These principles require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Our third fiscal quarter ends on the Saturday closest to September 30. The 2012 and 2011 third quarters ended on September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011, respectively. All references to years in these notes to condensed consolidated financial statements represent the respective three or nine months ended on such dates, unless otherwise noted.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Comprehensive Income. On January 1, 2012, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income. ASU 2011-05 requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in equity. These condensed consolidated financial statements include separate Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Goodwill Impairment. On January 1, 2012, we adopted FASB ASU 2011-08, Testing for Goodwill Impairment. ASU 2011-08 amends existing guidance by giving an entity the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying amount. The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent. If an entity determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test, as currently prescribed by FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 350. Otherwise, the two-step goodwill impairment test is not required. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements.