Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 472	$ 373	$ 359	$ 411
Accounts receivable, net	4,598	4,533
Inventories	1,052	1,054
Deferred income taxes	322	594
Other	828	679
Total current assets	7,272	7,233
Property and equipment, net	12,960	12,834
Investments of insurance subsidiaries	473	548
Investments in and advances to affiliates	103	101
Goodwill and other intangible assets	5,460	5,251
Deferred loan costs	266	290
Other	768	641
Total assets	27,302	26,898
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	1,585	1,597
Accrued salaries	1,027	965
Other accrued expenses	1,498	1,585
Long-term debt due within one year	1,751	1,407
Total current liabilities	5,861	5,554
Long-term debt	25,182	25,645
Professional liability risks	962	993
Income taxes and other liabilities	1,860	1,720
Total liabilities	33,865	33,912
Stockholders' (deficit) equity attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	(7,859)	(8,258)
Noncontrolling interests	1,296	1,244
Total stockholders' deficit	(6,563)	(7,014)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	27,302	26,898
HCA Holdings, Inc. Issuer [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents				6
Deferred income taxes	322	594
Other	14	50
Total current assets	336	644
Deferred loan costs	21	22
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	18,173	16,825
Other	552	450
Total assets	19,082	17,941
Current liabilities:
Other accrued expenses	44	15
Total current liabilities	44	15
Long-term debt	1,525	1,525
Intercompany balances	24,805	24,121
Income taxes and other liabilities	567	538
Total liabilities	26,941	26,199
Stockholders' (deficit) equity attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	(7,859)	(8,258)
Total stockholders' deficit	(7,859)	(8,258)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	19,082	17,941
HCA Inc. Issuer [Member]
Current assets:
Deferred loan costs	245	268
Total assets	245	268
Current liabilities:
Other accrued expenses	237	367
Long-term debt due within one year	1,686	1,347
Total current liabilities	1,923	1,714
Long-term debt	22,989	23,454
Intercompany balances	(11,642)	(12,814)
Income taxes and other liabilities	489	415
Total liabilities	13,759	12,769
Stockholders' (deficit) equity attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	(13,514)	(12,501)
Total stockholders' deficit	(13,514)	(12,501)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	245	268
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	149	115	95	156
Accounts receivable, net	2,392	2,429
Inventories	602	602
Other	368	184
Total current assets	3,511	3,330
Property and equipment, net	7,226	7,088
Investments in and advances to affiliates	16	15
Goodwill and other intangible assets	1,666	1,605
Other	29	21
Total assets	12,448	12,059
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	1,019	899
Accrued salaries	588	568
Other accrued expenses	453	449
Long-term debt due within one year	34	28
Total current liabilities	2,094	1,944
Long-term debt	151	110
Intercompany balances	(16,722)	(15,183)
Income taxes and other liabilities	568	556
Total liabilities	(13,909)	(12,573)
Stockholders' (deficit) equity attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	26,254	24,534
Noncontrolling interests	103	98
Total stockholders' deficit	26,357	24,632
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	12,448	12,059
Subsidiary Non-Guarantors [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	323	258	264	249
Accounts receivable, net	2,206	2,104
Inventories	450	452
Other	446	445
Total current assets	3,425	3,259
Property and equipment, net	5,734	5,746
Investments of insurance subsidiaries	473	548
Investments in and advances to affiliates	87	86
Goodwill and other intangible assets	3,794	3,646
Other	187	170
Total assets	13,700	13,455
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	566	698
Accrued salaries	439	397
Other accrued expenses	764	754
Long-term debt due within one year	31	32
Total current liabilities	1,800	1,881
Long-term debt	517	556
Intercompany balances	3,559	3,876
Professional liability risks	962	993
Income taxes and other liabilities	236	211
Total liabilities	7,074	7,517
Stockholders' (deficit) equity attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	5,433	4,792
Noncontrolling interests	1,193	1,146
Total stockholders' deficit	6,626	5,938
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	13,700	13,455
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	(18,173)	(16,825)
Total assets	(18,173)	(16,825)
Current liabilities:
Stockholders' (deficit) equity attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc.	(18,173)	(16,825)
Total stockholders' deficit	(18,173)	(16,825)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	$ (18,173)	$ (16,825)