Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 1,579	$ 800
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(2,923)	(2,336)
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,666	2,164
Depreciation and amortization	1,254	1,078
Income taxes	250	348
Losses (gains) on sales of facilities	(4)	3
Losses on retirement of debt		481
Amortization of deferred loan costs	44	56
Share-based compensation	39	24
Pay-in-kind interest		(78)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(26)	(217)
Other	7	6
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	2,912	2,546
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(1,268)	(1,170)
Acquisition of hospitals and health care entities	(167)	(209)
Disposition of hospitals and health care entities	17	55
Change in investments	73	80
Other	5	4
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,340)	(1,240)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of long-term debt	1,350	5,000
Net change in revolving bank credit facilities	(875)	(414)
Repayment of long-term debt	(689)	(6,583)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(303)	(281)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(20)	(84)
Issuances of common stock		2,506
Repurchase of common stock		(1,503)
Distributions to stockholders	(983)	(31)
Income tax benefits	82	54
Other	(35)	(22)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,473)	(1,358)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	99	(52)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	373	411
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	472	359
HCA Holdings, Inc. Issuer [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	1,291	530
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	30	34
Income taxes	250	348
Amortization of deferred loan costs	1
Share-based compensation	39	24
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(1,348)	(581)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	263	355
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	675	(1,358)
Issuances of common stock		2,506
Repurchase of common stock		(1,503)
Distributions to stockholders	(983)	(31)
Income tax benefits	82	54
Other	(37)	(29)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(263)	(361)
Change in cash and cash equivalents		(6)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		6
HCA Inc. Issuer [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(1,013)	(1,820)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(131)	(61)
Losses on retirement of debt		481
Amortization of deferred loan costs	43	56
Pay-in-kind interest		(78)
Other	11	7
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(1,090)	(1,415)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of long-term debt	1,350	5,000
Net change in revolving bank credit facilities	(875)	(414)
Repayment of long-term debt	(604)	(6,529)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	1,239	3,442
Payment of debt issuance costs	(20)	(84)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	1,090	1,415
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	1,771	1,869
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(1,475)	(1,442)
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,505	1,298
Depreciation and amortization	614	582
Losses (gains) on sales of facilities	3	18
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(4)	84
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	2,418	2,325
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(685)	(594)
Acquisition of hospitals and health care entities	(72)	(136)
Disposition of hospitals and health care entities	1	1
Change in investments	(9)	31
Other	(1)
Net cash used in investing activities	(766)	(698)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of long-term debt	(16)	(8)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(46)	(55)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	(1,556)	(1,625)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,618)	(1,688)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	34	(61)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	115	156
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	149	95
Subsidiary Non-Guarantors [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	878	802
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(1,347)	(867)
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,161	866
Depreciation and amortization	640	496
Losses (gains) on sales of facilities	(7)	(15)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(22)	133
Other	(4)	(1)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	1,321	1,281
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(583)	(576)
Acquisition of hospitals and health care entities	(95)	(73)
Disposition of hospitals and health care entities	16	54
Change in investments	82	49
Other	6	4
Net cash used in investing activities	(574)	(542)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of long-term debt	(69)	(46)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(257)	(226)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	(358)	(459)
Other	2	7
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(682)	(724)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	65	15
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	258	249
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	323	264
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(1,348)	(581)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity in earnings of affiliates	$ 1,348	$ 581