Community Health Systems, Inc.
One of the largest for-profit hospital chains in the United States, operating dozens of hospitals across the Southeast and Sun Belt from Franklin, Tennessee.
Company Type
public
Founded
1986
Headquarters
Franklin, Tennessee, USA
Stock
New York Stock Exchange: CYH
Revenue
Approximately $12.6 billion (FY2025)
Employees
Approximately 52,500
Primary Market
United States
Shop Community Health Systems, Inc. Brands
Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
About Community Health Systems, Inc.
What does Community Health Systems own?
CHS owns dozens of acute-care hospitals plus affiliated physician practices and outpatient facilities, concentrated in the Southeast and Sun Belt.
Is Community Health Systems publicly traded?
Yes. It trades on the NYSE under ticker CYH.
Was CHS the largest hospital chain?
Yes. At its 2014 peak after the HMA acquisition it operated roughly 200 hospitals, the largest count of any US operator, before divesting most of them.
Who founded CHS?
E. Thomas Chaney founded the company in Tennessee in 1986.
Who is the CEO?
Kevin Hammons, formerly CFO, became CEO in January 2025; Wayne T. Smith remains executive chairman.
How much revenue does CHS generate?
Approximately $12.6 billion annually.
Where is CHS headquartered?
Franklin, Tennessee, USA.
History of Community Health Systems, Inc.
E. Thomas Chaney founded the company in Brentwood, Tennessee in 1986 to buy and operate small-town hospitals, rolling up rural and suburban facilities into a chain during the 1990s.
The 2000s brought megadeals: the 2007 acquisition of Triad Hospitals for $6.8 billion roughly doubled the company, and the 2014 acquisition of Health Management Associates for $7.6 billion made it the largest hospital operator in the country by facility count.
Debt and rural-market deterioration forced the long unwind: divesting more than 100 hospitals across the 2015-2025 period, including spinning off Quorum Health as a separate public company in 2016.
Wayne Smith, who had led the company since 1997 and drove the acquisition era, handed the CEO role to Hammons in early 2025 while remaining executive chairman, managing the transition to a smaller, cleaner balance-sheet story.
Community Health Systems, Inc. Sustainability & Ethics
The company publishes reporting on quality metrics, workforce, and community benefit obligations across its facilities.
Hospital pricing and billing practices in small markets with limited competition draw periodic regulatory and press scrutiny.
Controversy, Regulation & Public Scrutiny
Billing and pricing scrutiny: For-profit rural hospital pricing and surprise-billing practices have drawn investigations and litigation over the years.
Debt restructuring history: The massive acquisition-era debt load produced years of leveraged-balance-sheet risk and divestiture pressure.
Hospital closure criticism: Divestitures and service reductions in small communities periodically draw local political criticism over access.
Brands Owned by Community Health Systems, Inc.
Community Health Systems, Inc. owns 1 brand in our database. Explore the ownership tree below — click categories to expand and see individual brands.
Community Health Systems, Inc.
public · Founded 1986 · Franklin, Tennessee, USA
1
brands
Stock Information
Community Health Systems, Inc. Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Dominant positions in small and mid-size markets
- +Essential-service demand regardless of cycles
- +Divestiture program improving the balance sheet
- +Leaner portfolio focused on profitable markets
- +New CEO with finance discipline and continuity
Considerations
- -Heavy legacy debt load remains a structural burden
- -Rural payer mix skews toward lower-margin government pay
- -Medicaid and Medicare rate sensitivity
- -Labor cost and staffing pressure in hospital operations
- -Limited pricing power where hospitals have closed or consolidated
Frequently Asked Questions About Community Health Systems, Inc.
What does Community Health Systems own?
CHS owns dozens of acute-care hospitals plus affiliated physician practices and outpatient facilities, concentrated in the Southeast and Sun Belt.
Is Community Health Systems publicly traded?
Yes. It trades on the NYSE under ticker CYH.
Was CHS the largest hospital chain?
Yes. At its 2014 peak after the HMA acquisition it operated roughly 200 hospitals, the largest count of any US operator, before divesting most of them.
Who founded CHS?
E. Thomas Chaney founded the company in Tennessee in 1986.
Who is the CEO?
Kevin Hammons, formerly CFO, became CEO in January 2025; Wayne T. Smith remains executive chairman.
How much revenue does CHS generate?
Approximately $12.6 billion annually.
Where is CHS headquartered?
Franklin, Tennessee, USA.
Sources & Further Reading
Jobs at Community Health Systems, Inc.
Latest News About Community Health Systems, Inc.
Related Articles About Community Health Systems, Inc.
View more articles
Monthly IPO Roundup: November 2026 -- October's Biggest Listings
October 2026 IPOs: Jio Platforms set India's all-time record at $3.2B and surged 27%, GCash owner Mynt raised a Philippine-record P60.9B, Anthropic filed publicly for a possible mid-November debut, and U.S. listings were a biotech grab bag. Full recap.
Monthly M&A Roundup: October 2026 Brand Ownership Changes
October 2026's biggest deals: Paramount Skydance closed its $110B Warner Bros. Discovery takeover, Salesforce signed Braze for $5.66B, Proofpoint bought Varonis for $6.3B, the Weston family agreed to buy Boots for $8.9B, and Viatris added Pacira for $1.65B. Full breakdown.
Duracell vs Energizer: The Battery Brand Rivalry
Duracell is Berkshire Hathaway-owned (25-30% US share). Energizer is publicly traded (NYSE: ENR) with Rayovac. Together they control ~85% of branded US batteries, but Amazon Basics has 27.1% online. Explore our database.
Related Companies to Community Health Systems, Inc.
View more companies
BrightSpring Health Services, Inc.
Louisville-based healthcare company providing pharmacy and home- and community-based patient services nationwide. FY2025 continuing revenue of $12.9 billion.
6 brands in portfolio
DaVita Inc.
The largest dialysis provider in the United States, operating roughly 2,600 clinics, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with Berkshire Hathaway as largest shareholder.
1 brand in portfolio
Labcorp Holdings Inc.
Global life sciences company running one of the world's largest clinical laboratory networks, headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina.
2 brands in portfolio
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
The largest clinical laboratory testing company in the United States, headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey.
3 brands in portfolio
Tenet Healthcare Corporation
For-profit healthcare services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, operating hospitals and the nation's largest ambulatory surgery platform through USPI.
2 brands in portfolio
Universal Health Services, Inc.
Fortune 500 hospital operator running acute care hospitals and the largest behavioral health facility network in the United States.
1 brand in portfolio