<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-04-054499
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20041118
<FILING-DATE>20041122
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20041122
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Schohl Joseph
<CIK>0001309229
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-14106
<FILM-NUMBER>041160886
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>800-310-4872
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>601 HAWAII ST
<CITY>EL SEGUNDO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90245
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DAVITA INC
<CIK>0000927066
<ASSIGNED-SIC>8090
<IRS-NUMBER>510354549
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>601 HAWAII STREET
<CITY>EL SEGUNDO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90245
<PHONE>3105362400
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>601 HAWAII STREET
<CITY>EL SEGUNDO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90245
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>TOTAL RENAL CARE HOLDINGS INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19950524
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>TOTAL RENAL CARE INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19940719
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd58915.xml
<DESCRIPTION>JOSEPH SCHOHL'S FORM 3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-18</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000927066</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DAVITA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DVA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001309229</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Schohl Joseph</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>601 HAWAII STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EL SEGUNDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90245</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Secretary &amp; Gen. Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Joseph Schohl</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
