v2.4.1.9

Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Feb. 28, 2015
Legal Proceedings [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency reserve | $ 17,000us-gaap_LossContingencyLossInPeriod | $ 17,000us-gaap_LossContingencyLossInPeriod | $ 397,000us-gaap_LossContingencyLossInPeriod | $ 85,837us-gaap_LossContingencyLossInPeriod |
Period of corporate integrity agreement |  | 5 years |  |  |
Subsequent Event |  |  |  |  |
Legal Proceedings [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of Subpoenas |  |  |  |  | 6dva_NumberOfSubpoenas / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Number of Medical Centers |  |  |  |  | 6dva_NumberOfMedicalCenters / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
2010 U.S. Attorney Physician Relationship Investigation |  |  |  |  |
Legal Proceedings [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Settlement payment before accrued interest |  | 350,000us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements / us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis = dva_USAttorneyPhysicianRelationshipInvestigation2010Member |  |  |
Settlement payment, civil forfeiture |  | 39,000dva_PaymentsForLitigationSettlementCivilForfeiture / us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis = dva_USAttorneyPhysicianRelationshipInvestigation2010Member |  |  |
Contingency reserve |  | 414,000dva_LitigationReserveTotal / us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis = dva_USAttorneyPhysicianRelationshipInvestigation2010Member | 397,000dva_LitigationReserveTotal / us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis = dva_USAttorneyPhysicianRelationshipInvestigation2010Member |  |
Medicaid |  |  |  |  |
Legal Proceedings [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Settlement payment before accrued interest |  | $ 11,500us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements / us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis = dva_MedicaidMember |  |  |

X
- Definition Agreement period. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | dva_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | dva_LegalProceedingsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | dva_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Litigation reserve​ total. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dva_LitigationReserveTotal
Namespace Prefix: | dva_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of medical centers + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dva_NumberOfMedicalCenters
Namespace Prefix: | dva_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of subpoenas + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dva_NumberOfSubpoenas
Namespace Prefix: | dva_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Payments for litigation settlement, civil forfeiture. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dva_PaymentsForLitigationSettlementCivilForfeiture
Namespace Prefix: | dva_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of loss pertaining to the specified contingency that was charged against earnings in the period, including the effects of revisions in previously reported estimates. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of cash paid for the settlement of litigation or for other legal issues during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis=dva_MedicaidMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |