v2.4.1.9
Concentrations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Concentration Risk [Line Items]      
Concentration risk, customer There is no single payor that accounted for more than 10% of total consolidated accounts receivable at December 31, 2014 and 2013.    
Accounts Receivable | Government-based Programs, Medicare and Medicaid      
Concentration Risk [Line Items]      
Concentration Risk, Percentage 80.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GovernmentContractsConcentrationRiskMember
   
Accounts Receivable | Product Concentration Risk | Minimum      
Concentration Risk [Line Items]      
Concentration Risk, Percentage 10.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ProductConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
10.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ProductConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
 
U.S. dialysis and related lab services | Sales Revenue, Services, Net | Government-based Programs, Medicare and Medicaid      
Concentration Risk [Line Items]      
Concentration Risk, Percentage 67.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNetMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GovernmentContractsConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
66.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNetMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GovernmentContractsConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
66.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNetMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GovernmentContractsConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
Accounts receivable, and other receivables, from Medicare and Medicaid-assigned plans $ 705,532us-gaap_FairValueConcentrationOfRiskAccountsReceivable
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNetMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GovernmentContractsConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
$ 679,006us-gaap_FairValueConcentrationOfRiskAccountsReceivable
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNetMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GovernmentContractsConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
 
U.S. dialysis and related lab services | Sales Revenue, Services, Net | Supplier Concentration Risk      
Concentration Risk [Line Items]      
Concentration Risk, Percentage 2.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNetMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SupplierConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
2.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNetMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SupplierConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
 
HealthCare Partners (HCP)      
Concentration Risk [Line Items]      
Number of health plans 3dva_ConcentrationRiskNumberOfHealthPlans
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
   
HealthCare Partners (HCP) | Sales Revenue, Services, Net | Government-based Programs, Medicare and Medicaid      
Concentration Risk [Line Items]      
Concentration Risk, Percentage 71.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNetMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GovernmentContractsConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
69.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNetMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GovernmentContractsConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
 
HealthCare Partners (HCP) | Sales Revenue, Services, Net | Product Concentration Risk      
Concentration Risk [Line Items]      
Concentration Risk, Percentage 64.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNetMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ProductConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
67.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNetMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ProductConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
 
HealthCare Partners (HCP) | Accounts Receivable | Customer Concentration Risk      
Concentration Risk [Line Items]      
Concentration Risk, Percentage 73.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
69.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dva_HealthcarePartnersMember