v2.4.1.9

Summary of Segment Net Revenues, Segment Operating Income Loss and Reconciliation of Segment Income to Consolidated Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Corporate support costs, Adjustment to reduce tax	$ 13,012dva_SegmentReportingInformationCorporateExpenses	[1]	$ 53,699dva_SegmentReportingInformationCorporateExpenses	[1]	$ 46,481dva_SegmentReportingInformationCorporateExpenses	[1]
Tax Adjustments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Corporate support costs, Adjustment to reduce tax			$ 7,721dva_SegmentReportingInformationCorporateExpenses / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_TaxAdjustmentsMember
[1] Corporate support costs in 2013 also include $7,721 of an adjustment to reduce a tax asset associated with the HCP acquisition escrow provisions.

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- Definition

Amount of general and administrative support costs, such as labor, benefits and stock-based compensation costs.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: