v2.4.1.9

Supplemental Data - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Patient service revenues	$ 3,328,017us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue	$ 3,251,824us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue	$ 3,172,489us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue	$ 3,042,776us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue	$ 3,063,209us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue	$ 2,999,586us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue	$ 2,871,673us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue	$ 2,829,582us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue	$ 8,868,338us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue		$ 8,307,195us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue		$ 7,351,902us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts									(366,884)us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueProvisionforBadDebts		(293,546)us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueProvisionforBadDebts		(235,218)us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueProvisionforBadDebts
Net patient service revenues									8,501,454us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueLessProvisionForBadDebts		8,013,649us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueLessProvisionForBadDebts		7,116,684us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueLessProvisionForBadDebts
Capitated revenues									3,261,288us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationCapitationRevenue		2,987,315us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationCapitationRevenue		481,336us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationCapitationRevenue
Other revenues									1,032,364us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationOtherRevenue		763,086us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationOtherRevenue		588,260us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationOtherRevenue
Total net revenues									12,795,106us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationRevenue		11,764,050us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationRevenue		8,186,280us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationRevenue
Operating expenses and charges									10,979,965us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses		10,213,916us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses		6,889,196us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses
Operating income	452,085us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	437,536us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	484,295us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	441,225us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	484,179us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	377,074us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	522,020us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	166,861us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	1,815,141us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss		1,550,134us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss		1,297,084us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Debt (expense) and refinancing charges									(507,842)dva_DebtExpenseIncludingDebtRefinancingCharges		(429,943)dva_DebtExpenseIncludingDebtRefinancingCharges		(299,517)dva_DebtExpenseIncludingDebtRefinancingCharges
Other income, net									2,374us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense		4,787us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense		3,737us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
Income tax expense									446,343us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit		381,013us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit		359,845us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Income from continuing operations									863,330us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest		743,965us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest		641,459us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Discontinued operations								13,236us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax			13,236us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax		(222)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax
Net income									863,330us-gaap_ProfitLoss		757,201us-gaap_ProfitLoss		641,237us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(140,216)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest		(123,755)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest		(105,220)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Net income	208,020us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	184,122us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	147,683us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	183,289us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	212,278us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	136,628us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	254,376us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	30,164us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	723,114us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss		633,446us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss		536,017us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Physician Groups
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Patient service revenues									121,929us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		122,873us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		20,052us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts									(8,534)us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueProvisionforBadDebts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		(6,602)us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueProvisionforBadDebts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		(686)us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueProvisionforBadDebts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
Net patient service revenues									113,395us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueLessProvisionForBadDebts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		116,271us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueLessProvisionForBadDebts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		19,366us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueLessProvisionForBadDebts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
Capitated revenues									1,511,000us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationCapitationRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		1,560,244us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationCapitationRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		248,592us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationCapitationRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
Other revenues									6,630us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationOtherRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		5,239us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationOtherRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		487us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationOtherRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
Total net revenues									1,631,025us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		1,681,754us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		268,445us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
Operating expenses and charges									1,601,027us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		1,659,151us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		268,205us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
Operating income									29,998us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		22,603us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		240us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
Debt (expense) and refinancing charges									(11,113)dva_DebtExpenseIncludingDebtRefinancingCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		(14,605)dva_DebtExpenseIncludingDebtRefinancingCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		(1,386)dva_DebtExpenseIncludingDebtRefinancingCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
Other income, net									238us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		6us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		54us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
Income tax expense									1,866us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		3,523us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
Income from continuing operations											4,481us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		(1,092)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
Net income									17,257us-gaap_ProfitLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		4,481us-gaap_ProfitLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		(1,092)us-gaap_ProfitLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
Net income									17,257us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		4,481us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember		(1,092)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
Unrestricted Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Operating expenses and charges									514us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember		457us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember		(1,372)us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
Operating income									(514)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember		(457)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember		1,372us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
Income tax expense									(206)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember		(183)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember		549us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
Income from continuing operations											(274)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember		823us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
Net income									(308)us-gaap_ProfitLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember		(274)us-gaap_ProfitLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember		823us-gaap_ProfitLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
Net income									(308)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember		(274)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember		823us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
Company and Restricted Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Patient service revenues									8,746,409us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	8,184,322us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	7,331,850us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts									(358,350)us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueProvisionforBadDebts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	(286,944)us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueProvisionforBadDebts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	(234,532)us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueProvisionforBadDebts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
Net patient service revenues									8,388,059us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueLessProvisionForBadDebts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	7,897,378us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueLessProvisionForBadDebts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	7,097,318us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationPatientServiceRevenueLessProvisionForBadDebts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
Capitated revenues									1,750,288us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationCapitationRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	1,427,071us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationCapitationRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	232,744us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationCapitationRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
Other revenues									1,025,734us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationOtherRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	757,847us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationOtherRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	587,773us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationOtherRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
Total net revenues									11,164,081us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	10,082,296us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	7,917,835us-gaap_HealthCareOrganizationRevenue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
Operating expenses and charges									9,378,424us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	8,554,308us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	6,622,363us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
Operating income									1,785,657us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	1,527,988us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	1,295,472us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
Debt (expense) and refinancing charges									(496,729)dva_DebtExpenseIncludingDebtRefinancingCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	(415,338)dva_DebtExpenseIncludingDebtRefinancingCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	(298,131)dva_DebtExpenseIncludingDebtRefinancingCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
Other income, net									2,136us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	4,781us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	3,683us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
Income tax expense									444,683us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	377,673us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	359,296us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
Income from continuing operations											739,758us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	641,728us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
Discontinued operations											13,236us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	(222)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
Net income									846,381us-gaap_ProfitLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	752,994us-gaap_ProfitLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	641,506us-gaap_ProfitLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(140,216)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	(123,755)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	(105,220)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
Net income									$ 706,165us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	$ 629,239us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]	$ 536,286us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember	[1]
[1] After the elimination of the unrestricted subsidiaries and the physician groups

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Debt expense, including debt refinancing charges

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Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to noncontrolling interests. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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Amount of revenue recognized based on fees charged on a per capita basis.

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Amount of patient service revenue, net of contractual allowances and discounts, less the related provision for bad debts.

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Amount of revenues recognized by the entity from providing services to in-patients, outpatients, residents in facilities owned or operated by the entity, from insurance premiums, or from goods provided or services performed.

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