v2.4.1.9
Supplemental Data - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Cash and cash equivalents $ 965,241us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue $ 946,249us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue $ 533,748us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue $ 393,752us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Accounts receivable, net 1,525,849us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent 1,485,163us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent    
Other current assets 1,385,707dva_InvestmentsAndOtherCurrentAssets 1,040,866dva_InvestmentsAndOtherCurrentAssets    
Total current assets 3,876,797us-gaap_AssetsCurrent 3,472,278us-gaap_AssetsCurrent    
Property and equipment, net 2,469,099us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet 2,189,411us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet    
Amortizable intangibles, net 1,949,498us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill 2,024,373us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill    
Other long-term assets 232,026us-gaap_InvestmentsAndOtherNoncurrentAssets 199,841us-gaap_InvestmentsAndOtherNoncurrentAssets    
Goodwill 9,415,295us-gaap_Goodwill 9,212,974us-gaap_Goodwill 8,952,750us-gaap_Goodwill  
Total assets 17,942,715us-gaap_Assets 17,098,877us-gaap_Assets    
Current liabilities 2,088,652us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent 2,462,049us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent    
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities 9,663,787dva_LongTermDebtAndOtherNoncurrent 9,333,987dva_LongTermDebtAndOtherNoncurrent    
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions 829,965us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount 697,300us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount    
Total DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. shareholders’' equity 5,170,513us-gaap_StockholdersEquity 4,432,479us-gaap_StockholdersEquity    
Noncontrolling interests not subject to put provisions 189,798us-gaap_MinorityInterest 173,062us-gaap_MinorityInterest    
Total equity 5,360,311us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest 4,605,541us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest    
Total liabilities and equity 17,942,715us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity 17,098,877us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity    
Physician Groups        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Cash and cash equivalents 112,448us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
127,309us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
132,362us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
 
Accounts receivable, net 255,953us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
235,463us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
   
Other current assets 18,450dva_InvestmentsAndOtherCurrentAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
35,640dva_InvestmentsAndOtherCurrentAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
   
Total current assets 386,851us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
398,412us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
   
Property and equipment, net 2,406us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
5,541us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
   
Amortizable intangibles, net 6,239us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
7,283us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
   
Other long-term assets 66,087us-gaap_InvestmentsAndOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
64,013us-gaap_InvestmentsAndOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
   
Goodwill 9,181us-gaap_Goodwill
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
8,981us-gaap_Goodwill
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
   
Total assets 470,764us-gaap_Assets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
484,230us-gaap_Assets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
   
Current liabilities 213,609us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
193,079us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
   
Payables to parent 178,371us-gaap_DueToRelatedPartiesNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
194,958us-gaap_DueToRelatedPartiesNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
   
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities 61,895dva_LongTermDebtAndOtherNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
94,727dva_LongTermDebtAndOtherNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
   
Total DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. shareholders’' equity 16,889us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
1,466us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
   
Total equity 16,889us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
1,466us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
   
Total liabilities and equity 470,764us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
484,230us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
   
Unrestricted Subsidiaries        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Other long-term assets 2,811us-gaap_InvestmentsAndOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
3,325us-gaap_InvestmentsAndOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
   
Total assets 2,811us-gaap_Assets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
3,325us-gaap_Assets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
   
Payables to parent 2,811us-gaap_DueToRelatedPartiesNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
3,325us-gaap_DueToRelatedPartiesNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
   
Total liabilities and equity 2,811us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
3,325us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
   
Company and Restricted Subsidiaries        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Cash and cash equivalents 852,793us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 818,940us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 401,386us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 393,752us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]
Accounts receivable, net 1,269,896us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 1,249,700us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
Other current assets 1,367,257dva_InvestmentsAndOtherCurrentAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 1,005,226dva_InvestmentsAndOtherCurrentAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
Total current assets 3,489,946us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 3,073,866us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
Property and equipment, net 2,466,693us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 2,183,870us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
Amortizable intangibles, net 1,943,259us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 2,017,090us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
Other long-term assets 163,128us-gaap_InvestmentsAndOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 132,503us-gaap_InvestmentsAndOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
Goodwill 9,406,114us-gaap_Goodwill
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 9,203,993us-gaap_Goodwill
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
Total assets 17,469,140us-gaap_Assets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 16,611,322us-gaap_Assets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
Current liabilities 1,875,043us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 2,268,970us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
Payables to parent (181,182)us-gaap_DueToRelatedPartiesNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] (198,283)us-gaap_DueToRelatedPartiesNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities 9,601,892dva_LongTermDebtAndOtherNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 9,239,260dva_LongTermDebtAndOtherNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions 829,965us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 697,300us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
Total DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. shareholders’' equity 5,153,624us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 4,431,013us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
Noncontrolling interests not subject to put provisions 189,798us-gaap_MinorityInterest
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 173,062us-gaap_MinorityInterest
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
Total equity 5,343,422us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] 4,604,075us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
Total liabilities and equity $ 17,469,140us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1] $ 16,611,322us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]    
[1] After the elimination of the unrestricted subsidiaries and the physician groups