v2.4.1.9

Scheduled Amortization Charges from Intangible Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Customer relationships
Expected Amortization Expense [Line Items]
2015	$ 82,619us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
2016	82,704us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
2017	82,686us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
2018	82,640us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
2019	82,407us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Thereafter	991,862us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Trade names
Expected Amortization Expense [Line Items]
2015	16,429us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
2016	16,429us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
2017	16,418us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
2018	16,364us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
2019	16,364us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
Thereafter	53,961us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
Provider network and practice management tools
Expected Amortization Expense [Line Items]
2015	26,229us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
2016	26,179us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
2017	26,243us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
2018	26,266us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
2019	22,542us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
Thereafter	526us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
Noncompetition and other agreements
Expected Amortization Expense [Line Items]
2015	40,482us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
2016	30,172us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
2017	28,563us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
2018	18,429us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
2019	13,984us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
Thereafter	39,242us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
Deferred debt financing costs
Expected Amortization Expense [Line Items]
2015	13,279us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = dva_DeferredDebtIssuanceCostsMember
2016	13,129us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = dva_DeferredDebtIssuanceCostsMember
2017	12,976us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = dva_DeferredDebtIssuanceCostsMember
2018	12,683us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = dva_DeferredDebtIssuanceCostsMember
2019	10,636us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = dva_DeferredDebtIssuanceCostsMember
Thereafter	22,237us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = dva_DeferredDebtIssuanceCostsMember
Lease agreements, net
Expected Amortization Expense [Line Items]
2015	(2,107)dva_FutureAmortizationExpenseFromIntangibleLiabilitiesYearOne / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_LeaseAgreementsMember
2016	(1,506)dva_FutureAmortizationExpenseFromIntangibleLiabilitiesYearTwo / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_LeaseAgreementsMember
2017	(1,185)dva_FutureAmortizationExpenseFromIntangibleLiabilitiesYearThree / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_LeaseAgreementsMember
2018	(849)dva_FutureAmortizationExpenseFromIntangibleLiabilitiesYearFour / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_LeaseAgreementsMember
2019	(789)dva_FutureAmortizationExpenseFromIntangibleLiabilitiesYearFive / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_LeaseAgreementsMember
Thereafter	(3,971)dva_FutureAmortizationExpenseFromIntangibleLiabilitiesYearThereafter / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_LeaseAgreementsMember
Alliance and Product Supply Agreement liability
Expected Amortization Expense [Line Items]
2015	$ (3,997)dva_FutureAmortizationExpenseFromIntangibleLiabilitiesYearOne / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = dva_AllianceAndProductSupplyAgreementLiabilityMember

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- Definition

Future amortization expense from intangible liabilities year four.

+ References

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- Definition

Future Amortization Expense from Intangible Liabilities, Year One

+ References

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- Definition

Future amortization expense from intangible liabilities year thereafter.

+ References

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- Definition

Future amortization expense from intangible liabilities year three.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Future Amortization Expense from Intangible Liabilities, Year Two

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Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

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Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

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Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

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Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

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- Definition

Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

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- Definition

Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

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