v2.4.1.9

Changes in Goodwill by Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning balance	$ 9,212,974us-gaap_Goodwill	$ 8,952,750us-gaap_Goodwill
Acquisitions	221,514us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	271,267us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Divestitures	(1,851)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit	(2,728)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
Other adjustments		(8,315)us-gaap_GoodwillOtherChanges
Foreign currency and other adjustments	(17,342)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Ending balance	9,415,295us-gaap_Goodwill	9,212,974us-gaap_Goodwill
U.S. dialysis and related lab services
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning balance	5,469,473us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember	5,309,152us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
Acquisitions	143,021us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember	163,037us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
Divestitures	(1,851)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember	(2,728)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
Other adjustments		12us-gaap_GoodwillOtherChanges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
Foreign currency and other adjustments
Ending balance	5,610,643us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember	5,469,473us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
HealthCare Partners (HCP)
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning balance	3,516,162us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember	3,506,571us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
Acquisitions	48,649us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember	17,833us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
Divestitures
Other adjustments		(8,242)us-gaap_GoodwillOtherChanges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
Foreign currency and other adjustments	(2,277)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
Ending balance	3,562,534us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember	3,516,162us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
Other-Ancillary services and strategic initiatives
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning balance	227,339us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember	137,027us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember
Acquisitions	29,844us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember	90,397us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember
Divestitures
Other adjustments		(85)us-gaap_GoodwillOtherChanges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember
Foreign currency and other adjustments	(15,065)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember
Ending balance	$ 242,118us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember	$ 227,339us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember

X

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267



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+ References

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+ References

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-Publisher FASB

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+ References

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+ References

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