v2.4.1.9
Long-term incentive compensation and shareholders' equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Jun. 17, 2013
Jun. 11, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Stock split ratio 2us-gaap_StockholdersEquityNoteStockSplitConversionRatio1            
Stock-based compensation expense   $ 56,743us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 59,998us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 45,384us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense      
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock awards exercised   151,342us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue 120,775us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue 228,698us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue      
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock awards outstanding   310,351us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue          
Aggregate intrinsic value exercisable   84,129us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1          
Payroll withholdings and lump-sum payments related to the plan, included in accrued compensation and benefits   698,475us-gaap_EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent 603,013us-gaap_EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent        
Stock-based compensation expense   118,970dva_LongtermIncentiveProgramCompensationCost 84,841dva_LongtermIncentiveProgramCompensationCost 45,820dva_LongtermIncentiveProgramCompensationCost      
Tax benefit for stock-based Compensation   20,351us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 22,187us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 16,874us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense      
Unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding LTIP awards   122,574dva_LongtermIncentiveProgramAwardsCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedNet          
Unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock-based compensation arrangements under equity compensation and stock purchase plans   73,585us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized          
Unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock-based compensation arrangements under performance-based cash component of LTIP costs, weighted average remaining period (in years)   1 year          
Unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock-based compensation arrangements under equity compensation and stock purchase plans, weighted average remaining period (in years)   1 year 3 months 18 days          
Tax benefits from stock award exercises   59,119us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 46,898us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 88,964us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions      
Proceeds from stock option exercises   0us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 0us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 2,175us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions      
Common stock shares repurchased   0us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares 0us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares   0us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares    
Repurchase share authorized outstanding amount   358,200us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1          
Charter documents and Delaware law description   The Company’s charter documents include provisions that may deter hostile takeovers, delay or prevent changes of control or changes in management, or limit the ability of stockholders to approve transactions that they may otherwise determine to be in their best interests. These include provisions prohibiting stockholders from acting by written consent, requiring 90 days advance notice of stockholder proposals or nominations to the Board of Directors and granting the Board of Directors the authority to issue up to five million shares of preferred stock and to determine the rights and preferences of the preferred stock without the need for further stockholder approval. The Company is also subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law that, subject to exceptions, would prohibit the Company from engaging in any business combinations with any interested stockholder, as defined in that section, for a period of three years following the date on which that stockholder became an interested stockholder. These restrictions may discourage, delay or prevent a change in the control of the Company.          
Preferred stock authorized to be issued   5,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized 5,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized        
Acquisition of additional ownership interests in several existing majority-owned joint ventures   17,876us-gaap_PaymentsToMinorityShareholders 3,569us-gaap_PaymentsToMinorityShareholders 26,761us-gaap_PaymentsToMinorityShareholders      
Deferred purchase price obligations   136us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferredLiabilitiesIncurred 209us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferredLiabilitiesIncurred        
Stock Appreciation Rights              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Outstanding balance   10,585,172us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
12,956,094us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
       
Weighted average fair value   $ 16.41us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
$ 13.47us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
$ 11.28us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
     
Liability-classified share awards              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Outstanding balance   72,734us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockAwardsMember
         
Stock-based compensation expense   1,774us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockAwardsMember
338us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockAwardsMember
175us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockAwardsMember
     
Shares vested in period   10,625us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockAwardsMember
         
Stock-based liability   1,242us-gaap_DeferredCompensationSharebasedArrangementsLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockAwardsMember
         
Employee stock purchase plan              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Shares available for future grants   836,421us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
         
Employee entitlement for purchase of the Company's common stock during each calendar year   25dva_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumShareValueAuthorizedForPurchase
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
         
Payroll withholdings and lump-sum payments related to the plan, included in accrued compensation and benefits   $ 19,010us-gaap_EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
$ 12,817us-gaap_EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
$ 8,322us-gaap_EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
     
Stock issued for employee stock purchase plans   297,954us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
237,961us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
202,658us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
     
Expected volatility Rate   27.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
28.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
26.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
     
Risk-free interest rate   0.20%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
0.20%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
0.10%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
     
Weighted average fair value   $ 16.40us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
$ 14.24us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
$ 10.05us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
     
Employee stock purchase plan | Beginning Of Period              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Stock purchase price as percentage of fair market value   100.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardPurchasePriceOfCommonStockPercent
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
/ dva_PeriodAxis
= dva_BeginningOfPeriodMember
         
Employee stock purchase plan | End Of Period              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Stock purchase price as percentage of fair market value   85.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardPurchasePriceOfCommonStockPercent
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
/ dva_PeriodAxis
= dva_EndOfPeriodMember
         
Stock Incentive Plan 2011              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Increase in number of shares of common stock available for issuance           17,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfAdditionalSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= dva_StockIncentivePlanTwentyElevenMember
9,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfAdditionalSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= dva_StockIncentivePlanTwentyElevenMember
Award reduction rate   3.0dva_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardReductionRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= dva_StockIncentivePlanTwentyElevenMember
        3.5dva_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardReductionRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= dva_StockIncentivePlanTwentyElevenMember
Shares available for future grants   33,687,881us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= dva_StockIncentivePlanTwentyElevenMember
         
Stock Incentive Plan 2011 | Minimum              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Vesting period   36 months          
Stock Incentive Plan 2011 | Maximum              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Terms of award (in years)   5 years          
Vesting period   48 months          
Stock Incentive Plan 2011 | Stock Appreciation Rights              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Outstanding balance   10,585,172us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= dva_StockIncentivePlanTwentyElevenMember
         
Stock Incentive Plan 2011 | Cash-settled stock appreciation              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Outstanding balance   65,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_CashSettledStockAppreciationRightsAndEmployeeStockOptionsMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= dva_StockIncentivePlanTwentyElevenMember
         
Stock Incentive Plan 2011 | Stock Settled Stock Units              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Outstanding balance   921,898us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockSettledStockUnitsMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= dva_StockIncentivePlanTwentyElevenMember
         
Stock Incentive Plan 2011 | Cash Settled Stock Units              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Outstanding balance   7,734us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_CashSettledStockUnitsMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= dva_StockIncentivePlanTwentyElevenMember