v2.4.1.9
Summary of Status of Awards Under Stock-Based Compensation Plans and Agreements (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Stock Appreciation Rights      
Awards      
Outstanding at beginning of year 12,956,094us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
   
Granted 1,553,829us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
   
Exercised (3,473,804)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
   
Cancelled (450,947)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
   
Outstanding at end of period 10,585,172us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
12,956,094us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
 
Exercisable at end of period 2,541,397us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
   
Weighted-average fair value of awards granted $ 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
Weighted average exercise price      
Outstanding at beginning of year $ 45.44us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
   
Granted $ 70.15us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
   
Exercised $ 32.05us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
   
Cancelled $ 51.49us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
   
Outstanding at end of period $ 53.21us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
$ 45.44us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
 
Exercisable at end of period $ 42.79us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
   
Weighted average remaining contractual life      
Outstanding at end of period 2 years 8 months 12 days    
Exercisable at end of period 1 year 7 months 6 days    
Stock Unit      
Awards      
Outstanding at beginning of year 966,596us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockUnitMember
   
Granted 332,007us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockUnitMember
   
Exercised (303,970)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockUnitMember
   
Cancelled (72,735)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockUnitMember
   
Outstanding at end of period 921,898us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockUnitMember
966,596us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockUnitMember
 
Exercisable at end of period 496dva_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsExercisableNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockUnitMember
   
Weighted-average fair value of awards granted $ 72.24us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockUnitMember
$ 58.90us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockUnitMember
$ 54.85us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= dva_StockUnitMember
Weighted average remaining contractual life      
Outstanding at end of period 1 year 6 months    
Exercisable at end of period 3 months 18 days