v2.4.1.9

Changes in Goodwill by Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |
Beginning balance | $ 9,415,295 us-gaap_Goodwill | $ 9,212,974 us-gaap_Goodwill
Acquisitions | 31,607 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod | 221,514 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Divestitures |  | (1,851)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
Foreign currency and other adjustments | (15,512)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments | (17,342)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Ending balance | 9,431,390 us-gaap_Goodwill | 9,415,295 us-gaap_Goodwill
U.S. dialysis and related lab services |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |
Beginning balance |  | 5,469,473 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
Acquisitions |  | 143,021 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
Divestitures |  | (1,851)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
Ending balance | 5,610,643 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember | 5,610,643 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
HealthCare Partners (HCP) |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |
Beginning balance | 3,562,534 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember | 3,516,162 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
Acquisitions | 24,039 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember | 48,649 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
Foreign currency and other adjustments |  | (2,277)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
Ending balance | 3,586,573 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember | 3,562,534 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
Other-Ancillary services and strategic initiatives |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |
Beginning balance | 242,118 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember | 227,339 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember
Acquisitions | 7,568 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember | 29,844 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember
Foreign currency and other adjustments | (15,512)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember | (15,065)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember
Ending balance | $ 234,174 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember | $ 242,118 us-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 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments 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 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
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- Definition Amount of divestiture 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 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
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