v2.4.1.9

Investments in Debt and Equity Securities and Other Investments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Available for sale investments gross pre-tax unrealized gain (loss)	$ 5,468us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax		$ 5,181us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax	382us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	331us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax
Proceeds from sale of investments available for sale	1,217us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	1,262us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities
Pre tax reclassification of net investment realized gain (loss) into net income	257us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesBeforeTax	340us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesBeforeTax
Reclassification of net investment realized gain (loss) into net income, net of tax	157us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax	207us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax
HealthCare Partners (HCP)
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Required minimum cash balance	53,400dva_MinimumCashRequirement / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
Preferred Stock
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Preferred stock, in a privately held company	5,000us-gaap_InvestmentSoldNotYetPurchasedRestrictedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
Certificates Of Deposit Money And Market Funds
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, pre tax	544us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = dva_CertificatesOfDepositMoneyAndMarketFundsMember
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax	$ 382us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = dva_CertificatesOfDepositMoneyAndMarketFundsMember

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Cash deposited in a reserve account to comply with regulatory requirements.

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Amount before tax of unrealized gain (loss) in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investments in debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale.

+ References

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- Definition

The cost of the restricted investment.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 946

-SubTopic 320

-Section S99

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12C.9(a)(3))

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Amount before tax and reclassification adjustments of unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities.

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The cash inflow associated with the sale of debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities.

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