v2.4.1.9

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument, carrying amount	$ 8,513,791us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	$ 8,519,642us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Senior Secured Credit Facilities
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument, carrying amount	4,436,250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = dva_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilitiesMember
Debt instrument, fair value	4,438,186us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = dva_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilitiesMember
Senior Notes
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument, carrying amount	3,775,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Debt instrument, fair value	$ 3,924,900us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember

X

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13433-108611



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13476-108611

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=dva_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: