v2.4.1.9

Summary of Depreciation and Amortization Expense by Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization	$ 153,789us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	$ 142,579us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
U.S. dialysis and related lab services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization	104,993us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember	96,443us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
HealthCare Partners (HCP)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization	43,279us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember	41,737us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
Other-Ancillary services and strategic initiatives
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization	$ 5,517us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember	$ 4,399us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember

X

- Definition

The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

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

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: