v2.4.1.9

Summary of Assets by Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
ASSETS
Total assets	$ 18,366,663us-gaap_Assets	$ 17,942,715us-gaap_Assets
U.S. dialysis and related lab services
ASSETS
Total assets	11,352,546us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember	10,959,096us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
HealthCare Partners (HCP)
ASSETS
Total assets	6,313,981us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember	6,285,984us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
Other-Ancillary services and strategic initiatives
ASSETS
Total assets	$ 700,136us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember	$ 697,635us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember

X

- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.18)

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



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-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 03

-Paragraph 12

-Article 7



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 18

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Assets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsAbstract
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: