v2.4.1.9

Summary of Expenditures for Property and Equipment by Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Expenditures for property and equipment	$ 121,421us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets	$ 126,562us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets
U.S. dialysis and related lab services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Expenditures for property and equipment	105,395us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember	113,230us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_USDialysisAndRelatedLabServicesMember
HealthCare Partners (HCP)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Expenditures for property and equipment	5,034us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember	4,502us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = dva_HealthcarePartnersMember
Other-Ancillary services and strategic initiatives
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Expenditures for property and equipment	$ 10,992us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember	$ 8,830us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember

X

- Definition

The cash outflow for purchases of and capital improvements on property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

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X

- Details

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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: