v2.4.1.9
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net (loss) income $ (76,148)us-gaap_ProfitLoss $ 211,737us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income 486,237us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities 207,370us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
Net cash provided by operating activities 410,089us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities 419,107us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Additions of property and equipment (121,421)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment (126,562)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Acquisitions (40,650)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesAndInterestInAffiliates (67,857)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesAndInterestInAffiliates
Proceeds from asset and business sales 2,565us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfProductiveAssets 56us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfProductiveAssets
Purchases/proceeds from investment sales and other items (92,781)dva_PaymentsForProceedsFromSaleOfInvestmentsInSecuritiesAndOther (1,430)dva_PaymentsForProceedsFromSaleOfInvestmentsInSecuritiesAndOther
Net cash used in investing activities (252,287)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities (195,793)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net (28,439)dva_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLongTermDebt (65,153)dva_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Other items (82,429)us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities 3,028us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
Net cash used in financing activities (110,868)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities (62,125)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (904)us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents 631us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 46,030us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease 161,820us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 965,241us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 946,249us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period 1,011,271us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 1,108,069us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net (loss) income (110,617)us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
183,289us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income 154,352us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
(28,933)us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
Net cash provided by operating activities 43,735us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
154,356us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Additions of property and equipment (6,230)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
(11,100)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
Purchases/proceeds from investment sales and other items (84,640)dva_PaymentsForProceedsFromSaleOfInvestmentsInSecuritiesAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
(776)dva_PaymentsForProceedsFromSaleOfInvestmentsInSecuritiesAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
Net cash used in investing activities (90,870)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
(11,876)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net (21,250)dva_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
(62,853)dva_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
Intercompany borrowing 180,207us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfRelatedPartyDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
90,289us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfRelatedPartyDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
Other items (56,828)us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
21,786us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
Net cash used in financing activities 102,129us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
49,222us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 54,994us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
191,702us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 698,876us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
602,188us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period 753,870us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
793,890us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_DavitaHealthCarePartnersIncMember
Guarantor Subsidiaries    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net (loss) income (133,144)us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
156,272us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income 410,880us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(2,155)us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Net cash provided by operating activities 277,736us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
154,117us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Additions of property and equipment (48,802)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(60,113)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Acquisitions (40,018)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesAndInterestInAffiliates
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(67,857)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesAndInterestInAffiliates
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Proceeds from asset and business sales 2,565us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfProductiveAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
56us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfProductiveAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Purchases/proceeds from investment sales and other items (537)dva_PaymentsForProceedsFromSaleOfInvestmentsInSecuritiesAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
135dva_PaymentsForProceedsFromSaleOfInvestmentsInSecuritiesAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Net cash used in investing activities (86,792)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(127,779)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net (3,620)dva_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(1,579)dva_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Intercompany borrowing (202,804)us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfRelatedPartyDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(57,572)us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfRelatedPartyDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Other items   764us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Net cash used in financing activities (206,424)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(58,387)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (15,480)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(32,049)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 77,921us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
175,004us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period 62,441us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
142,955us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net (loss) income 79,525us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
83,975us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income 9,093us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
26,659us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Net cash provided by operating activities 88,618us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
110,634us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Additions of property and equipment (66,389)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(55,349)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Acquisitions (632)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesAndInterestInAffiliates
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
 
Purchases/proceeds from investment sales and other items (7,604)dva_PaymentsForProceedsFromSaleOfInvestmentsInSecuritiesAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(789)dva_PaymentsForProceedsFromSaleOfInvestmentsInSecuritiesAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Net cash used in investing activities (74,625)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(56,138)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net (3,569)dva_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(721)dva_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Intercompany borrowing 22,597us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfRelatedPartyDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(32,717)us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfRelatedPartyDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Other items (25,601)us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(19,522)us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Net cash used in financing activities (6,573)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(52,960)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (904)us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
631us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 6,516us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
2,167us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 188,444us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
169,057us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period 194,960us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
171,224us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Consolidating Adjustments    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net (loss) income 88,088us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ConsolidatingAdjustmentsMember
(211,799)us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ConsolidatingAdjustmentsMember
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income $ (88,088)us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ConsolidatingAdjustmentsMember
$ 211,799us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ConsolidatingAdjustmentsMember