v2.4.1.9
Supplemental Data - 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 and intercompany 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 discontinued operations 2,565us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses  
Investments 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 (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 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
Physician Groups    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net (loss) income 3,386us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
 
Changes in operating and intercompany assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income (16,884)us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
 
Net cash provided by operating activities (13,498)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
 
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Additions of property and equipment 164us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
 
Investments and other items (457)dva_PaymentsForProceedsFromSaleOfInvestmentsInSecuritiesAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
 
Net cash used in investing activities (293)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
 
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Intercompany 2,759us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfRelatedPartyDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
 
Net cash used in financing activities 2,759us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents (11,032)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 112,448us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period 101,416us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_PhysicianGroupOrganizationMember
 
Unrestricted Subsidiaries    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net (loss) income 142us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
 
Changes in operating and intercompany assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income (142)us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_UnrestrictedSubsidiariesMember
 
Company and Restricted Subsidiaries    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net (loss) income (79,676)us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
Changes in operating and intercompany assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income 503,263us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
Net cash provided by operating activities 423,587us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Additions of property and equipment (121,585)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
Acquisitions (40,650)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesAndInterestInAffiliates
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
Proceeds from discontinued operations 2,565us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
Investments and other items (92,324)dva_PaymentsForProceedsFromSaleOfInvestmentsInSecuritiesAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
Net cash used in investing activities (251,994)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Long-term debt (28,439)dva_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
Intercompany (2,759)us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfRelatedPartyDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
Other items (82,429)us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
Net cash used in financing activities (113,627)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (904)us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 57,062us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 852,793us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period $ 909,855us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= dva_ParentCompanyAndRestrictedSubsidiariesMember
[1]  
[1] After the elimination of the unrestricted subsidiaries and the physician groups