Consolidating Financial Statements - Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 830,555	$ 1,033,082	$ 427,410
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income	1,076,894	930,362	1,129,790
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,907,449	1,963,444	1,557,200
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions of property and equipment	(905,250)	(829,095)	(707,998)
Acquisitions	(803,879)	(563,856)	(96,469)
Proceeds from asset and business sales	92,336	64,725	19,715
Investments and other items	250,062	126,558	(97,032)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,366,731)	(1,201,668)	(881,784)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net	154,848	(124,442)	619,698
Intercompany borrowing	0	0	0
Other items	(921,105)	(1,227,539)	(758,668)
Net cash used in financing activities	(766,257)	(1,351,981)	(138,970)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	254	4,276	(2,571)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(225,285)	(585,929)	533,875
Less: Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations	(58,743)	(15,788)	25,855
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations	(166,542)	(570,141)	508,020
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at beginning of the year	674,776	1,244,917	736,897
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at end of the year	508,234	674,776	1,244,917
Reportable Legal Entites | DaVita Inc.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	663,618	879,874	269,732
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income	(534,302)	(612,706)	(125,981)
Net cash provided by operating activities	129,316	267,168	143,751
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions of property and equipment	(155,972)	(139,303)	(115,269)
Acquisitions	0	0	0
Proceeds from asset and business sales	0	0	0
Investments and other items	211,619	153,031	(74,474)
Net cash used in investing activities	55,647	13,728	(189,743)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net	173,529	(92,460)	640,009
Intercompany borrowing	22,589	236,052	466,038
Other items	(781,697)	(1,061,203)	(572,295)
Net cash used in financing activities	(585,579)	(917,611)	533,752
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0	0
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(400,616)	(636,715)	487,760
Less: Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations	0	0	0
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations	(400,616)	(636,715)	487,760
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at beginning of the year	549,921	1,186,636	698,876
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at end of the year	149,305	549,921	1,186,636
Reportable Legal Entites | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	478,192	693,720	174,957
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income	366,947	350,684	684,760
Net cash provided by operating activities	845,139	1,044,404	859,717
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions of property and equipment	(490,800)	(382,305)	(319,695)
Acquisitions	(693,522)	(472,413)	(76,983)
Proceeds from asset and business sales	90,340	70,342	19,715
Investments and other items	(9,003)	(29,038)	(2,144)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,102,985)	(813,414)	(379,107)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net	(12,662)	(27,830)	(11,953)
Intercompany borrowing	218,980	(231,800)	(370,839)
Other items	(2,493)	(21,525)	(66,382)
Net cash used in financing activities	203,825	(281,155)	(449,174)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0	0
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(54,021)	(50,165)	31,436
Less: Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations	(54,021)	(50,165)	31,436
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at beginning of the year	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at end of the year	0	0	0
Reportable Legal Entites | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	241,312	820,486	479,700
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income	691,682	(168,614)	74,032
Net cash provided by operating activities	932,994	651,872	553,732
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions of property and equipment	(258,478)	(307,487)	(273,034)
Acquisitions	(110,357)	(91,443)	(19,486)
Proceeds from asset and business sales	1,996	(5,617)	0
Investments and other items	47,446	2,565	(20,414)
Net cash used in investing activities	(319,393)	(401,982)	(312,934)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net	(6,019)	(4,152)	(8,358)
Intercompany borrowing	(241,569)	(4,252)	(95,199)
Other items	(136,915)	(144,811)	(119,991)
Net cash used in financing activities	(384,503)	(153,215)	(223,548)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	254	4,276	(2,571)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	229,352	100,951	14,679
Less: Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations	(4,722)	34,377	(5,581)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations	234,074	66,574	20,260
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at beginning of the year	124,855	58,281	38,021
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at end of the year	358,929	124,855	58,281
Consolidating Adjustments
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	(552,567)	(1,360,998)	(496,979)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income	552,567	1,360,998	496,979
Net cash provided by operating activities	0	0	0
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions of property and equipment	0	0	0
Acquisitions	0	0	0
Proceeds from asset and business sales	0	0	0
Investments and other items	0	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net	0	0	0
Intercompany borrowing	0	0	0
Other items	0	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	0	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0	0
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Less: Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations	0	0	0
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at beginning of the year	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at end of the year	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0