CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	$ 10,093,670	$ 9,727,360	$ 9,155,447
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	(485,398)	(431,308)	(412,905)
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	9,608,272	9,296,052	8,742,542
Other revenues	1,268,362	1,411,415	1,239,703
Total net revenues	10,876,634	10,707,467	9,982,245
Operating expenses and charges:
Patient care costs and other costs	7,640,005	7,431,582	6,856,062
General and administrative	1,064,026	1,072,841	1,031,125
Depreciation and amortization	559,911	509,497	463,905
Provision for uncollectible accounts	(7,033)	11,677	9,240
Equity investment loss (income)	8,640	(16,874)	(13,919)
Investment and other asset impairments	295,234	14,993	0
Goodwill impairment charges	36,196	28,415	4,066
Gain on changes in ownership interests	(6,273)	(374,374)	0
(Gain) loss on settlements, net	(526,827)	0	495,000
Total operating expenses and charges	9,063,879	8,677,757	8,845,479
Operating income	1,812,755	2,029,710	1,136,766
Debt expense	(430,634)	(414,116)	(408,380)
Debt redemption charges	0	0	(48,072)
Other income, net	17,665	7,511	8,073
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	1,399,786	1,623,105	688,387
Income tax expense	323,859	431,761	207,510
Net income from continuing operations	1,075,927	1,191,344	480,877
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(245,372)	(158,262)	(53,467)
Net income	830,555	1,033,082	427,410
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(166,937)	(153,208)	(157,678)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ 663,618	$ 879,874	$ 269,732
Earnings per share:
Basic net income from continuing operations per share attributable to DaVita Inc. (in usd per share)	$ 4.78	$ 5.12	$ 1.53
Basic net income per share attributable to DaVita Inc. (in usd per share)	3.52	4.36	1.27
Diluted net income from continuing operations per share attributable to DaVita Inc. (in usd per share)	4.71	5.04	1.49
Diluted net income per share attributable to DaVita Inc. (in usd per share)	$ 3.47	$ 4.29	$ 1.25
Weighted average shares for earnings per share:
Basic (in shares)	188,625,559	201,641,173	211,867,714
Diluted (in shares)	191,348,533	204,904,656	216,251,807
Amounts attributable to DaVita Inc.:
Net income from continuing operations	$ 901,277	$ 1,032,373	$ 323,199
Net loss from discontinued operations	(237,659)	(152,499)	(53,467)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ 663,618	$ 879,874	$ 269,732