Supplemental Data (unaudited) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 323,038	$ 508,234
Restricted cash and equivalents	92,382	10,686
Accounts receivable, net	1,858,608	1,714,750
Other current assets	760,566	775,389
Current assets held for sale, net	5,389,565	5,761,642
Total current assets	8,424,159	8,770,701
Property and equipment, net	3,393,669	3,149,213
Amortizable intangibles, net	118,846	113,827
Other long-term assets	331,618	330,516
Goodwill	6,841,960	6,610,279	$ 6,015,375
Total assets	19,110,252	18,974,536
Current liabilities	3,647,402	1,882,450
Current liabilities held for sale	1,243,759	1,185,070
Total current liabilities	4,891,161	3,067,520
Payables to parent	0
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities	9,186,052	10,009,590
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions	1,124,641	1,011,360
Total DaVita Inc. shareholders' equity	3,703,442	4,690,029
Noncontrolling interests not subject to put provisions	204,956	196,037
Total equity	3,908,398	4,886,066
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	19,110,252	$ 18,974,536
Physician Groups
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	0
Restricted cash and equivalents	0
Accounts receivable, net	0
Other current assets	0
Current assets held for sale, net	532,050
Total current assets	532,050
Property and equipment, net	0
Amortizable intangibles, net	0
Other long-term assets	0
Goodwill	0
Total assets	532,050
Current liabilities	0
Current liabilities held for sale	351,925
Total current liabilities	351,925
Payables to parent	25,456
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities	0
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions	0
Total DaVita Inc. shareholders' equity	154,669
Noncontrolling interests not subject to put provisions	0
Total equity	154,669
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	532,050
Unrestricted Subsidiaries
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	0
Restricted cash and equivalents	0
Accounts receivable, net	0
Other current assets	0
Current assets held for sale, net	2,825
Total current assets	2,825
Property and equipment, net	0
Amortizable intangibles, net	0
Other long-term assets	0
Goodwill	0
Total assets	2,825
Current liabilities	0
Current liabilities held for sale	0
Total current liabilities	0
Payables to parent	2,825
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities	0
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions	0
Total DaVita Inc. shareholders' equity	0
Noncontrolling interests not subject to put provisions	0
Total equity	0
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,825
Company and Restricted Subsidiaries(1)
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	323,038
Restricted cash and equivalents	92,382
Accounts receivable, net	1,858,608
Other current assets	760,566
Current assets held for sale, net	4,854,690
Total current assets	7,889,284
Property and equipment, net	3,393,669
Amortizable intangibles, net	118,846
Other long-term assets	331,618
Goodwill	6,841,960
Total assets	18,575,377
Current liabilities	3,647,402
Current liabilities held for sale	891,834
Total current liabilities	4,539,236
Payables to parent	(28,281)
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities	9,186,052
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions	1,124,641
Total DaVita Inc. shareholders' equity	3,548,773
Noncontrolling interests not subject to put provisions	204,956
Total equity	3,753,729
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 18,575,377