Consolidating Financial Statements - Consolidating Statements of Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues									$ 10,709,981	$ 10,093,670	$ 9,727,360
Provision for uncollectible accounts									(49,587)	(485,364)	(431,304)
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues									10,660,394	9,608,306	9,296,056
Other revenues									744,457	1,268,328	1,411,411
Total revenues	$ 2,821,124	$ 2,847,330	$ 2,886,953	$ 2,849,444	$ 2,780,913	$ 2,765,071	$ 2,699,399	$ 2,631,251	11,404,851	10,876,634	10,707,467
Operating expenses and charges									9,879,027	9,063,879	8,677,757
Operating income	387,908	289,038	438,192	410,686	150,337	395,294	391,196	875,928	1,525,824	1,812,755	2,029,710
Debt expense									(487,435)	(430,634)	(414,116)
Other income, net									10,089	17,665	7,511
Income tax expense									258,400	323,859	431,761
Equity earnings in subsidiaries									0	0	0
Net income from continuing operations									790,078	1,075,927	1,191,344
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									(457,038)	(245,372)	(158,262)
Net income									333,040	830,555	1,033,082
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(173,646)	(166,937)	(153,208)
Net (loss) income attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ (149,772)	$ (136,796)	$ 267,276	$ 178,686	$ 303,396	$ (214,476)	$ 127,001	$ 447,697	159,394	663,618	879,874
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues									(210,670)	(184,106)	(153,326)
Provision for uncollectible accounts									0	7,170	0
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues									(210,670)	(176,936)	(153,326)
Other revenues									(959,189)	(798,212)	(765,516)
Total revenues									(1,169,859)	(975,148)	(918,842)
Operating expenses and charges									(1,169,859)	(975,148)	(918,842)
Operating income									0	0	0
Debt expense									249,225	239,958	225,326
Other income, net									(441,312)	(423,702)	(400,706)
Income tax expense									0	0	0
Equity earnings in subsidiaries									(447,221)	(552,567)	(1,360,998)
Net income from continuing operations									(639,308)	(736,311)	(1,536,378)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									192,087	183,744	175,380
Net income									(447,221)	(552,567)	(1,360,998)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(173,646)	(166,937)	(153,208)
Net (loss) income attributable to DaVita Inc.									(620,867)	(719,504)	(1,514,206)
DaVita Inc. | Reportable Legal Entites
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues									0	0	0
Provision for uncollectible accounts									0	0	0
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues									0	0	0
Other revenues									799,230	793,751	767,791
Total revenues									799,230	793,751	767,791
Operating expenses and charges									646,640	527,942	493,175
Operating income									152,590	265,809	274,616
Debt expense									(491,749)	(426,149)	(407,925)
Other income, net									418,839	411,731	396,797
Income tax expense									23,482	65,965	77,334
Equity earnings in subsidiaries									103,196	478,192	693,720
Net income from continuing operations									159,394	663,618	879,874
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	0	0
Net income									159,394	663,618	879,874
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net (loss) income attributable to DaVita Inc.									159,394	663,618	879,874
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entites
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues									7,263,195	6,884,750	6,665,601
Provision for uncollectible accounts									(36,377)	(340,552)	(272,426)
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues									7,226,818	6,544,198	6,393,175
Other revenues									714,489	1,204,467	1,378,952
Total revenues									7,941,307	7,748,665	7,772,127
Operating expenses and charges									7,100,415	6,475,550	6,907,469
Operating income									840,892	1,273,115	864,658
Debt expense									(208,484)	(209,612)	(191,083)
Other income, net									10,367	11,169	3,726
Income tax expense									187,691	237,670	238,446
Equity earnings in subsidiaries									344,025	74,375	667,278
Net income from continuing operations									799,109	911,377	1,106,133
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									(695,913)	(433,185)	(412,413)
Net income									103,196	478,192	693,720
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net (loss) income attributable to DaVita Inc.									103,196	478,192	693,720
Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entites
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues									3,657,456	3,393,026	3,215,085
Provision for uncollectible accounts									(13,210)	(151,982)	(158,878)
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues									3,644,246	3,241,044	3,056,207
Other revenues									189,927	68,322	30,184
Total revenues									3,834,173	3,309,366	3,086,391
Operating expenses and charges									3,301,831	3,035,535	2,195,955
Operating income									532,342	273,831	890,436
Debt expense									(36,427)	(34,831)	(40,434)
Other income, net									22,195	18,467	7,694
Income tax expense									47,227	20,224	115,981
Equity earnings in subsidiaries									0	0	0
Net income from continuing operations									470,883	237,243	741,715
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									46,788	4,069	78,771
Net income									517,671	241,312	820,486
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net (loss) income attributable to DaVita Inc.									$ 517,671	$ 241,312	$ 820,486