CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
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	11,404,851	10,876,634	10,707,467
Operating expenses and charges:
Patient care costs and other costs	8,195,513	7,640,005	7,431,582
General and administrative	1,135,454	1,064,026	1,072,841
Depreciation and amortization	591,035	559,911	509,497
Provision for uncollectible accounts	(7,300)	(7,033)	11,677
Equity investment income	4,484	8,640	(16,874)
Investment and other asset impairments	17,338	295,234	14,993
Goodwill impairment charges	3,106	36,196	28,415
Gain on changes in ownership interest, net	(60,603)	(6,273)	(374,374)
Gain on settlement, net	0	(526,827)	0
Total operating expenses and charges	9,879,027	9,063,879	8,677,757
Operating income	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 from continuing operations before income taxes	1,048,478	1,399,786	1,623,105
Income tax expense	258,400	323,859	431,761
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 income attributable DaVita Inc.	$ 159,394	$ 663,618	$ 879,874
Earnings per share attributable to DaVita Inc.:
Basic net income from continuing operations per share attributable to DaVita Inc. (in usd per share)	$ 3.66	$ 4.78	$ 5.12
Basic net income per share attributable to DaVita Inc. (in usd per share)	0.93	3.52	4.36
Diluted net income from continuing operations per share attributable to DaVita Inc. (in usd per share)	3.62	4.71	5.04
Diluted net income per share attributable to DaVita Inc. (in usd per share)	$ 0.92	$ 3.47	$ 4.29
Weighted average shares for earnings per share:
Basic (in shares)	170,785,999	188,625,559	201,641,173
Diluted (in shares)	172,364,581	191,348,533	204,904,656
Amounts attributable to DaVita Inc.:
Net income from continuing operations	$ 624,321	$ 901,277	$ 1,032,373
Net loss from discontinued operations	(464,927)	(237,659)	(152,499)
Net (loss) income attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ 159,394	$ 663,618	$ 879,874