Condensed consolidating financial statements - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	$ 2,635,152	$ 2,591,074
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	(5,463)	25,545
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	2,629,689	2,616,619
Other revenues	113,423	232,825
Total revenues	2,743,112	2,849,444
Operating expenses and charges	2,402,605	2,438,758
Operating income	340,507	410,686
Debt expense	(131,519)	(113,516)
Other income, net	6,940	4,582
Income tax expense	56,746	70,737
Equity earnings in subsidiaries	0	0
Net income from continuing operations	159,182	231,015
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	30,305	(5,786)
Net income	189,487	225,229
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(40,198)	(46,543)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	149,289	178,686
Consolidating adjustments
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	(60,698)	(47,515)
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	0	0
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	(60,698)	(47,515)
Other revenues	(222,173)	(238,633)
Total revenues	(282,871)	(286,148)
Operating expenses and charges	(282,871)	(286,148)
Operating income	0	0
Debt expense	65,274	60,390
Other income, net	(114,965)	(107,726)
Income tax expense	0	0
Equity earnings in subsidiaries	(180,686)	(207,613)
Net income from continuing operations	(230,377)	(254,949)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	49,691	47,336
Net income	(180,686)	(207,613)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(40,198)	(46,543)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	(220,884)	(254,156)
DaVita Inc. | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	0	0
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	0	0
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	0	0
Other revenues	188,836	195,565
Total revenues	188,836	195,565
Operating expenses and charges	143,659	133,356
Operating income	45,177	62,209
Debt expense	(133,595)	(114,334)
Other income, net	110,198	104,081
Income tax expense	7,026	14,387
Equity earnings in subsidiaries	134,535	141,117
Net income from continuing operations	149,289	178,686
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0
Net income	149,289	178,686
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	149,289	178,686
Guarantor subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	1,777,246	1,790,188
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	(3,970)	9,628
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	1,773,276	1,799,816
Other revenues	111,141	204,960
Total revenues	1,884,417	2,004,776
Operating expenses and charges	1,660,453	1,791,094
Operating income	223,964	213,682
Debt expense	(52,479)	(52,197)
Other income, net	2,596	2,523
Income tax expense	46,544	48,944
Equity earnings in subsidiaries	46,151	66,496
Net income from continuing operations	173,688	181,560
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(39,153)	(40,443)
Net income	134,535	141,117
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	134,535	141,117
Non- Guarantor subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	918,604	848,401
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	(1,493)	15,917
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	917,111	864,318
Other revenues	35,619	70,933
Total revenues	952,730	935,251
Operating expenses and charges	881,364	800,456
Operating income	71,366	134,795
Debt expense	(10,719)	(7,375)
Other income, net	9,111	5,704
Income tax expense	3,176	7,406
Equity earnings in subsidiaries	0	0
Net income from continuing operations	66,582	125,718
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	19,767	(12,679)
Net income	86,349	113,039
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ 86,349	$ 113,039