Supplemental Data - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 459,242	$ 323,038
Restricted cash and equivalents	102,192	92,382
Accounts receivable, net	1,953,422	1,858,608
Other current assets	705,272	760,566
Current assets held for sale, net	6,004,948	5,389,565
Total current assets	9,225,076	8,424,159
Property and equipment, net	3,392,266	3,393,669
Operating lease right-of-use asset	2,736,536	0
Intangible assets, net	118,324	118,846
Other long-term assets	334,374	331,618
Goodwill	6,799,368	6,841,960	$ 6,610,279
Total assets	22,605,944	19,110,252
Current liabilities	6,477,567	3,647,402
Current liabilities held for sale	1,753,310	1,243,759
Payables to parent	0
Long-term operating leases	2,625,776	0
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities	6,519,574	9,186,052
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions	1,143,044	1,124,641
Total DaVita Inc. shareholders’ equity	3,875,354	3,703,442
Noncontrolling interests not subject to put provisions	211,319	204,956
Total equity	4,086,673	3,908,398
Total liabilities and equity	22,605,944	$ 19,110,252
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	629,422
Total current assets	629,422
Property and equipment, net	0
Operating lease right-of-use asset	0
Intangible assets, net	0
Other long-term assets	0
Goodwill	0
Total assets	629,422
Current liabilities	0
Current liabilities held for sale	412,368
Payables to parent	72,539
Long-term operating leases	0
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities	0
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions	0
Total DaVita Inc. shareholders’ equity	144,515
Noncontrolling interests not subject to put provisions	0
Total equity	144,515
Total liabilities and equity	629,422
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	3,288
Total current assets	3,288
Property and equipment, net	0
Operating lease right-of-use asset	0
Intangible assets, net	0
Other long-term assets	0
Goodwill	0
Total assets	3,288
Current liabilities	0
Current liabilities held for sale	0
Payables to parent	3,288
Long-term operating leases	0
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 equity	3,288
Parent Company And Restricted Subsidiaries
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	459,242
Restricted cash and equivalents	102,192
Accounts receivable, net	1,953,422
Other current assets	705,272
Current assets held for sale, net	5,372,238
Total current assets	8,592,366
Property and equipment, net	3,392,266
Operating lease right-of-use asset	2,736,536
Intangible assets, net	118,324
Other long-term assets	334,374
Goodwill	6,799,368
Total assets	21,973,234
Current liabilities	6,477,567
Current liabilities held for sale	1,340,942
Payables to parent	(75,827)
Long-term operating leases	2,625,776
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities	6,519,574
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions	1,143,044
Total DaVita Inc. shareholders’ equity	3,730,839
Noncontrolling interests not subject to put provisions	211,319
Total equity	3,942,158
Total liabilities and equity	$ 21,973,234