CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	$ 2,734,065	$ 2,718,403	$ 5,369,217	$ 5,309,477
Provision for uncollectible accounts	(10,249)	(49,406)	(15,712)	(23,861)
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	2,723,816	2,668,997	5,353,505	5,285,616
Other revenues	118,889	217,956	232,312	450,781
Total revenues	2,842,705	2,886,953	5,585,817	5,736,397
Operating expenses and charges:
Patient care costs	1,957,753	2,069,089	3,922,688	4,104,674
General and administrative	275,338	264,094	526,151	530,623
Depreciation and amortization	152,242	147,079	300,770	289,878
Provision for uncollectible accounts	0	(2,100)	0	(8,100)
Equity investment income	(4,514)	(9,795)	(7,222)	(9,950)
Impairment of other assets	0	11,245	0	11,245
Goodwill impairment charges	0	3,106	41,037	3,106
Gain on changes in ownership interest, net	0	(33,957)	0	(33,957)
Total operating expenses and charges	2,380,819	2,448,761	4,783,424	4,887,519
Operating income	461,886	438,192	802,393	848,878
Debt expense	(131,666)	(119,692)	(263,185)	(233,208)
Debt prepayment charges	(12,160)	0	(12,160)	0
Other income, net	5,643	1,994	12,583	6,576
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	323,703	320,494	539,631	622,246
Income tax expense	75,938	83,868	132,684	154,605
Net income from continuing operations	247,765	236,626	406,947	467,641
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax	79,392	69,696	109,697	63,910
Net income	327,157	306,322	516,644	531,551
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(53,606)	(39,046)	(93,804)	(85,589)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ 273,551	$ 267,276	$ 422,840	$ 445,962
Earnings per share attributable to DaVita Inc.:
Basic net income from continuing operations per share	$ 1.17	$ 1.16	$ 1.89	$ 2.23
Basic net income per share	1.64	1.56	2.54	2.54
Diluted net income from continuing operations per share	1.16	1.15	1.89	2.19
Diluted net income per share	$ 1.64	$ 1.53	$ 2.54	$ 2.51
Weighted average shares for earnings per share:
Basic (in shares)	166,346,041	171,617,238	166,366,886	175,267,270
Diluted (in shares)	166,799,525	174,105,884	166,789,978	177,949,934
Amounts attributable to DaVita Inc.:
Net income from continuing operations	$ 194,223	$ 199,603	$ 314,477	$ 390,618
Net income from discontinued operations	79,328	67,673	108,363	55,344
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ 273,551	$ 267,276	$ 422,840	$ 445,962