Supplemental Data - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,253,256	$ 323,038
Restricted cash and equivalents	103,885	92,382
Accounts receivable, net	1,901,225	1,858,608
Other current assets	740,352	760,566
Total current assets	3,998,718	8,424,159
Property and equipment, net	3,419,238	3,393,669
Operating lease right-of-use asset	2,781,288	0
Intangible assets, net	117,666	118,846
Other long-term assets	369,261	331,618
Goodwill	6,765,659	6,841,960	$ 6,610,279
Total assets	17,451,830	19,110,252
Current liabilities	2,206,640	3,647,402
Long-term operating lease liabilities	2,682,125	0
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities	8,754,483	9,186,052
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions	1,296,059	1,124,641
Total DaVita Inc. shareholders’ equity	2,318,576	3,703,442
Noncontrolling interests not subject to put provisions	193,947	204,956
Total equity	2,512,523	3,908,398
Total liabilities and equity	17,451,830	$ 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
Total current assets	0
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	0
Current liabilities	0
Long-term operating lease liabilities	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	0
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
Total current assets	0
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	0
Current liabilities	0
Long-term operating lease liabilities	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	0
Parent Company And Restricted Subsidiaries
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	1,253,256
Restricted cash and equivalents	103,885
Accounts receivable, net	1,901,225
Other current assets	740,352
Total current assets	3,998,718
Property and equipment, net	3,419,238
Operating lease right-of-use asset	2,781,288
Intangible assets, net	117,666
Other long-term assets	369,261
Goodwill	6,765,659
Total assets	17,451,830
Current liabilities	2,206,640
Long-term operating lease liabilities	2,682,125
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities	8,754,483
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions	1,296,059
Total DaVita Inc. shareholders’ equity	2,318,576
Noncontrolling interests not subject to put provisions	193,947
Total equity	2,512,523
Total liabilities and equity	$ 17,451,830