Selected quarterly financial data (unaudited) (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 3,533,589	$ 3,525,665	$ 3,434,618	$ 3,287,965	$ 3,328,017	$ 3,251,824	$ 3,172,489	$ 3,042,776	$ 9,480,279	$ 8,868,338	$ 8,307,195
Operating income (loss)	244,935	509,368	480,548	(64,156)	452,085	437,536	484,295	441,225	1,170,695	1,815,141	1,550,134
Income (loss) before income taxes	146,307	408,371	330,539	(162,081)	354,365	336,412	282,308	336,588	723,136	1,309,673	1,124,978
Net (loss) income attributable to DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.	$ (6,000)	$ 215,872	$ 170,477	$ (110,617)	$ 208,020	$ 184,122	$ 147,683	$ 183,289	$ 269,732	$ 723,114	$ 633,446
Basic (loss) income per share attributable to DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.	$ (0.03)	$ 1.02	$ 0.80	$ (0.52)	$ 0.98	$ 0.87	$ 0.70	$ 0.87	$ 1.27	$ 3.41	$ 2.95
Basic net (loss) income per share attributable to DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.	(0.03)	1.02	0.80	(0.52)	0.98	0.87	0.70	0.87	1.27	3.41	3.02
Diluted (loss) income per share attributable to DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.	(0.03)	1.00	0.78	(0.52)	0.96	0.85	0.68	0.85	1.25	3.33	2.89
Diluted net (loss) income per share attributable to DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.	$ (0.03)	$ 1.00	$ 0.78	$ (0.52)	$ 0.96	$ 0.85	$ 0.68	$ 0.85	$ 1.25	$ 3.33	$ 2.95