Consolidating Statements of Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ 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
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Patient service 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
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts									(427,860)	(366,884)	(293,546)
Net patient service revenues									9,052,419	8,501,454	8,013,649
Capitated revenues									3,509,095	3,261,288	2,987,315
Other revenues									1,220,323	1,032,364	763,086
Total net revenues									13,781,837	12,795,106	11,764,050
Operating expenses and charges									12,611,142	10,979,965	10,213,916
Operating income	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
Debt (expense) and refinancing charges									(456,452)	(507,842)	(429,943)
Other income, net									8,893	2,374	4,787
Income tax expense									295,726	446,343	381,013
Income from continuing operations									427,410	863,330	743,965
Discontinued operations											13,236
Net income									427,410	863,330	757,201
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(157,678)	(140,216)	(123,755)
Net 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
Consolidation, Eliminations
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Patient service revenues									(146,104)	(118,341)	(103,438)
Net patient service revenues									(146,104)	(118,341)	(103,438)
Capitated revenues									(243)	(8,150)	(250)
Other revenues									(1,414,834)	(1,315,685)	(1,405,246)
Total net revenues									(1,561,181)	(1,442,176)	(1,508,934)
Operating expenses and charges									(1,561,181)	(1,442,176)	(1,508,934)
Debt (expense) and refinancing charges									375,822	401,992	402,799
Other income, net									(375,822)	(401,992)	(402,799)
Equity earnings in subsidiaries									(514,183)	(982,776)	(796,282)
Income from continuing operations											(796,282)
Net income									(514,183)	(982,776)	(796,282)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(157,678)	(140,216)	(123,755)
Net income attributable to DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.									(671,861)	(1,122,992)	(920,037)
DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Other revenues									727,887	684,066	616,155
Total net revenues									727,887	684,066	616,155
Operating expenses and charges									488,595	443,951	434,776
Operating income									239,292	240,115	181,379
Debt (expense) and refinancing charges									(449,598)	(502,762)	(427,141)
Other income, net									365,752	385,532	402,910
Income tax expense									81,221	46,856	59,716
Equity earnings in subsidiaries									195,507	647,085	536,014
Income from continuing operations											633,446
Net income									269,732	723,114	633,446
Net income attributable to DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.									269,732	723,114	633,446
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Patient service revenues									6,576,380	6,246,683	5,989,658
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts									(285,454)	(238,600)	(177,415)
Net patient service revenues									6,290,926	6,008,083	5,812,243
Capitated revenues									1,776,311	1,689,634	1,427,321
Other revenues									1,875,133	1,639,828	1,534,310
Total net revenues									9,942,370	9,337,545	8,773,874
Operating expenses and charges									9,563,862	8,276,991	7,843,476
Operating income									378,508	1,060,554	930,398
Debt (expense) and refinancing charges									(340,176)	(363,623)	(366,188)
Other income, net									11,562	11,731	1,903
Income tax expense									173,063	397,268	303,603
Equity earnings in subsidiaries									318,676	335,691	260,268
Income from continuing operations											522,778
Net income									195,507	647,085	522,778
Net income attributable to DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.									195,507	647,085	522,778
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Patient service revenues									3,050,003	2,739,996	2,420,975
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts									(142,406)	(128,284)	(116,131)
Net patient service revenues									2,907,597	2,611,712	2,304,844
Capitated revenues									1,733,027	1,579,804	1,560,244
Other revenues									32,137	24,155	17,867
Total net revenues									4,672,761	4,215,671	3,882,955
Operating expenses and charges									4,119,866	3,701,199	3,444,598
Operating income									552,895	514,472	438,357
Debt (expense) and refinancing charges									(42,500)	(43,449)	(39,413)
Other income, net									7,401	7,103	2,773
Income tax expense									41,442	2,219	17,694
Income from continuing operations											384,023
Discontinued operations											13,236
Net income									476,354	475,907	397,259
Net income attributable to DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.									$ 476,354	$ 475,907	$ 397,259