Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Patient service revenues	$ 2,601,378	$ 2,481,933
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	(112,983)	(109,205)
Net patient service operating revenues	2,488,395	2,372,728
Capitated revenues	918,036	887,047
Other revenues	290,852	321,361
Total net operating revenues	3,697,283	3,581,136
Operating expenses and charges	2,809,047	3,216,247
Operating income	888,236	364,889
Interest and Debt Expense	104,429	102,884
Other income, net	4,243	2,976
Income tax expense	287,765	126,822
Equity (loss) earnings in subsidiaries	0	0
Net income	500,285	138,159
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(52,588)	(40,725)
Net income (loss) attributable to DaVita Inc.	447,697	97,434
Consolidating adjustments
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Patient service revenues	(50,730)	(39,416)
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	0	0
Net patient service operating revenues	(50,730)	(39,416)
Capitated revenues	(545)	(127)
Other revenues	(443,846)	(378,451)
Total net operating revenues	(495,121)	(417,994)
Operating expenses and charges	(495,121)	(417,994)
Operating income	0	0
Interest and Debt Expense	(103,352)	(101,904)
Other income, net	(103,352)	(101,904)
Income tax expense	0	0
Equity (loss) earnings in subsidiaries	(546,345)	(132,743)
Net income	(546,345)	(132,743)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(52,588)	(40,725)
Net income (loss) attributable to DaVita Inc.	(598,933)	(173,468)
DaVita Inc. | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Patient service revenues	0	0
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	0	0
Net patient service operating revenues	0	0
Capitated revenues	0	0
Other revenues	221,386	186,975
Total net operating revenues	221,386	186,975
Operating expenses and charges	131,910	122,273
Operating income	89,476	64,702
Interest and Debt Expense	102,664	101,101
Other income, net	100,337	98,560
Income tax expense	34,093	35,146
Equity (loss) earnings in subsidiaries	394,641	70,419
Net income	447,697	97,434
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to DaVita Inc.	447,697	97,434
Guarantor subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Patient service revenues	1,553,356	1,653,312
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	(62,281)	(58,813)
Net patient service operating revenues	1,491,075	1,594,499
Capitated revenues	463,627	467,001
Other revenues	477,675	485,316
Total net operating revenues	2,432,377	2,546,816
Operating expenses and charges	1,880,155	2,377,630
Operating income	552,222	169,186
Interest and Debt Expense	91,401	92,173
Other income, net	3,537	4,336
Income tax expense	221,421	73,254
Equity (loss) earnings in subsidiaries	151,704	62,324
Net income	394,641	70,419
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to DaVita Inc.	394,641	70,419
Non- Guarantor subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Patient service revenues	1,098,752	868,037
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	(50,702)	(50,392)
Net patient service operating revenues	1,048,050	817,645
Capitated revenues	454,954	420,173
Other revenues	35,637	27,521
Total net operating revenues	1,538,641	1,265,339
Operating expenses and charges	1,292,103	1,134,338
Operating income	246,538	131,001
Interest and Debt Expense	13,716	11,514
Other income, net	3,721	1,984
Income tax expense	32,251	18,422
Equity (loss) earnings in subsidiaries	0	0
Net income	204,292	103,049
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ 204,292	$ 103,049