Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 500,285	$ 138,159
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income	364,889	290,843
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	865,174	429,002
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions of property and equipment	(214,535)	(173,187)
Acquisitions	(77,236)	(405,154)
Proceeds from asset and business sales	46,612	4,657
(Purchases) proceeds from investment sales and other items, net	(4,853)	19,373
Net cash used in investing activities	(250,012)	(554,311)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net	(36,141)	(24,571)
Intercompany borrowing (payments)	0	0
Other items	(22,796)	(308,526)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(58,937)	(333,097)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	2,820	717
Net increase (decrease) in cash	559,045	(457,689)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	913,187	1,499,116
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,472,232	1,041,427
Consolidating adjustments
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(546,345)	(132,743)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income	546,345	132,743
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	0	0
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions of property and equipment	0	0
Acquisitions	0	0
Proceeds from asset and business sales	0	0
(Purchases) proceeds from investment sales and other items, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net	0	0
Intercompany borrowing (payments)	0	0
Other items	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	0
DaVita Inc. | Reportable Legal Entities
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	447,697	97,434
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income	(149,767)	(18,699)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	297,930	78,735
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions of property and equipment	(30,580)	(16,865)
Acquisitions	0
Proceeds from asset and business sales	0	0
(Purchases) proceeds from investment sales and other items, net	(54,150)	23,387
Net cash used in investing activities	(84,730)	6,522
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net	(27,504)	(21,247)
Intercompany borrowing (payments)	339,124	(315,986)
Other items	3,330	(267,551)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	314,950	(604,784)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash	528,150	(519,527)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	549,921	1,186,636
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,078,071	667,109
Guarantor subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	394,641	70,419
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income	(131,683)	217,405
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	262,958	287,824
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions of property and equipment	(133,909)	(86,055)
Acquisitions	(70,237)	(400,093)
Proceeds from asset and business sales	46,612	4,657
(Purchases) proceeds from investment sales and other items, net	(1,976)	(7,438)
Net cash used in investing activities	(159,510)	(488,929)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net	(4,616)	(1,977)
Intercompany borrowing (payments)	(82,592)	167,702
Other items	(799)	(756)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(88,007)	164,969
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash	15,441	(36,136)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	59,192	109,357
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	74,633	73,221
Non- Guarantor subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	204,292	103,049
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income	99,994	(40,606)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	304,286	62,443
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions of property and equipment	(50,046)	(70,267)
Acquisitions	(6,999)	(5,061)
Proceeds from asset and business sales	0	0
(Purchases) proceeds from investment sales and other items, net	51,273	3,424
Net cash used in investing activities	(5,772)	(71,904)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net	(4,021)	(1,347)
Intercompany borrowing (payments)	(256,532)	148,284
Other items	(25,327)	(40,219)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(285,880)	106,718
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	2,820	717
Net increase (decrease) in cash	15,454	97,974
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	304,074	203,123
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 319,528	$ 301,097