Acquisitions and divestitures - Pro Forma Summary of Results of Opeation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Pro forma net revenues	$ 3,925,402	$ 3,844,174	$ 11,638,894	$ 11,467,643
Pro forma net (loss) income attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ (214,156)	$ 572,873	$ 360,679	$ 728,759
Pro forma basic net (loss) income per share attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ (1.13)	$ 2.81	$ 1.89	$ 3.57
Pro forma diluted net (loss) income per share attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ (1.13)	$ 2.77	$ 1.86	$ 3.51

The pro forma basic net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65885119&loc=d3e1392-128463

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The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

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The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

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The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

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