Health Care Costs Payable - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Health Care Organizations [Abstract]
Increase (decrease) in prior year estimates of health care costs payable	$ 838

The increase (decrease) in prior year estimates of health care costs payable during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	dva_IncreaseDecreaseInPriorYearEstimatesOfHealthCareCostsPayable
Namespace Prefix:	dva_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration