Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Patient service revenues	$ 2,629,661	$ 2,414,034	$ 7,678,053	$ 7,049,428
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	(115,555)	(109,452)	(336,188)	(314,581)
Net patient service revenues	2,514,106	2,304,582	7,341,865	6,734,847
Capitated revenues	869,290	926,847	2,654,163	2,643,552
Other revenues	347,180	294,236	1,033,335	869,849
Total net revenues	3,730,576	3,525,665	11,029,363	10,248,248
Operating expenses and charges	2,911,420	3,016,297	9,516,248	9,322,488
Operating income	819,156	509,368	1,513,115	925,760
Debt (expense) and refinancing charges	(104,581)		(310,359)
Other income, net	1,876	2,484	8,067	4,262
Income tax (benefit) expense	104,301	147,064	366,011	183,893
Net income	612,150	261,307	844,812	392,936
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(40,818)	(45,435)	(122,664)	(117,204)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	571,332	215,872	722,148	275,732
Debt expense, including debt redemption charges		(103,481)		(353,193)
Consolidation, Eliminations
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Patient service revenues	(42,890)	(37,939)	(123,100)	(107,155)
Net patient service revenues	(42,890)	(37,939)	(123,100)	(107,155)
Capitated revenues	(40)	(115)	(251)	(148)
Other revenues	(400,687)	(378,606)	(1,183,281)	(1,054,371)
Total net revenues	(443,617)	(416,660)	(1,306,632)	(1,161,674)
Operating expenses and charges	(443,617)	(416,660)	(1,306,632)	(1,161,674)
Debt (expense) and refinancing charges	103,432		308,800
Other income, net	(103,432)	(91,458)	(308,800)	(278,997)
Equity (loss) earnings in subsidiaries	(840,027)	(284,725)	(1,155,137)	(444,255)
Net income	(840,027)	(284,725)	(1,155,137)	(444,255)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(40,818)	(45,435)	(122,664)	(117,204)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	(880,845)	(330,160)	(1,277,801)	(561,459)
Debt expense, including debt redemption charges		91,458		278,997
DaVita Inc. | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Other revenues	191,815	184,561	575,700	542,412
Total net revenues	191,815	184,561	575,700	542,412
Operating expenses and charges	143,784	110,935	400,129	363,347
Operating income	48,031	73,626	175,571	179,065
Debt (expense) and refinancing charges	(101,895)		(305,097)
Other income, net	99,446	89,824	296,660	271,847
Income tax (benefit) expense	(20,898)	25,368	56,190	41,215
Equity (loss) earnings in subsidiaries	504,852	179,926	611,204	213,754
Net income	571,332	215,872	722,148	275,732
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	571,332	215,872	722,148	275,732
Debt expense, including debt redemption charges		(102,136)		(347,719)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Patient service revenues	1,726,892	1,656,648	5,044,565	4,901,959
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	(73,833)	(78,494)	(207,144)	(212,816)
Net patient service revenues	1,653,059	1,578,154	4,837,421	4,689,143
Capitated revenues	462,436	453,766	1,391,010	1,340,838
Other revenues	509,867	480,412	1,518,407	1,360,261
Total net revenues	2,625,362	2,512,332	7,746,838	7,390,242
Operating expenses and charges	2,388,114	2,244,237	7,275,863	7,042,896
Operating income	237,248	268,095	470,975	347,346
Debt (expense) and refinancing charges	(91,716)		(275,148)
Other income, net	2,659	2,379	12,416	6,780
Income tax (benefit) expense	(21,486)	112,310	140,972	116,934
Equity (loss) earnings in subsidiaries	335,175	104,799	543,933	230,501
Net income	504,852	179,926	611,204	213,754
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	504,852	179,926	611,204	213,754
Debt expense, including debt redemption charges		(83,037)		(253,939)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Patient service revenues	945,659	795,325	2,756,588	2,254,624
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	(41,722)	(30,958)	(129,044)	(101,765)
Net patient service revenues	903,937	764,367	2,627,544	2,152,859
Capitated revenues	406,894	473,196	1,263,404	1,302,862
Other revenues	46,185	7,869	122,509	21,547
Total net revenues	1,357,016	1,245,432	4,013,457	3,477,268
Operating expenses and charges	823,139	1,077,785	3,146,888	3,077,919
Operating income	533,877	167,647	866,569	399,349
Debt (expense) and refinancing charges	(14,402)		(38,914)
Other income, net	3,203	1,739	7,791	4,632
Income tax (benefit) expense	146,685	9,386	168,849	25,744
Net income	375,993	150,234	666,597	347,705
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ 375,993	150,234	$ 666,597	347,705
Debt expense, including debt redemption charges		$ (9,766)		$ (30,532)