CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Patient service revenues	$ 10,354,161	$ 9,480,279	$ 8,868,338
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	(451,353)	(427,860)	(366,884)
Net patient service revenues	9,902,808	9,052,419	8,501,454
Capitated revenues	3,518,679	3,509,095	3,261,288
Other revenues	1,323,618	1,220,323	1,032,364
Total net revenues	14,745,105	13,781,837	12,795,106
Operating expenses and charges:
Patient care costs and other costs	10,646,736	9,824,834	9,119,305
General and administrative	1,592,698	1,452,135	1,261,506
Depreciation and amortization	720,252	638,024	590,935
Provision for uncollectible accounts	11,677	9,240	14,453
Equity investment income	(13,044)	(18,325)	(23,234)
Goodwill and other asset impairment charges	296,408	210,234
Gain on changes in ownership interests, net	(404,165)
Settlement charge and loss contingency accrual		495,000	17,000
Total operating expenses and charges	12,850,562	12,611,142	10,979,965
Operating income	1,894,543	1,170,695	1,815,141
Debt expense	(414,382)	(408,380)	(410,294)
Debt redemption and refinancing charges		(48,072)	(97,548)
Other income, net	8,734	8,893	2,374
Income before income taxes	1,488,895	723,136	1,309,673
Income tax expense	455,813	295,726	446,343
Net income	1,033,082	427,410	863,330
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(153,208)	(157,678)	(140,216)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ 879,874	$ 269,732	$ 723,114
Earnings per share:
Basic net income per share attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ 4.36	$ 1.27	$ 3.41
Diluted net income per share attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ 4.29	$ 1.25	$ 3.33
Weighted average shares for earnings per share:
Basic	201,641,173	211,867,714	212,301,827
Diluted	204,904,656	216,251,807	216,927,681