Summary of Segment Net Revenues, Segment Operating Income (Loss) and Reconciliation of Segment Income to Consolidated Income Before Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [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
Other revenues 347,180 294,236 1,033,335 869,849
Total net operating revenues 3,730,576 3,525,665 11,029,363 10,248,248
Capitated revenues 869,290 926,847 2,654,163 2,643,552
Operating income (loss) 819,156 509,368 1,513,115 925,760
Corporate administrative support [1] (28,028) (4,975) (40,366) (14,534)
Debt expense (104,581) (103,481) (310,359) (305,121)
Debt redemption and refinancing charges       (48,072)
Other income, net 1,876 2,484 8,067 4,262
Income before income taxes 716,451 408,371 1,210,823 576,829
Operating Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Total net operating revenues 3,763,333 3,546,764 11,117,560 10,305,501
Operating income (loss) 847,184 514,343 1,553,481 940,294
Operating Segments | U.S. Dialysis And Related Lab Services        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Patient service revenues 2,428,858 2,300,959 7,123,873 6,718,329
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts (109,299) (103,543) (320,565) (302,324)
Net patient service revenues 2,319,559 2,197,416 6,803,308 6,416,005
Other revenues [2] 3,912 3,490 12,134 10,214
Total net operating revenues 2,323,471 2,200,906 6,815,442 6,426,219
Operating income (loss) 452,187 461,899 1,341,432 795,255
Operating Segments | U.S. Dialysis And Related Lab Services | External Sources        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Patient service revenues 2,412,818 2,287,329 7,079,054 6,679,251
Operating Segments | U.S. Dialysis And Related Lab Services | Intersubsegment Eliminations        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Patient service revenues 16,040 13,630 44,819 39,078
Operating Segments | DaVita Medical Group (DMG)        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Net patient service revenues 153,089 78,938 417,634 241,385
Other revenues [3] 28,728 15,536 72,354 66,124
Total net operating revenues 1,028,137 1,001,036 3,076,560 2,895,150
Capitated revenues 846,245 906,478 2,586,383 2,587,545
Operating income (loss) 33,094 82,562 (126,110) 215,192
Operating Segments | DaVita Medical Group (DMG) | Intersubsegment Eliminations        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Other revenues 75 84 189 96
Operating Segments | Other Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Net patient service revenues 57,498 41,858 165,742 116,535
Other revenues 314,540 275,210 948,847 793,511
Total net operating revenues 411,725 344,822 1,225,558 984,132
Capitated revenues 23,045 20,369 67,780 56,007
Operating income (loss) 361,903 (30,118) 338,159 (70,153)
Operating Segments | Other Segments | Intersubsegment Eliminations        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Total net operating revenues 16,642 7,385 43,189 18,079
Intersegment Elimination        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Total net operating revenues $ (32,757) $ (21,099) $ (88,197) $ (57,253)
[1] Corporate administrative support costs also include $27,040 of an adjustment to reduce a receivable associated with the DMG acquisition escrow provision relating to an income tax item.
[2] Includes management fees for providing management and administrative services to dialysis centers that are wholly-owned by third parties and legal entities in which the Company owns a noncontrolling equity investment.
[3] Includes medical consulting service fees and management fees for providing management and administrative services to unconsolidated joint ventures, as well as revenue related to the maintenance of existing physician networks.