Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Operating activities
Net income	$ 903,819	$ 656,940	$ 432,272
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	345,577	333,781	275,953
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	17,045	16,856	13,099
Straight-line rent revenue and other	(282,504)	(288,717)	(226,906)
Stock / (Unit)-based compensation expense	49,421	52,110	47,154
(Gain) loss from sale of real estate	(536,755)	(52,471)	2,833
Real estate and other impairment charges	268,375	39,411	19,006
Write-off of unbilled rent and other	34,605	7,213	26,415
Debt refinancing and unutilized financing costs	9,452	27,650	28,180
Gain on sale of equity investments		(40,945)
Tax rate and other changes	10,697	34,796	9,295
Pre-acquisition rent collected - Circle Transaction			(35,020)
Other adjustments	6,108	11,913	8,134
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivables	(116,420)	(23,867)	(2,438)
Other assets	(4,029)	(4,375)	18,264
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	33,576	54,058	(18,424)
Deferred revenue	43	(12,697)	19,819
Net cash provided by operating activities	739,010	811,656	617,636
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(1,332,962)	(5,350,239)	(4,249,180)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	2,185,574	246,468	94,177
Principal received on loans receivable	53,322	1,595,708	1,306,187
Investment in loans receivable	(207,542)	(58,932)	(62,651)
Construction in progress and other	(109,237)	(67,725)	(68,350)
Proceeds from sale and return of equity investment	14,295	65,546	69,224
Capital additions and other investments, net	(207,394)	(289,239)	(36,180)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	396,056	(3,858,413)	(2,946,773)
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt, net of discount	128,536	3,407,535	2,215,950
Payments of term debt	(869,606)	(1,390,994)	(800,000)
Revolving credit facilities, net	203,576	559,985	162,633
Dividends / Distribution paid	(698,535)	(643,473)	(567,969)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(5,020)	17,815	21,706
Proceeds from sale of common shares, net of offering costs		1,051,229	411,101
Repurchase of common stock / unit	(17,940)
Stock / Unit vesting - satisfaction of tax withholdings	(29,922)
Payment of debt refinancing, deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(53,612)	(54,489)	(42,347)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(1,342,523)	2,947,608	1,401,074
Decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash for the year	(207,457)	(99,149)	(928,063)
Effect of exchange rate changes	(12,887)	4,662	16,441
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year	461,882	556,369	1,467,991
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year	241,538	461,882	556,369
Interest paid, including capitalized interest of $6,454 in 2022, $3,289 in 2021, and $3,030 in 2020	353,838	326,406	309,920
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Dividends declared, unpaid	176,580	176,494	147,666
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash are comprised of the following:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	459,227	549,884	1,462,286
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at beginning of period	$ 2,655	$ 6,485	$ 5,705
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other Assets	Other Assets	Other Assets
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year	$ 241,538	$ 461,882	$ 556,369
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	235,668	459,227	549,884
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at end of period	$ 5,870	$ 2,655	$ 6,485
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other Assets	Other Assets	Other Assets
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year	$ 241,538	$ 461,882	$ 556,369
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	903,819	656,940	432,272
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	345,577	333,781	275,953
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	17,045	16,856	13,099
Straight-line rent revenue and other	(282,504)	(288,717)	(226,906)
Stock / (Unit)-based compensation expense	49,421	52,110	47,154
(Gain) loss from sale of real estate	(536,755)	(52,471)	2,833
Real estate and other impairment charges	268,375	39,411	19,006
Write-off of unbilled rent and other	34,605	7,213	26,415
Debt refinancing and unutilized financing costs	9,452	27,650	28,180
Gain on sale of equity investments		(40,945)
Tax rate and other changes	10,697	34,796	9,295
Pre-acquisition rent collected - Circle Transaction			(35,020)
Other adjustments	6,108	11,913	8,134
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivables	(116,420)	(23,867)	(2,438)
Other assets	(4,029)	(4,375)	18,264
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	33,576	54,058	(18,424)
Deferred revenue	43	(12,697)	19,819
Net cash provided by operating activities	739,010	811,656	617,636
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(1,332,962)	(5,350,239)	(4,249,180)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	2,185,574	246,468	94,177
Principal received on loans receivable	53,322	1,595,708	1,306,187
Investment in loans receivable	(207,542)	(58,932)	(62,651)
Construction in progress and other	(109,237)	(67,725)	(68,350)
Proceeds from sale and return of equity investment	14,295	65,546	69,224
Capital additions and other investments, net	(207,394)	(289,239)	(36,180)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	396,056	(3,858,413)	(2,946,773)
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt, net of discount	128,536	3,407,535	2,215,950
Payments of term debt	(869,606)	(1,390,994)	(800,000)
Revolving credit facilities, net	203,576	559,985	162,633
Dividends / Distribution paid	(698,535)	(643,473)	(567,969)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(5,020)	17,815	21,706
Proceeds from sale of units, net of offering costs		1,051,229	411,101
Repurchase of common stock / unit	(17,940)
Stock / Unit vesting - satisfaction of tax withholdings	(29,922)
Payment of debt refinancing, deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(53,612)	(54,489)	(42,347)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(1,342,523)	2,947,608	1,401,074
Decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash for the year	(207,457)	(99,149)	(928,063)
Effect of exchange rate changes	(12,887)	4,662	16,441
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year	461,882	556,369	1,467,991
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year	241,538	461,882	556,369
Interest paid, including capitalized interest of $6,454 in 2022, $3,289 in 2021, and $3,030 in 2020	353,838	326,406	309,920
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Dividends declared, unpaid	176,580	176,494	147,666
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash are comprised of the following:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	459,227	549,884	1,462,286
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at beginning of period	$ 2,655	$ 6,485	$ 5,705
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other Assets	Other Assets	Other Assets
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year	$ 241,538	$ 461,882	$ 556,369
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	235,668	459,227	549,884
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at end of period	$ 5,870	$ 2,655	$ 6,485
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other Assets	Other Assets	Other Assets
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year	$ 241,538	$ 461,882	$ 556,369