Real Estate And Lending Activities (List Of Assets Purchased As Part Of Acquisitions) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Real Estate Assets Purchased As Part Of Acquisitions [Line Items]
Total	$ 211,104	$ 73,851
Land [Member]
Real Estate Assets Purchased As Part Of Acquisitions [Line Items]
Significant acquisitions and disposals of acquisition	17,218	6,264
Building [Member]
Real Estate Assets Purchased As Part Of Acquisitions [Line Items]
Significant acquisitions and disposals of acquisition	178,535	61,893
Intangible Lease Assets [Member]
Real Estate Assets Purchased As Part Of Acquisitions [Line Items]
Significant acquisitions and disposals of acquisition	$ 15,351	$ 5,694
Weighted average life of acquired intangible assets (in years)	13.5	23.1

Real Estate Assets Purchased As Part Of Acquisitions [Line Items]

Name:	mpw_RealEstateAssetsPurchasedAsPartOfAcquisitionsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	mpw
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The calculated weighted-average amortization period of a major class of finite-lived intangible assets acquired during the current period either individually or as part of a group of assets (in either an asset acquisition or business combination). A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 44

-Subparagraph a(3)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16265-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetWeightedAverageUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The value of all consideration given or received by the Entity in the significant acquisition or disposal.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsAcquisitionCostsOrSaleProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant