Consolidated Statements Of Equity/Capital (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	General Partner [Member] MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]	Limited Partners [Member] MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Common Units [Member]	Limited Partners [Member] MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Non-Controlling Interests [Member]	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]	Preferred [Member]	Common Units [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Distribution In Excess Of Net Income [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Non-Controlling Interests [Member]	Total
Balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 6,263	$ 619,886	$ 186		$ 243	$ 626,578		$ 65	$ 686,238	$ (59,941)		$ (262)	$ 243	$ 626,343
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2008	650	64,406	32					65,056
Comprehensive income:
Net income	364	35,856	174		36	36,430				36,330			37	36,367
Net income	364	35,856	174		36	36,430				36,330			37	36,367
Comprehensive income	364	35,856	174		36	36,430				36,330			37	36,367
Deferred stock units issued to directors								1	5	(4)				2
Deferred stock units issued to directors, shares								52
Stock vesting and amortization of stock-based compensation	55	5,433	31			5,488			5,488					5,488
Stock vesting and amortization of stock-based compensation, shares	3	295						246
Proceeds from offering (net of offering costs)	680	67,323				68,003		13	67,990					68,003
Proceeds from offering (net of offering costs), shares	134	13,237						13,371
Distributions to non-controlling interests					(149)	(149)							(150)	(150)
Dividends declared	(645)	(63,546)	(287)			(64,478)				(64,478)				(64,478)
Balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2009	6,717	664,952	73		130	671,872		79	759,721	(88,093)		(262)	130	671,575
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2009	787	77,938	63					78,725
Comprehensive income:
Net income						(2,799)
Net income						(2,799)
Balance, Value at Mar. 31, 2010
Balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2009	6,717	664,952	73		130	671,872		79	759,721	(88,093)		(262)	130	671,575
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2009	787	77,938	63					78,725
Comprehensive income:
Net income	230	22,601	157		99	23,087				22,913			99	23,012
Net income	230	22,601	157		99	23,087				22,913			99	23,012
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps				(3,641)		(3,641)					(3,641)			(3,641)
Comprehensive income	230	22,601	157	(3,641)	99	19,446				22,913	(3,641)		99	19,371
Stock vesting and amortization of stock-based compensation	66	6,550	31			6,616			6,616					6,616
Stock vesting and amortization of stock-based compensation, shares	7	693						700
Proceeds from offering (net of offering costs)	2,882	285,184				288,066		31	288,035					288,066
Proceeds from offering (net of offering costs), shares	308	30,492						30,800
Extinguishment of convertible debt	(26)	(2,560)				(2,586)			(2,587)					(2,587)
Distributions to non-controlling interests					(115)	(115)							(115)	(115)
Dividends declared	(834)	(82,286)	(230)			(83,350)				(83,350)				(83,350)
Balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2010	9,035	894,441	94	(3,641)	114	899,949		110	1,051,785	(148,530)	(3,641)	(262)	114	899,576
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2010	1,102	109,123						110,225
Balance, Value at Sep. 30, 2010
Comprehensive income:
Net income						10,630
Net income						10,630
Balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2010						899,949						(262)
Comprehensive income:
Net income						10,841
Net income						10,841
Balance, Value at Mar. 31, 2011
Balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2010	9,035	894,441	94	(3,641)	114	899,949		110	1,051,785	(148,530)	(3,641)	(262)	114	899,576
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2010	1,102	109,123						110,225
Comprehensive income:
Net income	265	26,020	268		178	26,731				26,536			178	26,714
Net income	265	26,020	268		178	26,731				26,536			178	26,714
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps				(8,590)		(8,590)					(8,590)			(8,590)
Comprehensive income	265	26,020	268	(8,590)	178	18,141				26,536	(8,590)		178	18,124
Stock vesting and amortization of stock-based compensation	69	6,915	56			6,984		1	6,982					6,983
Stock vesting and amortization of stock-based compensation, shares	5	556						561
Extinguishment of convertible debt	(55)	(5,446)				(5,501)			(3,070)	(2,431)				(5,501)
Purchase of non-controlling interest		(442)			(83)	(525)			(441)				(83)	(524)
Distributions to non-controlling interests					(209)	(209)							(209)	(209)
Dividends declared	(896)	(88,470)	(268)			(89,634)				(89,634)				(89,634)
Balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2011	8,418	833,018	150	(12,231)		829,205		111	1,055,256	(214,059)	(12,231)	(262)		828,815
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2011	1,107	109,679						110,786
Balance, Value at Sep. 30, 2011
Comprehensive income:
Net income						12,695
Net income						12,695
Balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2011						$ 829,205						$ (262)