Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 years	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Purchase price and investment	$ 261,104,000	$ 137,808,000	$ 421,000
Purchase of real estate assets	240,474,000	146,854,000	421,000
Closure of acquisition and related investments	February 29, 2012
Capital contribution	3,300,000
Lease period in years	20
Number of five year extensions in excess of lease period	3
Lease agreement, initial rental rate	9.00%
Lease agreement, increase in consumer price index floor rate	2.00%
Lease agreement, increase in consumer price index ceiling rate	5.00%
Acquisition loan, interest rate	15.00%
Coupon rate payable in cash in year one	6.00%
Coupon rate payable in cash in year two	7.00%
Coupon rate payable in cash in thereafter	10.00%
Coupon rate accrued and paid upon occurrence of any capital or liquidity events in year one	9.00%
Coupon rate accrued and paid upon occurrence of any capital or liquidity events in year two	8.00%
Coupon rate accrued and paid upon occurrence of any capital or liquidity events in year thereafter	5.00%
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock		288,066,000	68,003,000
Medical Properties Trust, Inc. [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock		288,066,000	68,003,000
Ernest Health Inc [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Purchase price and investment	396,500,000
Purchase of real estate assets	200,000,000
First mortgage loan	100,000,000
Acquisition loan	93,200,000
49% Interest [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Expected capital contributions to acquire membership interest	3,300,000
Expected membership interest acquire through capital contributions	49.00%
51% Interest [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Expected capital contributions to acquire membership interest	3,500,000
Expected membership interest acquire through capital contributions	51.00%
Common Stock Offering [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Sale of stock, transaction date	Feb. 07, 2012
Common stock, shares offering	23,575,000
Shares sold pursuant to exercise of underwriters' over-allotment option	3,075,000
Sale of stock, price per share	$ 9.75
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	220,700,000
Unsecured Senior Notes [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument face amount	200,000,000
Debt instrument, issuance date	February 17, 2012
Interest rate	6.375%
Debt instrument, maturity date	Feb. 15, 2022
Net proceeds from unsecured notes payable	196,500,000
Credit Facilities [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Credit facility, initiation date	January 25, 2012
Senior unsecured term loan facility	80,000,000
Credit facility, maximum capacity	400,000,000
Credit facility, current capacity	330,000,000
Increase in revolving credit facility	$ 70,000,000