Real Estate And Lending Activities (Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Data) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Real Estate And Lending Activities [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ 50,735	$ 50,020
Net income	$ 19,647	$ 21,220
Net income per share/unit - diluted	$ 0.14	$ 0.16

Net Income Loss per share Attributable to Common Stockholder

No definition available.

Name:	mpw_NetIncomeLossPerShareAttributableToCommonStockholder
Namespace Prefix:	mpw_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	mpw_RealEstateAndLendingActivitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	mpw_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6909870&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaNetIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration