Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Operating activities
Net income	$ 10,606	$ 10,824
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	8,909	8,084
Straight-line rent revenue	(1,449)	(1,735)
Share-based compensation	1,858	1,838
Increase accounts payable and accrued liabilities	6,882	2,331
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs and debt discount	856	986
Increase in interest and rent receivable	(3,787)	(801)
Other adjustments	(523)	(2,241)
Net cash provided by operating activities	23,352	19,286
Investing activities
Real estate acquired	(671)	(173,486)
Principal received on loans receivable	1,184	580
Investment in loans receivable direct financing leases, and other investments	(396,500)	(5,463)
Construction in progress and other	(5,422)	(4,647)
Net cash used for investing activities	(401,409)	(183,016)
Financing activities
Revolving credit facilities, net	(89,600)	98,400
Additions to term debt	300,000
Payments of term debt	(58)	(6,945)
Distributions paid	(22,412)	(22,374)
Sale of common stock, net	220,193
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(110)	3,612
Debt issuance costs paid and other financing activities	(6,182)	(361)
Net cash provided by financing activities	401,831	72,332
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for period	23,774	(91,398)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	102,726	98,408
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	126,500	7,010
Interest paid	3,202	5,261
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:
Real estate acquired via assumption of mortgage loan		(14,592)
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Distributions declared, unpaid	27,182	22,403
Assumption of mortgage loan (as part of real estate acquired)		14,592
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	10,606	10,840
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	8,909	8,084
Straight-line rent revenue	(1,449)	(1,735)
Share-based compensation	1,858	1,838
Increase accounts payable and accrued liabilities	6,882	2,331
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs and debt discount	856	970
Increase in interest and rent receivable	(3,787)	(801)
Other adjustments	(523)	(2,241)
Net cash provided by operating activities	23,352	19,286
Investing activities
Real estate acquired	(671)	(173,486)
Principal received on loans receivable	1,184	580
Investment in loans receivable direct financing leases, and other investments	(396,500)	(5,463)
Construction in progress and other	(5,422)	(4,647)
Net cash used for investing activities	(401,409)	(183,016)
Financing activities
Revolving credit facilities, net	(89,600)	98,400
Additions to term debt	300,000
Payments of term debt	(58)	(6,945)
Distributions paid	(22,412)	(22,374)
Sale of common stock, net	220,193
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(110)	3,612
Debt issuance costs paid and other financing activities	(6,182)	(361)
Net cash provided by financing activities	401,831	72,332
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for period	23,774	(91,398)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	102,726	98,408
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	126,500	7,010
Interest paid	3,202	5,261
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:
Real estate acquired via assumption of mortgage loan		(14,592)
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Distributions declared, unpaid	27,182	22,403
Assumption of mortgage loan (as part of real estate acquired)		$ 14,592