Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Revenues
Rent billed	$ 32,723	$ 27,642	$ 64,370	$ 54,556
Straight-line rent	1,428	2,045	2,877	3,756
Income from direct financing leases	5,371		7,206
Interest and fee income	11,548	5,269	19,490	10,550
Total revenues	51,070	34,956	93,943	68,862
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization	8,788	7,915	17,420	15,346
Real estate impairment charge		564		564
Property-related	639	212	871	236
General and administrative	6,697	7,818	14,289	14,693
Acquisition expenses	279	616	3,704	2,656
Total operating expenses	16,403	17,125	36,284	33,495
Operating income (expense)	34,667	17,831	57,659	35,367
Other income (expense)
Earnings from equity and other interests	879	2	879	70
Debt refinancing costs		(3,789)		(3,789)
Interest expense	(14,889)	(12,387)	(27,684)	(20,526)
Net other expense	(14,027)	(16,155)	(26,837)	(24,309)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	20,640	1,676	30,822	11,058
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1,280)	1,007	(855)	2,449
Net income (loss)	19,360	2,683	29,967	13,507
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(87)	(88)
Net income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	19,316	2,640	29,880	13,419
Parent
Expenses
General and administrative		27		44
Total operating expenses		27		44
Operating income (expense)		(27)		(44)
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		27		(44)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes	19,360	2,710	29,967	13,551
Net income (loss)	19,360	2,683	29,967	13,507
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(87)	(88)
Net income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	19,316	2,640	29,880	13,419
Subsidiary Issuers
Revenues
Interest and fee income	5,034	1,370	7,978	2,767
Total revenues	5,034	1,370	7,978	2,767
Expenses
Property-related	130	(35)	261
General and administrative	6,773	6,003	13,736	12,008
Acquisition expenses	279	579	3,704	2,204
Total operating expenses	7,182	6,547	17,701	14,212
Operating income (expense)	(2,148)	(5,177)	(9,723)	(11,445)
Other income (expense)
Interest and other income (expense)	(16)	22	(28)	(2)
Debt refinancing costs		(3,684)		(3,684)
Interest expense	(14,913)	(12,048)	(27,702)	(20,015)
Net other expense	(14,929)	(15,710)	(27,730)	(23,701)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(17,077)	(20,887)	(37,453)	(35,146)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes	36,437	23,579	67,420	48,697
Net income (loss)	19,360	2,710	29,967	13,551
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(87)	(88)
Net income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	19,316	2,667	29,880	13,463
Subsidiary Guarantors
Revenues
Rent billed	30,701	26,068	60,677	51,613
Straight-line rent	1,053	1,459	2,133	2,835
Income from direct financing leases	4,839		6,492
Interest and fee income	6,530	4,505	11,744	9,007
Total revenues	43,123	32,032	81,046	63,455
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization	8,363	7,490	16,570	14,539
Real estate impairment charge		564		564
Property-related	420	300	522	193
Total operating expenses	8,783	8,354	17,092	15,296
Operating income (expense)	34,340	23,678	63,954	48,159
Other income (expense)
Interest and other income (expense)	(2)	(5)	(2)	1
Earnings from equity and other interests	453		453
Debt refinancing costs		(105)		(105)
Interest expense	254	(40)	478	(94)
Net other expense	705	(150)	929	(198)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	35,045	23,528	64,883	47,961
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		98		98
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes	1,117	1,267	2,238	2,345
Net income (loss)	36,162	24,893	67,121	50,404
Net income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	36,162	24,893	67,121	50,404
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues
Rent billed	4,153	1,905	8,284	3,606
Straight-line rent	375	586	744	921
Income from direct financing leases	5,371		7,206
Interest and fee income	7,007	907	10,414	1,676
Total revenues	16,906	3,398	26,648	6,203
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization	425	425	850	807
Property-related	7,059	278	11,171	706
General and administrative	(76)	1,788	553	2,641
Acquisition expenses		37		452
Total operating expenses	7,408	2,528	12,574	4,606
Operating income (expense)	9,498	870	14,074	1,597
Other income (expense)
Interest and other income (expense)	4,840	2	(2)	(63)
Earnings from equity and other interests	426	2	426	70
Interest expense	(12,092)	(1,812)	(11,106)	(3,317)
Net other expense	(6,826)	(1,808)	(10,682)	(3,310)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	2,672	(938)	3,392	(1,713)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1,280)	909	(855)	2,351
Net income (loss)	1,392	(29)	2,537	638
Net income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	1,392	(29)	2,537	638
Eliminations
Revenues
Rent billed	(2,131)	(331)	(4,591)	(663)
Income from direct financing leases	(4,839)		(6,492)
Interest and fee income	(7,023)	(1,513)	(10,646)	(2,900)
Total revenues	(13,993)	(1,844)	(21,729)	(3,563)
Expenses
Property-related	(6,970)	(331)	(11,083)	(663)
Total operating expenses	(6,970)	(331)	(11,083)	(663)
Operating income (expense)	(7,023)	(1,513)	(10,646)	(2,900)
Other income (expense)
Interest and other income (expense)	(4,839)
Interest expense	11,862	1,513	10,646	2,900
Net other expense	7,023	1,513	10,646	2,900
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes	(56,914)	(27,574)	(99,625)	(64,593)
Net income (loss)	(56,914)	(27,574)	(99,625)	(64,593)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	44	43	87	88
Net income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	(56,870)	(27,531)	(99,538)	(64,505)
Total Consolidated
Revenues
Rent billed	32,723	27,642	64,370	54,556
Straight-line rent	1,428	2,045	2,877	3,756
Income from direct financing leases	5,371		7,206
Interest and fee income	11,548	5,269	19,490	10,550
Total revenues	51,070	34,956	93,943	68,862
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization	8,788	7,915	17,420	15,346
Real estate impairment charge		564		564
Property-related	639	212	871	236
General and administrative	6,697	7,818	14,289	14,693
Acquisition expenses	279	616	3,704	2,656
Total operating expenses	16,403	17,125	36,284	33,495
Operating income (expense)	34,667	17,831	57,659	35,367
Other income (expense)
Interest and other income (expense)	(17)	19	(32)	(64)
Earnings from equity and other interests	879	2	879	70
Debt refinancing costs		(3,789)		(3,789)
Interest expense	(14,889)	(12,387)	(27,684)	(20,526)
Net other expense	(14,027)	(16,155)	(26,837)	(24,309)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	20,640	1,676	30,822	11,058
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1,280)	1,007	(855)	2,449
Net income (loss)	19,360	2,683	29,967	13,507
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(87)	(88)
Net income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	$ 19,316	$ 2,640	$ 29,880	$ 13,419