Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenues
Rent billed	$ 31,083	$ 27,760	$ 93,100	$ 81,086
Straight-line rent	2,762	1,643	5,473	5,318
Income from direct financing leases	5,773		12,979
Interest and fee income	14,037	5,229	33,486	15,714
Total revenues	53,655	34,632	145,038	102,118
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization	8,491	7,700	25,392	22,508
Property-related	218	260	1,044	346
General and administrative	7,052	5,737	21,341	20,429
Acquisition expenses	410	530	4,115	3,186
Total operating expenses	16,171	14,227	51,892	46,469
Operating income (expense)	37,484	20,405	93,146	55,649
Other income (expense)
Earnings from equity and other interests	1,065	9	1,944	70
Debt refinancing costs		(10,425)		(14,214)
Interest expense	(15,046)	(11,935)	(42,730)	(32,462)
Net other expense	(14,004)	(22,309)	(40,841)	(46,618)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	23,480	(1,904)	52,305	9,031
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	8,028	2,372	9,169	4,944
Net income	31,508	468	61,474	13,975
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(130)	(131)
Net income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	31,464	425	61,344	13,844
Parent
Expenses
General and administrative		18		62
Total operating expenses		18		62
Operating income (expense)		(18)		(62)
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(18)		(62)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes	31,508	486	61,474	14,037
Net income	31,508	468	61,474	13,975
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(130)	(131)
Net income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	31,464	425	61,344	13,844
Subsidiary Issuers
Revenues
Interest and fee income	5,242	1,351	13,219	4,118
Total revenues	5,242	1,351	13,219	4,118
Expenses
Property-related	88	87	349	87
General and administrative	6,332	6,348	20,067	18,356
Acquisition expenses	410	513	4,115	2,717
Total operating expenses	6,830	6,948	24,531	21,160
Operating income (expense)	(1,588)	(5,597)	(11,312)	(17,042)
Other income (expense)
Interest and other income (expense)	(21)	44	(49)	42
Debt refinancing costs		(10,425)		(14,109)
Interest expense	(15,203)	(11,735)	(42,905)	(31,750)
Net other expense	(15,224)	(22,116)	(42,954)	(45,817)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(16,812)	(27,713)	(54,266)	(62,859)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes	48,320	28,199	115,740	76,896
Net income	31,508	486	61,474	14,037
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(130)	(131)
Net income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	31,464	443	61,344	13,906
Subsidiary Guarantors
Revenues
Rent billed	29,256	25,903	87,579	76,284
Straight-line rent	2,387	1,219	4,354	3,974
Income from direct financing leases	5,238		11,730
Interest and fee income	8,917	4,146	20,621	13,087
Total revenues	45,798	31,268	124,284	93,345
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization	8,066	7,212	24,117	21,216
Property-related	121	171	597	213
Acquisition expenses		469		469
Total operating expenses	8,187	7,852	24,714	21,898
Operating income (expense)	37,611	23,416	99,570	71,447
Other income (expense)
Interest and other income (expense)			(2)	2
Earnings from equity and other interests	330	84	783	84
Debt refinancing costs				(105)
Interest expense	389	63	867	(31)
Net other expense	719	147	1,648	(50)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	38,330	23,563	101,218	71,397
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	1,069	787	2,363	263
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes	1,129	1,112	3,367	3,457
Net income	40,528	25,462	106,948	75,117
Net income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	40,528	25,462	106,948	75,117
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues
Rent billed	4,162	2,188	12,447	5,796
Straight-line rent	375	424	1,119	1,344
Income from direct financing leases	5,394		12,600
Interest and fee income	6,943	920	17,357	2,597
Total revenues	16,874	3,532	43,523	9,737
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization	425	488	1,275	1,292
Property-related	7,203	333	18,375	1,040
General and administrative	720	(629)	1,274	2,011
Acquisition expenses		(452)
Total operating expenses	8,348	(260)	20,924	4,343
Operating income (expense)	8,526	3,792	22,599	5,394
Other income (expense)
Interest and other income (expense)	(2)	(2)	(4)	(56)
Earnings from equity and other interests	735	(75)	1,161	(14)
Interest expense	(7,297)	(1,451)	(18,403)	(4,769)
Net other expense	(6,564)	(1,528)	(17,246)	(4,839)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	1,962	2,264	5,353	555
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	6,959	1,585	6,806	4,681
Net income	8,921	3,849	12,159	5,236
Net income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	8,921	3,849	12,159	5,236
Eliminations
Revenues
Rent billed	(2,335)	(331)	(6,926)	(994)
Income from direct financing leases	(4,859)		(11,351)
Interest and fee income	(7,065)	(1,188)	(17,711)	(4,088)
Total revenues	(14,259)	(1,519)	(35,988)	(5,082)
Expenses
Property-related	(7,194)	(331)	(18,277)	(994)
Total operating expenses	(7,194)	(331)	(18,277)	(994)
Operating income (expense)	(7,065)	(1,188)	(17,711)	(4,088)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense	7,065	1,188	17,711	4,088
Net other expense	7,065	1,188	17,711	4,088
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes	(80,957)	(29,797)	(180,581)	(94,390)
Net income	(80,957)	(29,797)	(180,581)	(94,390)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	44	43	130	131
Net income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	(80,913)	(29,754)	(180,451)	(94,259)
Total Consolidated
Revenues
Rent billed	31,083	27,760	93,100	81,086
Straight-line rent	2,762	1,643	5,473	5,318
Income from direct financing leases	5,773		12,979
Interest and fee income	14,037	5,229	33,486	15,714
Total revenues	53,655	34,632	145,038	102,118
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization	8,491	7,700	25,392	22,508
Property-related	218	260	1,044	346
General and administrative	7,052	5,737	21,341	20,429
Acquisition expenses	410	530	4,115	3,186
Total operating expenses	16,171	14,227	51,892	46,469
Operating income (expense)	37,484	20,405	93,146	55,649
Other income (expense)
Interest and other income (expense)	(23)	42	(55)	(12)
Earnings from equity and other interests	1,065	9	1,944	70
Debt refinancing costs		(10,425)		(14,214)
Interest expense	(15,046)	(11,935)	(42,730)	(32,462)
Net other expense	(14,004)	(22,309)	(40,841)	(46,618)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	23,480	(1,904)	52,305	9,031
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	8,028	2,372	9,169	4,944
Net income	31,508	468	61,474	13,975
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(130)	(131)
Net income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	$ 31,464	$ 425	$ 61,344	$ 13,844