Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Operating Activities
Net income	$ 61,474	$ 13,975
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	26,899	25,254
Straight-line rent revenue (net of write-offs)	(4,100)	(5,606)
Direct financing lease interest accretion	(2,050)
Share-based compensation	5,430	5,293
(Gain) loss on sale of real estate	(7,278)	(5)
Real estate impairment		564
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs and debt discount	2,577	8,523
Premium paid on extinguishment of debt		13,091
Other adjustments	(3,415)	(4,632)
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivable	(12,232)	(2,646)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	7,404	13,317
Net cash provided by operating activities	74,709	67,128
Investing Activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(606,500)	(208,913)
Principal received on loans receivable	9,507	2,898
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	34,100
Investment in loans receivable	(1,293)	(4,398)
Construction in progress and other	(35,920)	(12,297)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(600,106)	(222,710)
Financing activities
Revolving credit facilities, net	35,400	39,600
Additions to term debt	300,000	450,000
Payments of term debt	(171)	(237,810)
Distributions paid	(76,770)	(67,194)
Sale of common stock, net	220,107
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(13,391)	7,613
Debt issuance costs paid and other financing activities	(6,341)	(20,667)
Net cash provided by financing activities	458,834	171,542
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for period	(66,563)	15,960
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	102,726	98,408
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	36,163	114,368
Interest paid	31,350	18,761
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:
Loan conversion to equity interest	1,648
Real estate acquired via assumption of mortgage loan		(14,592)
Mortgage loan issued from sale of real estate	3,650
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Distributions declared, unpaid	27,181	22,407
Assumption of mortgage loan (as part of real estate acquired)		14,592
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P.
Operating Activities
Net income	61,474	14,037
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	26,899	25,254
Straight-line rent revenue (net of write-offs)	(4,100)	(5,606)
Direct financing lease interest accretion	(2,050)
Share-based compensation	5,430	5,293
(Gain) loss on sale of real estate	(7,278)	(5)
Real estate impairment		564
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs and debt discount	2,577	8,523
Premium paid on extinguishment of debt		13,091
Other adjustments	(3,415)	(4,694)
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivable	(12,232)	(2,646)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	7,404	13,317
Net cash provided by operating activities	74,709	67,128
Investing Activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(606,500)	(208,913)
Principal received on loans receivable	9,507	2,898
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	34,100
Investment in loans receivable	(1,293)	(4,398)
Construction in progress and other	(35,920)	(12,297)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(600,106)	(222,710)
Financing activities
Revolving credit facilities, net	35,400	39,600
Additions to term debt	300,000	450,000
Payments of term debt	(171)	(237,810)
Distributions paid	(76,770)	(67,194)
Sale of common stock, net	220,107
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(13,391)	7,613
Debt issuance costs paid and other financing activities	(6,341)	(20,667)
Net cash provided by financing activities	458,834	171,542
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for period	(66,563)	15,960
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	102,726	98,408
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	36,163	114,368
Interest paid	31,350	18,761
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:
Loan conversion to equity interest	1,648
Real estate acquired via assumption of mortgage loan		(14,592)
Mortgage loan issued from sale of real estate	3,650
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Distributions declared, unpaid	27,181	22,407
Assumption of mortgage loan (as part of real estate acquired)		$ 14,592