Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands	Total	Additional Paid-in Capital	Distributions in Excess of Net Income	Treasury Stock	Common Par Value	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Non- Controlling Interests	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P.	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. Non- Controlling Interests	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. General Partner	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. Limited Partner Common Par Value	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. Limited Partner Long Term Incentive Plan
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 671,575	$ 759,721	$ (88,093)	$ (262)	$ 79		$ 130	$ 671,872		$ 130	$ 6,717	$ 664,952	$ 73
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009					78,725						787	77,938	63
Net income	23,012		22,913				99	23,087		99	230	22,601	157
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps	(3,641)					(3,641)		(3,641)	(3,641)
Stock vesting and amortization of stock-based compensation	6,616	6,616						6,616			66	6,550
Stock vesting and amortization of stock-based compensation (shares)					700						7	693	31
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(115)						(115)	(115)		(115)
Extinguishment of convertible debt	(2,587)	(2,587)						(2,586)			(26)	(2,560)
Proceeds from offering (net of offering costs) (shares)					30,800						308	30,492
Proceeds from offering (net of offering costs)	288,066	288,035			31			288,066			2,882	285,184
Distributions declared ($0.80 per share/unit)	(83,350)		(83,350)					(83,350)			(834)	(82,286)	(230)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2010	899,576	1,051,785	(148,530)	(262)	110	(3,641)	114	899,949	(3,641)	114	9,035	894,441
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010					110,225						1,102	109,123	94
Net income	10,824							10,841
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2011
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2010	899,576	1,051,785	(148,530)	(262)	110	(3,641)	114	899,949	(3,641)	114	9,035	894,441
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010					110,225						1,102	109,123	94
Net income	26,714		26,536				178	26,731		178	265	26,020	268
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps	(8,590)					(8,590)		(8,590)	(8,590)
Stock vesting and amortization of stock-based compensation	6,983	6,982			1			6,984			69	6,915
Stock vesting and amortization of stock-based compensation (shares)					561						5	556	56
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(209)						(209)	(209)		(209)
Purchase of non-controlling interest	(524)	(441)					(83)	(525)		(83)		(442)
Extinguishment of convertible debt	(5,501)	(3,070)	(2,431)					(5,501)			(55)	(5,446)
Distributions declared ($0.80 per share/unit)	(89,634)		(89,634)					(89,634)			(896)	(88,470)	(268)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011	828,815	1,055,256	(214,059)	(262)	111	(12,231)		829,205	(12,231)		8,418	833,018
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011					110,786						1,107	109,679	150
Beginning balance at Sep. 30, 2011
Net income	12,740							12,695
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011	828,815			(262)				829,205
Net income	10,606							10,606
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2012
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2011	828,815	1,055,256	(214,059)	(262)	111	(12,231)		829,205	(12,231)		8,418	833,018
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011					110,786						1,107	109,679	150
Net income	90,077		89,900				177	90,077		177	899	88,733	268
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps	(251)					(251)		(251)	(251)
Stock vesting and amortization of stock-based compensation	7,637	7,636			1			7,637			76	7,561
Stock vesting and amortization of stock-based compensation (shares)					854						4	850	71
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(177)						(177)	(177)		(177)
Proceeds from offering (net of offering costs) (shares)					24,695						246	24,449
Proceeds from offering (net of offering costs)	233,048	233,024			24			233,048			2,331	230,717
Distributions declared ($0.80 per share/unit)	(109,335)		(109,335)					(109,335)			(1,094)	(107,973)	(268)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,049,814	1,295,916	(233,494)	(262)	136	(12,482)		1,050,204	(12,482)		10,630	1,052,056
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012					136,335						1,357	134,978	221
Beginning balance at Sep. 30, 2012
Net income	28,603							28,603
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 1,049,814			$ (262)				$ 1,050,204