Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating Activities
Net income	$ 90,077	$ 26,714	$ 23,012
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	35,593	35,477	26,312
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs and debt discount	3,457	9,289	6,110
Premium on extinguishment of debt		13,091	3,833
Direct financing lease (interest) accretion	(3,104)
Straight-line rent revenue	(8,309)	(7,142)	(4,932)
Share/Unit-based compensation expense	7,637	6,983	6,616
Impairment charge		564	12,000
(Gain) loss from sale of real estate	(16,369)	(5,431)	(10,566)
Provision for uncollectible receivables and loans		1,499	2,400
Straight-line rent write-off	6,456	2,470	3,694
Payment of discount on extinguishment of debt		(4,850)	(7,324)
Other adjustments	538	1,058	(30)
Decrease (increase) in:
Interest and rent receivable	(17,261)	(6,118)	(5,490)
Other assets	91	142	(566)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	9,201	5,354	(3,177)
Deferred revenue	(2,698)	170	8,745
Net cash provided by operating activities	105,309	79,270	60,637
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(621,490)	(278,963)	(137,808)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	71,202	41,130	97,669
Principal received on loans receivable	10,931	4,289	90,486
Investment in loans receivable	(1,293)	(861)	(11,637)
Construction in progress	(44,570)	(22,999)	(6,638)
Other investments, net	(31,908)	(8,217)	(9,291)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(617,128)	(265,621)	22,781
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt, net of discount	300,000	450,000	148,500
Payments of term debt	(232)	(246,262)	(216,765)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(6,247)	(15,454)	(6,796)
Revolving credit facilities, net	35,400	89,600	(137,200)
Distributions paid	(103,952)	(89,601)	(77,087)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(11,436)	8,621	3,667
Proceeds from sale of common shares/units, net of offering costs	233,048		288,066
Other	(177)	(6,235)	(2,702)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	446,404	190,669	(317)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for the year	(65,415)	4,318	83,101
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	102,726	98,408	15,307
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	37,311	102,726	98,408
Interest paid, including capitalized interest of $1,596 in 2012, $896 in 2011, and $63 in 2010	51,440	38,463	29,679
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:
Real estate acquired via assumption of mortgage loan		(14,592)
Loan conversion to equity interest	1,648
Mortgage loan issued from sale of real estate	3,650
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Assumption of mortgage loan (as part of real estate acquired)		14,592
Dividends declared, not paid	27,786	22,407	22,374
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P.
Operating Activities
Net income	90,077	26,731	23,087
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	35,593	35,477	26,312
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs and debt discount	3,457	9,289	6,110
Premium on extinguishment of debt		13,091	3,833
Direct financing lease (interest) accretion	(3,104)
Straight-line rent revenue	(8,309)	(7,142)	(4,932)
Share/Unit-based compensation expense	7,637	6,983	6,616
Impairment charge		564	12,000
(Gain) loss from sale of real estate	(16,369)	(5,431)	(10,566)
Provision for uncollectible receivables and loans		1,499	2,400
Straight-line rent write-off	6,456	2,470	3,694
Payment of discount on extinguishment of debt		(4,850)	(7,324)
Other adjustments	538	1,058	(30)
Decrease (increase) in:
Interest and rent receivable	(17,261)	(6,118)	(5,490)
Other assets	91	142	(566)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	9,201	5,337	(3,252)
Deferred revenue	(2,698)	170	8,745
Net cash provided by operating activities	105,309	79,270	60,637
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(621,490)	(278,963)	(137,808)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	71,202	41,130	97,669
Principal received on loans receivable	10,931	4,289	90,486
Investment in loans receivable	(1,293)	(861)	(11,637)
Construction in progress	(44,570)	(22,999)	(6,638)
Other investments, net	(31,908)	(8,217)	(9,291)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(617,128)	(265,621)	22,781
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt, net of discount	300,000	450,000	148,500
Payments of term debt	(232)	(246,262)	(216,765)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(6,247)	(15,454)	(6,796)
Revolving credit facilities, net	35,400	89,600	(137,200)
Distributions paid	(103,952)	(89,601)	(77,087)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(11,436)	8,621	3,667
Proceeds from sale of common shares/units, net of offering costs	233,048		288,066
Other	(177)	(6,235)	(2,702)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	446,404	190,669	(317)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for the year	(65,415)	4,318	83,101
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	102,726	98,408	15,307
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	37,311	102,726	98,408
Interest paid, including capitalized interest of $1,596 in 2012, $896 in 2011, and $63 in 2010	51,440	38,463	29,679
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:
Real estate acquired via assumption of mortgage loan		(14,592)
Loan conversion to equity interest	1,648
Mortgage loan issued from sale of real estate	3,650
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Assumption of mortgage loan (as part of real estate acquired)		14,592
Dividends declared, not paid	$ 27,786	$ 22,407	$ 22,374