Earnings Per Share/Common Unit - Calculation of Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations	$ 25,305	$ 18,992	$ 51,153	$ 27,560
Non-controlling interests' share in continuing operations	(57)	(44)	(110)	(87)
Participating securities' share in earnings	(179)	(238)	(372)	(490)
Income from continuing operations, less participating securities' share in earnings	25,069	18,710	50,671	26,983
Income from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders	2,100	368	2,461	2,407
Net income, less participating securities' share in earnings	27,169	19,078	53,132	29,390
Basic weighted-average common shares	149,509	134,715	144,928	129,810
Dilutive potential common shares	1,547		1,363
Dilutive weighted-average common shares	151,056	134,715	146,291	129,810
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P.
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations	25,305	18,992	51,153	27,560
Non-controlling interests' share in continuing operations	(57)	(44)	(110)	(87)
Participating securities' share in earnings	(179)	(238)	(372)	(490)
Income from continuing operations, less participating securities' share in earnings	25,069	18,710	50,671	26,983
Income from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders	2,100	368	2,461	2,407
Net income, less participating securities' share in earnings	$ 27,169	$ 19,078	$ 53,132	$ 29,390
Basic weighted-average common shares	149,509	134,715	144,928	129,810
Dilutive potential common shares	1,547		1,363
Dilutive weighted-average common shares	151,056	134,715	146,291	129,810

Income (loss) from continuing operations, less participating securities' share in earnings.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Net Income Less Participating Securities Share In Earnings

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Also defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items but after deduction of those portions of income or loss from continuing operations that are allocable to noncontrolling interests.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 19

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7656940&loc=SL4569616-111683

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- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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- Definition

Amount of income (loss) from a disposal group, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items after deduction or consideration of the amount allocable to noncontrolling interests. Includes, net of tax, income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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- Definition

Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of share based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 260

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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- Definition

Earnings allocated (not distributed) to participating securities under the two-class method to the extent that participating securities may share in earnings as if all of the earnings for the period had been distributed.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

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Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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