Consolidated Statements of Equity / Capital (USD $) In Thousands	Total	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Common Par Value [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Non- Controlling Interests [Member]	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Non- Controlling Interests [Member]	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] General Partner [Member]	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Limited Partner [Member] Common Par Value [Member]	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Limited Partner [Member] Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]
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 gain ( loss) on interest rate swaps	(8,590)					(8,590)		(8,590)	(8,590)
Stock (Unit) vesting and amortization of stock (unit)-based compensation	6,983	6,982			1			6,984			69	6,915
Stock (Unit) vesting and amortization of stock (unit)-based compensation (shares)					561						5	556	56
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 to non-controlling interests	(209)						(209)	(209)		(209)
Dividends (Distributions) declared ($0.80 in 2011, $0.80 in 2012 and $0.81 in 2013 per common 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
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 gain ( loss) on interest rate swaps	(251)					(251)		(251)	(251)
Stock (Unit) vesting and amortization of stock (unit)-based compensation	7,637	7,636			1			7,637			76	7,561
Stock (Unit) vesting and amortization of stock (unit)-based compensation (shares)					854						4	850	71
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(177)						(177)	(177)		(177)
Proceeds from offering (net of offering costs)	233,048	233,024			24			233,048			2,331	24,449
Proceeds from offering (net of offering costs) (shares)					24,695						246	24,449
Dividends (Distributions) declared ($0.80 in 2011, $0.80 in 2012 and $0.81 in 2013 per common 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
Net income	26,210							26,210
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2013
Beginning 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
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012					136,335						1,357	134,978	221
Net income	97,215		96,991				224	97,215		224	972	95,748	271
Unrealized gain ( loss) on interest rate swaps	3,474					3,474		3,474	3,474
Foreign currency translation gain	67					67		67	67
Stock (Unit) vesting and amortization of stock (unit)-based compensation	8,833	8,832			1			8,833			88	8,745	71
Stock (Unit) vesting and amortization of stock (unit)-based compensation (shares)					811						9	802
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(224)						(224)	(224)		(224)
Proceeds from offering (net of offering costs)	313,330	313,306			24			313,330			3,133	310,197
Proceeds from offering (net of offering costs) (shares)					24,164						242	23,922
Dividends (Distributions) declared ($0.80 in 2011, $0.80 in 2012 and $0.81 in 2013 per common share / unit)	(128,301)		(128,301)					(128,301)			(1,282)	(126,748)	(271)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,344,208	1,618,054	(264,804)	(262)	161	(8,941)		1,344,598	(8,941)		13,541	1,339,998
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013					161,310						1,608	159,702	292
Beginning balance at Sep. 30, 2013
Net income	17,897							17,897
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 1,344,208			$ (262)				$ 1,344,598