Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating activities
Net income	$ 97,215	$ 90,077	$ 26,714
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	38,818	35,593	35,477
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs and debt discount	3,559	3,457	9,289
Premium on extinguishment of debt			13,091
Direct financing lease (interest) accretion	(5,774)	(3,104)
Straight-line rent revenue	(11,265)	7,911	5,277
Share (Unit)-based compensation expense	8,832	7,637	6,983
Impairment charge			564
(Gain) loss from sale of real estate	(7,659)	(16,369)	(5,431)
Provision for uncollectible receivables and loans			1,499
Straight-line rent write-off	1,457	6,456	2,470
Payment of discount on extinguishment of debt			(4,850)
Other adjustments	(70)	538	1,058
Decrease (increase) in:
Interest and rent receivable	(13,211)	(17,261)	(6,118)
Other assets	1,855	91	142
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	23,867	9,201	5,354
Deferred revenue	3,177	(2,698)	170
Net cash provided by operating activities	140,801	105,309	79,270
Investing Activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(654,922)	(621,490)	(278,963)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	32,409	71,202	41,130
Principal received on loans receivable	7,249	10,931	4,289
Investment in loans receivable	(3,746)	(1,293)	(861)
Construction in progress	(41,452)	(44,570)	(22,999)
Other investments, net	(52,115)	(31,908)	(8,217)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(712,577)	(617,128)	(265,621)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from term debt, net of discount	424,580	300,000	450,000
Payments of term debt	(11,249)	(232)	(246,262)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(9,760)	(6,247)	(15,454)
Revolving credit facilities, net	(20,000)	35,400	89,600
Distributions paid	(120,309)	(103,952)	(89,601)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	3,231	(11,436)	8,621
Proceeds from sale of common shares/units, net of offering costs	313,331	233,048
Other		(177)	(6,235)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	579,824	446,404	190,669
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for the year	8,048	(65,415)	4,318
Effect of exchange rate changes	620
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	37,311	102,726	98,408
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	45,979	37,311	102,726
Interest paid, including capitalized interest of $1,729 in 2013, $1,596 in 2012, and $896 in 2011	58,110	51,440	38,463
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	35,778	27,786	22,407
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	97,215	90,077	26,731
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	38,818	35,593	35,477
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs and debt discount	3,559	3,457	9,289
Premium on extinguishment of debt			13,091
Direct financing lease (interest) accretion	(11,265)	(3,104)
Straight-line rent revenue	(5,774)	(8,309)	(7,142)
Share (Unit)-based compensation expense	8,832	7,637	6,983
Impairment charge			564
(Gain) loss from sale of real estate	(7,659)	(16,369)	(5,431)
Provision for uncollectible receivables and loans			1,499
Straight-line rent write-off	1,457	6,456	2,470
Payment of discount on extinguishment of debt			(4,850)
Other adjustments	(70)	538	1,058
Decrease (increase) in:
Interest and rent receivable	(13,211)	(17,261)	(6,118)
Other assets	1,855	91	142
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	23,867	9,201	5,337
Deferred revenue	3,177	(2,698)	170
Net cash provided by operating activities	140,801	105,309	79,270
Investing Activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(654,922)	(621,490)	(278,963)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	32,409	71,202	41,130
Principal received on loans receivable	7,249	10,931	4,289
Investment in loans receivable	(3,746)	(1,293)	(861)
Construction in progress	(41,452)	(44,570)	(22,999)
Other investments, net	(52,115)	(31,908)	(8,217)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(712,577)	(617,128)	(265,621)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from term debt, net of discount	424,580	300,000	450,000
Payments of term debt	(11,249)	(232)	(246,262)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(9,760)	(6,247)	(15,454)
Revolving credit facilities, net	(20,000)	35,400	89,600
Distributions paid	(120,309)	(103,952)	(89,601)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	3,231	(11,436)	8,621
Proceeds from sale of common shares/units, net of offering costs	313,331	233,048
Other		(177)	(6,235)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	579,824	446,404	190,669
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for the year	8,048	(65,415)	4,318
Effect of exchange rate changes	620
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	37,311	102,726	98,408
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	45,979	37,311	102,726
Interest paid, including capitalized interest of $1,729 in 2013, $1,596 in 2012, and $896 in 2011	58,110	51,440	38,463
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	$ 35,778	$ 27,786	$ 22,407