Earnings Per Share/Common Unit - Calculation of Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations	$ 28,663	$ 25,392	$ 35,769	$ 75,987
Non-controlling interests' share in continuing operations	(126)	(55)	(192)	(165)
Participating securities' share in earnings	(179)	(166)	(584)	(538)
Income from continuing operations, less participating securities' share in earnings	28,358	25,171	34,993	75,284
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders		311	(2)	3,330
Net income, less participating securities' share in earnings	28,358	25,482	34,991	78,614
Basic weighted-average common shares	171,893	154,758	169,195	148,204
Dilutive potential common shares	746	1,211	657	1,313
Dilutive weighted-average common shares	172,639	155,969	169,852	149,517
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations	28,663	25,392	35,769	75,987
Non-controlling interests' share in continuing operations	(126)	(55)	(192)	(165)
Participating securities' share in earnings	(179)	(166)	(584)	(538)
Income from continuing operations, less participating securities' share in earnings	28,358	25,171	34,993	75,284
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders		311	(2)	3,330
Net income, less participating securities' share in earnings	$ 28,358	$ 25,482	$ 34,991	$ 78,614
Basic weighted-average common shares	171,893	154,758	169,195	148,204
Dilutive potential common shares	746	1,211	657	1,313
Dilutive weighted-average common shares	172,639	155,969	169,852	149,517

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

Undistributed earning allocated to participating securities.

+ 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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-Section 45

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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

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 260

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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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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- Definition

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

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