Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Unaudited Quarterly Financial Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 131,546	$ 114,570	$ 99,801	$ 95,961	$ 82,106	$ 80,777	$ 76,560	$ 73,089	$ 441,878	$ 312,532	$ 242,523
Income (loss) from continuing operations	58,339	23,123	22,489	35,976	15,029	28,663	(203)	7,309	139,927	50,798	89,301
Income (loss) from discontinued operations								(2)		(2)	7,914
Net income	58,339	23,123	22,489	35,976	15,029	28,663	(203)	7,307	139,927	50,796	97,215
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders	$ 58,237	$ 23,057	$ 22,407	$ 35,897	$ 14,947	$ 28,537	$ (203)	$ 7,241	$ 139,598	$ 50,522	$ 96,991
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders per share - basic	$ 0.24	$ 0.10	$ 0.11	$ 0.18	$ 0.08	$ 0.16		$ 0.04	$ 0.64	$ 0.29	$ 0.64
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	237,011	223,948	208,071	202,958	172,411	171,893	171,718	163,973	217,997	169,999	151,439
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders per share - diluted	$ 0.24	$ 0.10	$ 0.11	$ 0.17	$ 0.08	$ 0.16		$ 0.04	$ 0.63	$ 0.29	$ 0.63
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	237,011	223,948	208,640	203,615	172,604	172,639	171,718	164,549	218,304	170,540	152,598
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 131,546	$ 114,570	$ 99,801	$ 95,961	$ 82,106	$ 80,777	$ 76,560	$ 73,089	$ 441,878	$ 312,532	$ 242,523
Income (loss) from continuing operations	58,339	23,123	22,489	35,976	15,029	28,663	(203)	7,309	139,927	50,798	89,301
Income (loss) from discontinued operations								(2)		(2)	7,914
Net income	58,339	23,123	22,489	35,976	15,029	28,663	(203)	7,307	139,927	50,796	97,215
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders	$ 58,237	$ 23,057	$ 22,407	$ 35,897	$ 14,948	$ 28,537	$ (203)	$ 7,241	$ 139,598	$ 50,522	$ 96,991
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders per share - basic	$ 0.24	$ 0.10	$ 0.11	$ 0.18	$ 0.08	$ 0.16		$ 0.04	$ 0.64	$ 0.29	$ 0.64
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	237,011	223,948	208,071	202,958	172,411	171,893	171,718	163,973	217,997	169,999	151,439
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders per share - diluted	$ 0.24	$ 0.10	$ 0.11	$ 0.17	$ 0.08	$ 0.16		$ 0.04	$ 0.63	$ 0.29	$ 0.63
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	237,011	223,948	208,640	203,615	172,604	172,639	171,718	164,549	218,304	170,540	152,598