Common Stock/Partner's Capital - Additional Information (Detail) shares in Thousands			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 14, 2015 USD ($) shares	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) Director Employee Partner shares	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Value of stock sold under plan			$ 237,000		$ 237,000
Common stock, shares issued | shares			237,242		236,744
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs				$ 479,966,000
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs				$ 479,966,000
Ownership interest in equity			99.80%
Number of other partners | Partner			3
Number of units sold | shares			34,500
Employee [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of partners shared remaining ownership percentage | Employee			2
Director [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of partners shared remaining ownership percentage | Director			1
Market Equity Offering Program [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Sales commission percentage	1.25%
Value of stock sold under plan			$ 0
Market Equity Offering Program [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Value of stock	$ 227,000,000
Public Offering [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued | shares		34,500
Additional shares purchased by underwriters | shares		4,500
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs		$ 480,000,000