Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Operating activities
Net income	$ 182,692	$ 81,589
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	69,720	51,149
Straight-line rent revenue	(27,009)	(17,815)
Straight-line rent and other write-off	3,063	2,812
Impairment charges	7,295
Direct financing lease interest accretion	(6,757)	(5,286)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	5,832	8,383
Gain from sale of real estate and other asset dispositions, net	(61,294)	(3,268)
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs and debt discount	5,799	4,293
Unutilized financing fees / debt refinancing costs	22,539	4,319
Other adjustments	(8,398)	(265)
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivable	(12,790)	(5,471)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(12,403)	11,744
Net cash provided by operating activities	168,289	132,184
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(213,100)	(2,020,198)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	198,767	19,175
Principal received on loans receivable	804,809	698,040
Investment in loans receivable	(102,909)	(354,002)
Construction in progress and other	(139,336)	(115,700)
Investment in unsecured senior notes	(50,000)
Proceeds from sale of unsecured senior notes	50,000
Other investments, net	(52,701)	(9,803)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	495,530	(1,782,488)
Financing activities
Revolving credit facilities, net	(1,100,000)	500,415
Proceeds from term debt	1,000,000	676,877
Payments of term debt	(515,221)	(210)
Distributions paid	(160,060)	(130,841)
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs	1,024,088	817,533
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	13,784	(12,669)
Debt issuance costs paid and other financing activities	(31,317)	(7,950)
Net cash provided by financing activities	231,274	1,843,155
Increase in cash and cash equivalents for period	895,093	192,851
Effect of exchange rate changes	4,283	(5,157)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	195,541	144,541
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,094,917	332,235
Interest paid	120,374	74,911
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:
Increase in development projects construction costs incurred, unpaid	17,458	83
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Distributions declared, unpaid	58,333	52,388
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	182,692	81,589
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	69,720	51,149
Straight-line rent revenue	(27,009)	(17,815)
Straight-line rent and other write-off	3,063	2,812
Impairment charges	7,295
Direct financing lease interest accretion	(6,757)	(5,286)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	5,832	8,383
Gain from sale of real estate and other asset dispositions, net	(61,294)	(3,268)
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs and debt discount	5,799	4,293
Unutilized financing fees / debt refinancing costs	22,539	4,319
Other adjustments	(8,398)	(265)
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivable	(12,790)	(5,471)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(12,403)	11,744
Net cash provided by operating activities	168,289	132,184
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(213,100)	(2,020,198)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	198,767	19,175
Principal received on loans receivable	804,809	698,040
Investment in loans receivable	(102,909)	(354,002)
Construction in progress and other	(139,336)	(115,700)
Investment in unsecured senior notes	(50,000)
Proceeds from sale of unsecured senior notes	50,000
Other investments, net	(52,701)	(9,803)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	495,530	(1,782,488)
Financing activities
Revolving credit facilities, net	(1,100,000)	500,415
Proceeds from term debt	1,000,000	676,877
Payments of term debt	(515,221)	(210)
Distributions paid	(160,060)	(130,841)
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs	1,024,088	817,533
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	13,784	(12,669)
Debt issuance costs paid and other financing activities	(31,317)	(7,950)
Net cash provided by financing activities	231,274	1,843,155
Increase in cash and cash equivalents for period	895,093	192,851
Effect of exchange rate changes	4,283	(5,157)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	195,541	144,541
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,094,917	332,235
Interest paid	120,374	74,911
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:
Increase in development projects construction costs incurred, unpaid	17,458	83
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Distributions declared, unpaid	$ 58,333	$ 52,388