Consolidated Statements of Net Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues
Rent billed	$ 327,269	$ 247,604	$ 187,018
Straight-line rent	41,067	23,375	13,507
Income from direct financing leases	64,307	58,715	49,155
Interest and fee income	108,494	112,184	62,852
Total revenues	541,137	441,878	312,532
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization	94,374	69,867	53,938
Impairment charges	7,229		50,128
Property-related	2,712	3,792	1,851
Acquisition expenses	46,273	61,342	26,389
General and administrative	48,911	43,639	37,274
Total operating expenses	199,499	178,640	169,580
Operating income	341,638	263,238	142,952
Other income (expense)
Interest expense	(159,597)	(120,884)	(98,156)
Gain on sale of real estate and other asset dispositions, net	61,224	3,268	2,857
Earnings from equity and other interests	(1,116)	2,849	2,559
Unutilized financing fees/ debt refinancing costs	(22,539)	(4,367)	(1,698)
Other income (expense)	(502)	(2,674)	2,624
Income tax benefit (expense)	6,830	(1,503)	(340)
Net other expenses	(115,700)	(123,311)	(92,154)
Income from continuing operations	225,938	139,927	50,798
Loss from discontinued operations	(1)		(2)
Net income	225,937	139,927	50,796
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(889)	(329)	(274)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 225,048	$ 139,598	$ 50,522
Earnings per share - basic
Income from continuing operations attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.86	$ 0.64	$ 0.29
Income from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	0	0	0
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.86	$ 0.64	$ 0.29
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	260,414	217,997	169,999
Earnings per share - diluted
Income from continuing operations attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.86	$ 0.63	$ 0.29
Income from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	0	0	0
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.86	$ 0.63	$ 0.29
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	261,072	218,304	170,540
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Revenues
Rent billed	$ 327,269	$ 247,604	$ 187,018
Straight-line rent	41,067	23,375	13,507
Income from direct financing leases	64,307	58,715	49,155
Interest and fee income	108,494	112,184	62,852
Total revenues	541,137	441,878	312,532
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization	94,374	69,867	53,938
Impairment charges	7,229		50,128
Property-related	2,712	3,792	1,851
Acquisition expenses	46,273	61,342	26,389
General and administrative	48,911	43,639	37,274
Total operating expenses	199,499	178,640	169,580
Operating income	341,638	263,238	142,952
Other income (expense)
Interest expense	(159,597)	(120,884)	(98,156)
Gain on sale of real estate and other asset dispositions, net	61,224	3,268	2,857
Earnings from equity and other interests	(1,116)	2,849	2,559
Unutilized financing fees/ debt refinancing costs	(22,539)	(4,367)	(1,698)
Other income (expense)	(502)	(2,674)	2,624
Income tax benefit (expense)	6,830	(1,503)	(340)
Net other expenses	(115,700)	(123,311)	(92,154)
Income from continuing operations	225,938	139,927	50,798
Loss from discontinued operations	(1)		(2)
Net income	225,937	139,927	50,796
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(889)	(329)	(274)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 225,048	$ 139,598	$ 50,522
Earnings per share - basic
Income from continuing operations attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.86	$ 0.64	$ 0.29
Income from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	0	0	0
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.86	$ 0.64	$ 0.29
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	260,414	217,997	169,999
Earnings per share - diluted
Income from continuing operations attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.86	$ 0.63	$ 0.29
Income from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	0	0	0
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.86	$ 0.63	$ 0.29
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	261,072	218,304	170,540