Line of credit facility amendment fees incurred.

No definition available.

Name:	mpw_LineOfCreditFacilityAmendmentFeesIncurred
Namespace Prefix:	mpw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of credit maximum borrowing capacity including accordion option.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mpw_LineOfCreditMaximumBorrowingCapacityIncludingAccordionOption
Namespace Prefix:	mpw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the fee that accompanies borrowing money under the debt instrument.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFeeAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the required periodic payments of both interest and principal.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityPeriodicPayment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of long-term debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of uncollateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnsecuredDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=mpw_TermLoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=mpw_UnsecuredRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=mpw_TermLoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Debt - Revolving Credit Facility - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 19, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Aug. 04, 2015	Oct. 17, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate committed amount of credit facility		$ 1,950,000,000
Credit facility, amendment fees incurred		100,000
Term Loans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate committed amount of credit facility		250,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of senior unsecured credit facility paid off	$ 900,000,000
Accordion to credit facility		400,000,000					$ 250,000,000
Aggregate committed amount of credit facility		$ 1,300,000,000				$ 1,250,000,000	1,150,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Accordion to credit facility							$ 400,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of senior unsecured debt	775,000,000
Credit facilities, amount outstanding				$ 290,000,000	$ 1,100,000,000
Refinancing charge	300,000
Aggregate committed amount of credit facility				$ 1,000,000,000
Debt instrument, basis spread of interest rate			0.40%
Credit facilities, percentage of commitment fee on unused capacity			0.30%
Credit facilities, weighted average interest rate				2.00%	1.70%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread of interest rate			0.50%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Euro Dollar Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread of interest rate			1.00%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread of interest rate			1.40%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facilities, amount outstanding	400,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facilities, amount outstanding	100,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility Matures in June 2018 [Member] \| Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread of interest rate				0.50%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility Matures in June 2018 [Member] \| Euro Dollar Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread of interest rate				1.00%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility Matures in June 2018 [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread of interest rate				0.70%
Credit facilities, percentage of commitment fee on unused capacity				0.25%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility Matures in June 2018 [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread of interest rate				1.70%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility Matures in June 2018 [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread of interest rate				1.25%
Credit facilities, percentage of commitment fee on unused capacity				0.35%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility Matures in June 2018 [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread of interest rate				2.25%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Term Loans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of senior unsecured credit facility paid off	250,000,000
Amount of senior unsecured debt	$ 125,000,000