Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Operating activities
Net income	$ 225,937	$ 139,927	$ 50,796
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	97,601	71,827	55,162
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	7,613	6,085	5,105
Direct financing lease interest accretion	(9,120)	(8,032)	(6,701)
Straight-line rent revenue	(41,567)	(26,187)	(16,325)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	7,942	11,122	9,165
Gain from sale of real estate and other asset dispositions, net	(61,224)	(3,268)	(2,857)
Impairment charges	7,229		50,128
Straight-line rent and other write-off	3,063	2,812	2,818
Unutilized financing fees/ debt refinancing costs	22,539	4,367	1,698
Other adjustments	3,563	(6,334)	(1,178)
Decrease (increase) in:
Interest and rent receivable	(13,247)	(5,599)	(3,856)
Other assets	(18,357)	(8,297)	764
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	41,583	26,540	6,209
Deferred revenue	(8,872)	2,033	(485)
Net cash provided by operating activities	264,683	206,996	150,443
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(1,682,409)	(2,218,869)	(767,696)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	198,767	19,175	34,649
Principal received on loans receivable	906,757	771,785	11,265
Investment in loans receivable	(109,027)	(354,001)	(12,782)
Construction in progress and other	(171,209)	(146,372)	(102,333)
Investment in unsecured senior notes	(50,000)
Proceeds from sale of unsecured senior notes	50,000
Other investments, net	(69,423)	(17,339)	(13,126)
Net cash used for investing activities	(926,544)	(1,945,621)	(850,023)
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt	1,000,000	681,000	425,000
Payments of term debt	(575,299)	(283)	(100,266)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(15,468)	(7,686)	(14,496)
Revolving credit facilities, net	(810,000)	509,415	490,625
Distributions paid	(218,393)	(182,980)	(144,365)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	14,557	(10,839)	7,892
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs	1,173,651	817,389	138,173
Other financing activities	(16,485)	(5,326)
Net cash provided by financing activities	552,563	1,800,690	802,563
Increase in cash and cash equivalents for the year	(109,298)	62,065	102,983
Effect of exchange rate changes	(3,003)	(11,065)	(4,421)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	195,541	144,541	45,979
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	83,240	195,541	144,541
Interest paid, including capitalized interest of $2,320 in 2016, $1,425 in 2015, and $1,860 in 2014	138,770	107,228	91,890
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:
Mortgage loan issued from sale of real estate			12,500
Increase in development project construction costs incurred, not paid	15,857	2,684
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Dividends declared, not paid	74,521	52,402	38,461
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	225,937	139,927	50,796
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	97,601	71,827	55,162
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	7,613	6,085	5,105
Direct financing lease interest accretion	(9,120)	(8,032)	(6,701)
Straight-line rent revenue	(41,567)	(26,187)	(16,325)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	7,942	11,122	9,165
Gain from sale of real estate and other asset dispositions, net	(61,224)	(3,268)	(2,857)
Impairment charges	7,229		50,128
Straight-line rent and other write-off	3,063	2,812	2,818
Unutilized financing fees/ debt refinancing costs	22,539	4,367	1,698
Other adjustments	3,563	(6,334)	(1,178)
Decrease (increase) in:
Interest and rent receivable	(13,247)	(5,599)	(3,856)
Other assets	(18,357)	(8,297)	764
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	41,583	26,540	6,209
Deferred revenue	(8,872)	2,033	(485)
Net cash provided by operating activities	264,683	206,996	150,443
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(1,682,409)	(2,218,869)	(767,696)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	198,767	19,175	34,649
Principal received on loans receivable	906,757	771,785	11,265
Investment in loans receivable	(109,027)	(354,001)	(12,782)
Construction in progress and other	(171,209)	(146,372)	(102,333)
Investment in unsecured senior notes	(50,000)
Proceeds from sale of unsecured senior notes	50,000
Other investments, net	(69,423)	(17,339)	(13,126)
Net cash used for investing activities	(926,544)	(1,945,621)	(850,023)
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt	1,000,000	681,000	425,000
Payments of term debt	(575,299)	(283)	(100,266)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(15,468)	(7,686)	(14,496)
Revolving credit facilities, net	(810,000)	509,415	490,625
Distributions paid	(218,393)	(182,980)	(144,365)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	14,557	(10,839)	7,892
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs	1,173,651	817,389	138,173
Other financing activities	(16,485)	(5,326)
Net cash provided by financing activities	552,563	1,800,690	802,563
Increase in cash and cash equivalents for the year	(109,298)	62,065	102,983
Effect of exchange rate changes	(3,003)	(11,065)	(4,421)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	195,541	144,541	45,979
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	83,240	195,541	144,541
Interest paid, including capitalized interest of $2,320 in 2016, $1,425 in 2015, and $1,860 in 2014	138,770	107,228	91,890
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:
Mortgage loan issued from sale of real estate			12,500
Increase in development project construction costs incurred, not paid	15,857	2,684
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Dividends declared, not paid	$ 74,521	$ 52,402	$ 38,461