Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Unaudited Quarterly Financial Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 153,283	$ 126,555	$ 126,300	$ 134,999	$ 131,546	$ 114,570	$ 99,801	$ 95,961	$ 541,137	$ 441,878	$ 312,532
Income from continuing operations	43,245	70,543	53,924	58,226	58,339	23,123	22,489	35,976	225,938	139,927	50,798
Net income	43,245	70,543	53,924	58,225	58,339	23,123	22,489	35,976	225,937	139,927	50,796
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders	$ 43,039	$ 70,358	$ 53,724	$ 57,927	$ 58,237	$ 23,057	$ 22,407	$ 35,897	$ 225,048	$ 139,598	$ 50,522
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders per share - basic	$ 0.13	$ 0.29	$ 0.23	$ 0.24	$ 0.24	$ 0.10	$ 0.11	$ 0.18	$ 0.86	$ 0.64	$ 0.29
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	319,833	246,230	238,082	237,510	237,011	223,948	208,071	202,958	260,414	217,997	169,999
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders per share - diluted	$ 0.13	$ 0.28	$ 0.22	$ 0.24	$ 0.24	$ 0.10	$ 0.11	$ 0.17	$ 0.86	$ 0.63	$ 0.29
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	319,994	247,468	239,008	237,819	237,011	223,948	208,640	203,615	261,072	218,304	170,540
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 153,283	$ 126,555	$ 126,300	$ 134,999	$ 131,546	$ 114,570	$ 99,801	$ 95,961	$ 541,137	$ 441,878	$ 312,532
Income from continuing operations	43,245	70,543	53,924	58,226	58,339	23,123	22,489	35,976	225,938	139,927	50,798
Net income	43,245	70,543	53,924	58,225	58,339	23,123	22,489	35,976	225,937	139,927	50,796
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders	$ 43,039	$ 70,358	$ 53,724	$ 57,927	$ 58,237	$ 23,057	$ 22,407	$ 35,897	$ 225,048	$ 139,598	$ 50,522
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders per share - basic	$ 0.13	$ 0.29	$ 0.23	$ 0.24	$ 0.24	$ 0.10	$ 0.11	$ 0.18	$ 0.86	$ 0.64	$ 0.29
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	319,833	246,230	238,082	237,510	237,011	223,948	208,071	202,958	260,414	217,997	169,999
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders per share - diluted	$ 0.13	$ 0.28	$ 0.22	$ 0.24	$ 0.24	$ 0.10	$ 0.11	$ 0.17	$ 0.86	$ 0.63	$ 0.29
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	319,994	247,468	239,008	237,819	237,011	223,948	208,640	203,615	261,072	218,304	170,540