Earnings Per Share - Calculation of Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations	$ 73,796	$ 53,924	$ 141,981	$ 112,150
Non-controlling interests' share in net income	(381)	(200)	(596)	(498)
Participating securities' share in earnings	(100)	(132)	(225)	(276)
Income from continuing operations, less participating securities' share in earnings			141,160	111,376
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders				(1)
Net income, less participating securities' share in earnings	$ 73,315	$ 53,592	$ 141,160	$ 111,375
Basic weighted-average common shares	349,856	238,082	335,456	237,796
Dilutive potential common shares	463	926	415	617
Dilutive weighted-average common shares	350,319	239,008	335,871	238,413
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations	$ 73,796	$ 53,924	$ 141,981	$ 112,150
Non-controlling interests' share in net income	(381)	(200)	(596)	(498)
Participating securities' share in earnings	(100)	(132)	(225)	(276)
Income from continuing operations, less participating securities' share in earnings			141,160	111,376
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders				(1)
Net income, less participating securities' share in earnings	$ 73,315	$ 53,592	$ 141,160	$ 111,375
Basic weighted-average common shares	349,856	238,082	335,456	237,796
Dilutive potential common shares	463	926	415	617
Dilutive weighted-average common shares	350,319	239,008	335,871	238,413