Earnings Per Share - Calculation of Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations	$ 76,881	$ 70,543	$ 218,862	$ 182,693
Non-controlling interests' share in net income	(417)	(185)	(1,013)	(683)
Participating securities' share in earnings	(82)	(154)	(307)	(430)
Income from continuing operations, less participating securities' share in earnings			217,542	181,580
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders				(1)
Net income, less participating securities' share in earnings	$ 76,382	$ 70,204	$ 217,542	$ 181,579
Basic weighted-average common shares	364,315	246,230	345,076	240,607
Dilutive potential common shares	731	1,238	520	825
Dilutive weighted-average common shares	365,046	247,468	345,596	241,432
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations	$ 76,881	$ 70,543	$ 218,862	$ 182,693
Non-controlling interests' share in net income	(417)	(185)	(1,013)	(683)
Participating securities' share in earnings	(82)	(154)	(307)	(430)
Income from continuing operations, less participating securities' share in earnings			217,542	181,580
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders				(1)
Net income, less participating securities' share in earnings	$ 76,382	$ 70,204	$ 217,542	$ 181,579
Basic weighted-average common shares	364,315	246,230	345,076	240,607
Dilutive potential common shares	731	1,238	520	825
Dilutive weighted-average common shares	365,046	247,468	345,596	241,432