Accounting Policies [Abstract] Accounting Policies [Abstract] Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member] Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member] Accounting standards update 201701. Accounting Standards Update 201701 [Member] Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-01 [Member] Receivable Type [Axis] Receivable Type [Axis] Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued expenses Accumulated depreciation and amortization Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization Accumulated depreciation and amortization Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life Weighted average useful life of acquired intangible lease assets (in years) Acquisition and other loans. Acquisition And Other Loans [Member] Acquisition and Other Loans [Member] Acquisition Costs, Period Cost Acquisition costs Acquisition Loan Acquisition Loan [Member] Acquisition Loans [Member] Acute Care Facilities [Member] Acute Care Facilities [Member] Acute Care Facilities [Member] Acute care hospital. Acute Care Hospital [Member] Acute Care Hospital [Member] Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional paid in capital Adeptus Health [Member] Adeptus Health [Member] Adeptus Health [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncements [Axis] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncements [Axis] Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Alecto Healthcare Services [Member] Alecto Healthcare Services [Member] Alecto Healthcare Services [Member] All Currencies [Domain] All Currencies [Domain] Alternate Base Rate [Member] Alternate Base Rate [Member] Alternate Base Rate [Member] Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs and Discounts Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount Amount of Properties Closed Amount of Properties Closed Amount of properties closed Applicable Margin Applicable Margin Applicable margin Applicable Margin for Revolving Loans Applicable Margin for Revolving Loans Applicable margin for revolving loans Asset Impairment Charges Impairment charges Assets Total assets Total Assets Total Gross Assets Assets [Abstract] Assets Securities or Other Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Axis] Securities or Other Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Axis] Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Type [Domain] Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Type [Domain] Assets, Total [Member] Total Gross Assets [Member] Average minimum lease rate on development and construction cost. Average minimum lease rate on development and construction cost Average minimum lease rate on development and construction cost Award Type [Axis] Award Type [Axis] ARIZONA Arizona [Member] Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Balance Sheet Location [Domain] Balance Sheet Location [Domain] Behavioral Health Care Facility [Member] Behavioral Health Care Facility [Member] Behavioral Health Care Facility [Member] Birmingham UK Birmingham UK [Member] Birmingham, England [Member] Building [Member] Building [Member] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Business Acquisition [Axis] Business Acquisition [Axis] Business Acquisition Future Payments Payable Term Business Acquisition Future Payments Payable Term Remaining payment period Business Acquisition [Line Items] Business Acquisition [Line Items] Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired Ownership interests acquired Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Diluted Net income per share/unit - diluted Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block] Schedule of Unaudited Supplemental Pro Forma Operating Data Business Acquisition Purchase Price Portion Funded By Debt Business Acquisition Purchase Price Portion Funded By Debt Purchase price of acquisition funded Business Acquisitions [Member] Business Acquisitions [Member] Business Acquisitions [Member] Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss) Net income Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Revenue Total revenues Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs Acquisition related costs Business Combination Acquisition Related Costs Accrual Adjustment Business Combination Acquisition Related Costs Accrual Adjustment Acquisition expenses Business combination commitment period to advance additional amount for capital additions. Business Combination Commitment Period To Advance Additional Amount For Capital Additions Commitment period to advance an additional amount for capital additions Business Combination Commitment To Advance Additional Amount For Capital Additions Business Combination Commitment To Advance Additional Amount For Capital Additions Commitment to advance an additional amount for capital additions Business Combination, Consideration Transferred Purchase price of acquisition Business combination equity interest in acquiree fair value. Business Combination Equity Interest In Acquiree Fair Value Equity interest acquired Business combination loans paid down on acquisition loans. Business Combination Loans Paid Down on Acquisition Loans Loans repaid Loans repaid Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Assets Total assets acquired Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets, Marketable Securities Equity investments Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities Liabilities assumed Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net Total net assets acquired Business Combinations [Abstract] Business Combinations [Abstract] CALIFORNIA California [Member] Capella Healthcare Inc [Member] Capella Healthcare Inc [Member] Capella [Member] Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable Minimum lease payments receivable Capital Leases, Income Statement, Direct Financing Lease Revenue Income from direct financing leases Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Increase in cash and cash equivalents for period Circle Health Group. Circle Health [Member] Circle [Member] Variable Interest Entity, Classification [Domain] Variable Interest Entity, Classification [Domain] Class of Stock [Domain] Class of Stock [Domain] Class of Stock [Line Items] Class of Stock [Line Items] Combined purchase price and investment amount. Combined Purchase Price And Investment Amount Combined purchase price and investment amount Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items] Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items] Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items] Commitment And Contingencies [Table] Commitment And Contingencies [Table] Commitment And Contingencies [Table] Commitment fee adjustment percentage. Commitment Fee Adjustment Percentage Commitment fee Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared Dividends declared per common share Common Stock [Member] Common Units [Member] Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 500,000 shares; issued and outstanding - 364,084 shares at September 30, 2017 and 320,514 shares at December 31, 2016 Common Unit, Issued Limited Partners, units issued Common Unit, Outstanding Limited Partners, units outstanding Community Health Systems Inc. Community Health Systems Inc [Member] Community Health Systems, Inc. [Member] Investments in Direct Financing Leases Vs Equipment. Components Of Investment In Leases Of Equipment [Table Text Block] Components of Net Investment in Direct Financing Leases Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership Partners) Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Total comprehensive income Concentration Risk Benchmark [Domain] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Domain] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Axis] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Axis] Concentration Risk Type [Axis] Concentration Risk Type [Axis] Concentration Risk, Percentage Percentage of Total Gross Assets Percentage of Total Revenue Concentration Risk Type [Domain] Concentration Risk Type [Domain] Consolidated Entities [Axis] Consolidated Entities [Axis] Consolidated Entities [Domain] Consolidated Entities [Domain] Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block] Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements Consolidation, Variable Interest Entity, Policy [Policy Text Block] Variable Interest Entities Construction in progress, equipment, and other Construction In Progress Equipment And Other Construction in progress and other Construction in Progress Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid (Decrease) increase in development project construction costs incurred, not paid Contract Revenue Cost Costs Incurred as of 09/30/2017 Contractual Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity Schedule [Table Text Block] Principal Payments Due on Debt Costs and Expenses Total operating expenses Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Expenses Credit Concentration Risk [Member] Credit Concentration Risk [Member] Credit Facility [Axis] Credit Facility [Axis] Credit Facility [Domain] Credit Facility [Domain] Cumulative Effect on Retained Earnings, Net of Tax Adjustment to retained earnings Currency [Axis] Currency [Axis] Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Fiscal Year End Date Customer Concentration Risk [Member] Customer Concentration Risk [Member] GERMANY Germany [Member] Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Debt Instrument [Axis] Debt Instrument [Axis] Long-term Debt, Gross Debt Total Debt Instrument, Date of First Required Payment Senior unsecured notes, commencing date of payment Debt Instrument Earliest Date Of Redemption Debt Instrument Earliest Date Of Redemption Senior notes, earliest redemption date Debt Instrument, Face Amount Senior unsecured notes face amount Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment Senior notes frequency of periodic payment Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage Interest rate at end of period Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Senior unsecured notes, interest rate Debt Instrument [Line Items] Debt Instrument [Line Items] Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Debt instrument, maturity date Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Description Senior unsecured notes, redemption description Debt instrument redemption period. Debt Instrument Redemption Period Senior unsecured notes, redemption period Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period [Axis] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period [Axis] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period [Domain] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period [Domain] Debt Instrument, Redemption Period, End Date Senior notes, redemption date Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One [Member] Redeemed Prior to 90 Days [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Two [Member] Redeemed Beginning on or After 90 Days [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage Senior unsecured notes, redemption percentage on principal amount Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage of Principal Amount Redeemed Debt instrument, redemption price percentage Debt Instrument Repurchase Price Percentage On Principal Amount Plus Accrued And Unpaid Interest Debt Instrument Repurchase Price Percentage On Principal Amount Plus Accrued And Unpaid Interest Senior notes, repurchased price percentage on principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium Unamortized premium Debt refinancing and unutilized financings expense. Debt Refinancing And Unutilized Financing Expense Unutilized financing fees/debt refinancing costs Unutilized financing fees/debt refinancing costs Debt refinancing charge. Debt Refinancing Charge Debt refinancing charge Deerfield. Deerfield [Member] Deerfield [Member] Debt Issuance Costs, Net Debt issue costs, net Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue Deferred Revenue, Leases, Net Less: Unearned income Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Real estate depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Development Activities [Member] Development Activities [Member] Development Activities [Member] Development Costs, Period Cost Total development costs anticipated Development Projects Estimated Completion Date Development Projects Estimated Completion Date Estimated Completion Date Development projects original commitment amount. Development Projects Original Commitment Amount Commitment Direct Costs of Leased and Rented Property or Equipment Property-related Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stock Awards Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Depreciation and Amortization Real estate depreciation and amortization Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Gross Profit (Loss) Income from real estate dispositions, net Disposal group including discontinued operation loss gain on write down. Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Loss Gain On Write Down Gain offset by non-cash charges Disposal group including discontinued operation other income expense. Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Other Income Expense Other income (expense) Disposal group including discontinued operation property related expense. Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Property Related Expense Property-related expenses Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue Revenues Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract] Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract] Dividends Payable Distributions declared, not paid Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Information [Line Items] Document Information [Line Items] Document Information [Table] Document Information [Table] Document Period End Date Document Period End Date Document Type Document Type Earnings From Equity And Other Interests Expense Earnings From Equity And Other Interests Expense Earnings (loss) from equity and other interests Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share, Basic Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners) Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract] Earnings per common share - basic Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items] Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items] Earnings Per Share, Diluted Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners) Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract] Earnings per common share - diluted Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Earnings Per Share/Common Unit East Ohio Regional Hospital. East Ohio Regional Hospital [Member] East Ohio Regional Hospital [Member] Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash Effect of exchange rate changes Employee Employee [Member] Employee [Member] Entity Central Index Key Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity [Domain] Entity [Domain] Entity Filer Category Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Equity [Abstract] Equity [Abstract] Equity Component [Domain] Equity Component [Domain] Equity Incentive Plan [Member] Equity Incentive Plan [Member] Equity Incentive Plan [Member] Equity Interest Type [Axis] Equity Interest Type [Axis] Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Type [Domain] Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Type [Domain] Equity Method Investments [Member] Equity investments [Member] Ernest Health Inc and Other Acquisitions [Member] Ernest Health Inc and Other Acquisitions [Member] Ernest Transaction and Other Acquisitions [Member] Ernest Health, Inc. Ernest Health Inc [Member] Ernest [Member] SPAIN Spain [Member] Estimated Increase (Decrease) In Fair Value Of Financial Instrument Minus Hundred Basis Points Estimated Increase (Decrease) In Fair Value Of Financial Instrument Minus Hundred Basis Points Estimated Increase (Decrease) In Fair Value of Financial Instruments minus 100 basis points Estimated Increase (Decrease) In Fair Value Of Financial Instrument Plus Hundred Basis Points Estimated Increase (Decrease) In Fair Value Of Financial Instrument Plus Hundred Basis Points Estimated Increase (Decrease) In Fair Value of Financial Instruments plus 100 basis points Estimated Residual Values Estimated Residual Values Estimated residual values Euro Member Countries, Euro Euro [Member]