Consolidated Statements of Net Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues
Rent billed	$ 435,782	$ 327,269	$ 247,604
Straight-line rent	65,468	41,067	23,375
Income from direct financing leases	74,495	64,307	58,715
Interest and fee income	129,000	108,494	112,184
Total revenues	704,745	541,137	441,878
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization	125,106	94,374	69,867
Impairment charges		7,229
Property-related	5,811	2,712	3,792
Acquisition expenses	29,645	46,273	61,342
General and administrative	58,599	48,911	43,639
Total operating expenses	219,161	199,499	178,640
Operating income	485,584	341,638	263,238
Other income (expense)
Interest expense	(176,954)	(159,597)	(120,884)
Gain on sale of real estate and other asset dispositions, net	7,431	61,224	3,268
Earnings (losses) from equity and other interests	10,058	(1,116)	2,849
Unutilized financing fees/ debt refinancing costs	(32,574)	(22,539)	(4,367)
Other income (expense)	374	(502)	(2,674)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(2,681)	6,830	(1,503)
Net other expenses	(194,346)	(115,700)	(123,311)
Income from continuing operations	291,238	225,938	139,927
Loss from discontinued operations		(1)
Net income	291,238	225,937	139,927
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(1,445)	(889)	(329)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 289,793	$ 225,048	$ 139,598
Earnings per share - basic
Income from continuing operations attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.82	$ 0.86	$ 0.64
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders(Operating Partnership partners)	0	0	0
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.82	$ 0.86	$ 0.64
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	349,902	260,414	217,997
Earnings per share - diluted
Income from continuing operations attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.82	$ 0.86	$ 0.63
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders(Operating Partnership partners)	0	0	0
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.82	$ 0.86	$ 0.63
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	350,441	261,072	218,304
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Revenues
Rent billed	$ 435,782	$ 327,269	$ 247,604
Straight-line rent	65,468	41,067	23,375
Income from direct financing leases	74,495	64,307	58,715
Interest and fee income	129,000	108,494	112,184
Total revenues	704,745	541,137	441,878
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization	125,106	94,374	69,867
Impairment charges		7,229
Property-related	5,811	2,712	3,792
Acquisition expenses	29,645	46,273	61,342
General and administrative	58,599	48,911	43,639
Total operating expenses	219,161	199,499	178,640
Operating income	485,584	341,638	263,238
Other income (expense)
Interest expense	(176,954)	(159,597)	(120,884)
Gain on sale of real estate and other asset dispositions, net	7,431	61,224	3,268
Earnings (losses) from equity and other interests	10,058	(1,116)	2,849
Unutilized financing fees/ debt refinancing costs	(32,574)	(22,539)	(4,367)
Other income (expense)	374	(502)	(2,674)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(2,681)	6,830	(1,503)
Net other expenses	(194,346)	(115,700)	(123,311)
Income from continuing operations	291,238	225,938	139,927
Loss from discontinued operations		(1)
Net income	291,238	225,937	139,927
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(1,445)	(889)	(329)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 289,793	$ 225,048	$ 139,598
Earnings per share - basic
Income from continuing operations attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.82	$ 0.86	$ 0.64
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders(Operating Partnership partners)	0	0	0
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.82	$ 0.86	$ 0.64
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	349,902	260,414	217,997
Earnings per share - diluted
Income from continuing operations attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.82	$ 0.86	$ 0.63
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders(Operating Partnership partners)	0	0	0
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.82	$ 0.86	$ 0.63
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	350,441	261,072	218,304