Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Operating activities
Net income	$ 291,238	$ 225,937	$ 139,927
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	131,979	97,601	71,827
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	6,521	7,613	6,085
Direct financing lease interest accretion	(9,933)	(9,120)	(8,032)
Straight-line rent revenue	(70,808)	(41,567)	(26,187)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	9,949	7,942	11,122
Gain from sale of real estate and other asset dispositions, net	(7,431)	(61,224)	(3,268)
Impairment charges		7,229
Straight-line rent and other write-off	5,340	3,063	2,812
Unutilized financing fees/ debt refinancing costs	32,574	22,539	4,367
Other adjustments	(1,204)	3,563	(6,334)
Decrease (increase) in:
Interest and rent receivables	(21,116)	(13,247)	(5,599)
Other assets	(4,452)	(18,357)	(8,297)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	2,494	41,583	26,540
Deferred revenue	(2,050)	(8,872)	2,033
Net cash provided by operating activities	363,101	264,683	206,996
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(2,246,788)	(1,682,409)	(2,218,869)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	64,362	198,767	19,175
Principal received on loans receivable	8,480	906,757	771,785
Investment in loans receivable	(19,338)	(109,027)	(354,001)
Construction in progress and other	(73,812)	(171,209)	(146,372)
Investment in unsecured senior notes		(50,000)
Proceeds from sale of unsecured notes		50,000
Other investments, net	(94,970)	(69,423)	(17,339)
Net cash used for investing activities	(2,362,066)	(926,544)	(1,945,621)
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt	2,355,280	1,000,000	681,000
Payments of term debt	(1,038,221)	(575,299)	(283)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(32,794)	(15,468)	(7,686)
Revolving credit facilities, net	550,415	(810,000)	509,415
Distributions paid	(326,729)	(218,393)	(182,980)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	27,525	14,557	(10,839)
Proceeds from sale of common shares, net of offering costs	547,785	1,173,651	817,389
Other financing activities	(12,984)	(16,485)	(5,326)
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,070,277	552,563	1,800,690
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for the year	71,312	(109,298)	62,065
Effect of exchange rate changes	16,920	(3,003)	(11,065)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	83,240	195,541	144,541
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	171,472	83,240	195,541
Interest paid, including capitalized interest of $840 in 2017, $2,320 in 2016, and $1,425 in 2015	149,798	138,770	107,228
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:
(Decrease) increase in development project construction costs incurred, not paid	(18,805)	15,857	2,684
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Dividends declared, not paid	89,403	74,521	52,402
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	291,238	225,937	139,927
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	131,979	97,601	71,827
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	6,521	7,613	6,085
Direct financing lease interest accretion	(9,933)	(9,120)	(8,032)
Straight-line rent revenue	(70,808)	(41,567)	(26,187)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	9,949	7,942	11,122
Gain from sale of real estate and other asset dispositions, net	(7,431)	(61,224)	(3,268)
Impairment charges		7,229
Straight-line rent and other write-off	5,340	3,063	2,812
Unutilized financing fees/ debt refinancing costs	32,574	22,539	4,367
Other adjustments	(1,204)	3,563	(6,334)
Decrease (increase) in:
Interest and rent receivables	(21,116)	(13,247)	(5,599)
Other assets	(4,452)	(18,357)	(8,297)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	2,494	41,583	26,540
Deferred revenue	(2,050)	(8,872)	2,033
Net cash provided by operating activities	363,101	264,683	206,996
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(2,246,788)	(1,682,409)	(2,218,869)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	64,362	198,767	19,175
Principal received on loans receivable	8,480	906,757	771,785
Investment in loans receivable	(19,338)	(109,027)	(354,001)
Construction in progress and other	(73,812)	(171,209)	(146,372)
Investment in unsecured senior notes		(50,000)
Proceeds from sale of unsecured notes		50,000
Other investments, net	(94,970)	(69,423)	(17,339)
Net cash used for investing activities	(2,362,066)	(926,544)	(1,945,621)
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt	2,355,280	1,000,000	681,000
Payments of term debt	(1,038,221)	(575,299)	(283)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(32,794)	(15,468)	(7,686)
Revolving credit facilities, net	550,415	(810,000)	509,415
Distributions paid	(326,729)	(218,393)	(182,980)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	27,525	14,557	(10,839)
Proceeds from sale of common shares, net of offering costs	547,785	1,173,651	817,389
Other financing activities	(12,984)	(16,485)	(5,326)
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,070,277	552,563	1,800,690
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for the year	71,312	(109,298)	62,065
Effect of exchange rate changes	16,920	(3,003)	(11,065)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	83,240	195,541	144,541
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	171,472	83,240	195,541
Interest paid, including capitalized interest of $840 in 2017, $2,320 in 2016, and $1,425 in 2015	149,798	138,770	107,228
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:
(Decrease) increase in development project construction costs incurred, not paid	(18,805)	15,857	2,684
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Dividends declared, not paid	$ 89,403	$ 74,521	$ 52,402