Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Unaudited Quarterly Financial Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 204,961	$ 176,580	$ 166,807	$ 156,397	$ 153,283	$ 126,555	$ 126,300	$ 134,999	$ 704,745	$ 541,137	$ 441,878
Income from continuing operations	72,376	76,881	73,796	68,185	43,245	70,543	53,924	58,226	291,238	225,938	139,927
Net income	72,376	76,881	73,796	68,185	43,245	70,543	53,924	58,225	291,238	225,937	139,927
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders	$ 71,944	$ 76,464	$ 73,415	$ 67,970	$ 43,039	$ 70,358	$ 53,724	$ 57,927	$ 289,793	$ 225,048	$ 139,598
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders per share - basic	$ 0.19	$ 0.21	$ 0.21	$ 0.21	$ 0.13	$ 0.29	$ 0.23	$ 0.24	$ 0.82	$ 0.86	$ 0.64
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	364,382	364,315	349,856	321,057	319,833	246,230	238,082	237,510	349,902	260,414	217,997
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders per share - diluted	$ 0.19	$ 0.21	$ 0.21	$ 0.21	$ 0.13	$ 0.28	$ 0.22	$ 0.24	$ 0.82	$ 0.86	$ 0.63
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	364,977	365,046	350,319	321,423	319,994	247,468	239,008	237,819	350,441	261,072	218,304
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 204,961	$ 176,580	$ 166,807	$ 156,397	$ 153,283	$ 126,555	$ 126,300	$ 134,999	$ 704,745	$ 541,137	$ 441,878
Income from continuing operations	72,376	76,881	73,796	68,185	43,245	70,543	53,924	58,226	291,238	225,938	139,927
Net income	72,376	76,881	73,796	68,185	43,245	70,543	53,924	58,225	291,238	225,937	139,927
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders	$ 71,944	$ 76,464	$ 73,415	$ 67,970	$ 43,039	$ 70,358	$ 53,724	$ 57,927	$ 289,793	$ 225,048	$ 139,598
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders per share - basic	$ 0.19	$ 0.21	$ 0.21	$ 0.21	$ 0.13	$ 0.29	$ 0.23	$ 0.24	$ 0.82	$ 0.86	$ 0.64
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	364,382	364,315	349,856	321,057	319,833	246,230	238,082	237,510	349,902	260,414	217,997
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders per share - diluted	$ 0.19	$ 0.21	$ 0.21	$ 0.21	$ 0.13	$ 0.28	$ 0.22	$ 0.24	$ 0.82	$ 0.86	$ 0.63
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	364,977	365,046	350,319	321,423	319,994	247,468	239,008	237,819	350,441	261,072	218,304