Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Operating activities
Net income	$ 203,060	$ 141,981
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	74,441	59,825
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	3,590	3,139
Direct financing lease interest accretion	(4,743)	(4,690)
Straight-line rent revenue	(41,664)	(30,173)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	6,725	4,377
Gain from sale of real estate, net	(25,618)	(7,413)
Straight-line rent and other write-off	13,294	1,117
Debt refinancing costs		14,380
Other adjustments	(14,718)	(5,735)
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivables	(7,285)	(10,786)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(10,603)	(11,126)
Net cash provided by operating activities	196,479	154,896
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(273,728)	(600,781)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	221,931	64,335
Principal received on loans receivable	262,862	5,188
Investment in loans receivable	(169,435)	(3,574)
Construction in progress and other	(22,875)	(36,002)
Other investments, net	(20,400)	(67,101)
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,645)	(637,935)
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt		955,280
Payments of term debt		(675,279)
Revolving credit facilities, net	(4,618)	(39,911)
Distributions paid	(180,813)	(151,692)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(28,001)	5,790
Proceeds from sale of common shares, net of offering costs		548,063
Other financing activities	(2,328)	(16,543)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(215,760)	625,708
(Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash for period	(20,926)	142,669
Effect of exchange rate changes	(3,477)	9,588
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	172,247	84,882
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	147,844	237,139
Interest paid	115,245	63,371
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Distributions declared, unpaid	91,547	87,519
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash are comprised of the following:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	171,472	83,240
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at beginning of period	$ 775	$ 1,642
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, noncurrent, asset, statement of financial position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:OtherAssets	us-gaap:OtherAssets
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	$ 172,247	$ 84,882
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	146,569	236,364
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at end of period	$ 1,275	$ 775
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, noncurrent, asset, statement of financial position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:OtherAssets	us-gaap:OtherAssets
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$ 147,844	$ 237,139
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	203,060	141,981
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	74,441	59,825
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	3,590	3,139
Direct financing lease interest accretion	(4,743)	(4,690)
Straight-line rent revenue	(41,664)	(30,173)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	6,725	4,377
Gain from sale of real estate, net	(25,618)	(7,413)
Straight-line rent and other write-off	13,294	1,117
Debt refinancing costs		14,380
Other adjustments	(14,718)	(5,735)
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivables	(7,285)	(10,786)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(10,603)	(11,126)
Net cash provided by operating activities	196,479	154,896
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(273,728)	(600,781)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	221,931	64,335
Principal received on loans receivable	262,862	5,188
Investment in loans receivable	(169,435)	(3,574)
Construction in progress and other	(22,875)	(36,002)
Other investments, net	(20,400)	(67,101)
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,645)	(637,935)
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt		955,280
Payments of term debt		(675,279)
Revolving credit facilities, net	(4,618)	(39,911)
Distributions paid	(180,813)	(151,692)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(28,001)	5,790
Proceeds from sale of common shares, net of offering costs		548,063
Other financing activities	(2,328)	(16,543)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(215,760)	625,708
(Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash for period	(20,926)	142,669
Effect of exchange rate changes	(3,477)	9,588
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	172,247	84,882
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	147,844	237,139
Interest paid	115,245	63,371
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Distributions declared, unpaid	91,547	87,519
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash are comprised of the following:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	171,472	83,240
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at beginning of period	$ 775	$ 1,642
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, noncurrent, asset, statement of financial position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:OtherAssets	us-gaap:OtherAssets
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	$ 172,247	$ 84,882
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	146,569	236,364
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at end of period	$ 1,275	$ 775
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, noncurrent, asset, statement of financial position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:OtherAssets	us-gaap:OtherAssets
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$ 147,844	$ 237,139