Consolidated Statements of Net Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues
Rent billed	$ 473,343	$ 435,782	$ 327,269
Straight-line rent	74,741	65,468	41,067
Income from direct financing leases	73,983	74,495	64,307
Interest and fee income	162,455	129,000	108,494
Total revenues	784,522	704,745	541,137
Expenses
Interest	223,274	176,954	159,597
Real estate depreciation and amortization	133,083	125,106	94,374
Property-related	9,237	5,811	2,712
General and administrative	80,086	58,599	48,911
Acquisition costs	917	29,645	46,273
Total expenses	446,597	396,115	351,867
Other income (expense)
Gain on sale of real estate and other, net	719,392	7,431	61,224
Impairment charges	(48,007)		(7,229)
Debt refinancing costs		(32,574)	(22,539)
Other	10,094	10,432	(1,619)
Total other income (expense)	681,479	(14,711)	29,837
Income before income tax	1,019,404	293,919	219,107
Income tax (expense) benefit	(927)	(2,681)	6,830
Net income	1,018,477	291,238	225,937
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(1,792)	(1,445)	(889)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 1,016,685	$ 289,793	$ 225,048
Earnings per share — basic
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 2.77	$ 0.82	$ 0.86
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic	365,364	349,902	260,414
Earnings per share — diluted
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 2.76	$ 0.82	$ 0.86
Weighted average shares outstanding — diluted	366,271	350,441	261,072
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Revenues
Rent billed	$ 473,343	$ 435,782	$ 327,269
Straight-line rent	74,741	65,468	41,067
Income from direct financing leases	73,983	74,495	64,307
Interest and fee income	162,455	129,000	108,494
Total revenues	784,522	704,745	541,137
Expenses
Interest	223,274	176,954	159,597
Real estate depreciation and amortization	133,083	125,106	94,374
Property-related	9,237	5,811	2,712
General and administrative	80,086	58,599	48,911
Acquisition costs	917	29,645	46,273
Total expenses	446,597	396,115	351,867
Other income (expense)
Gain on sale of real estate and other, net	719,392	7,431	61,224
Impairment charges	(48,007)		(7,229)
Debt refinancing costs		(32,574)	(22,539)
Other	10,094	10,432	(1,619)
Total other income (expense)	681,479	(14,711)	29,837
Income before income tax	1,019,404	293,919	219,107
Income tax (expense) benefit	(927)	(2,681)	6,830
Net income	1,018,477	291,238	225,937
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(1,792)	(1,445)	(889)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 1,016,685	$ 289,793	$ 225,048
Earnings per share — basic
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 2.77	$ 0.82	$ 0.86
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic	365,364	349,902	260,414
Earnings per share — diluted
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 2.76	$ 0.82	$ 0.86
Weighted average shares outstanding — diluted	366,271	350,441	261,072