Leases (Lessee) - Summary of Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019
Right of use assets:
Real estate right of use assets, net	$ 66,934
Total right of use assets, net	78,353
Lease liabilities:
Operating leases	$ 81,516	$ 84,000
Operating Lease, Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	mpw:ObligationsToTenantsAndOtherLeaseLiabilities
Financing leases	$ 1,929
Finance Lease, Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	mpw:ObligationsToTenantsAndOtherLeaseLiabilities
Total lease liabilities	$ 83,445
Weighted average remaining lease term:
Operating leases	32 years 2 months 12 days
Finance leases	37 years 8 months 12 days
Weighted average discount rate:
Operating leases	6.30%
Finance leases	6.60%
Real Estate [Member]
Right of use assets:
Operating leases	$ 64,995
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	mpw:LandBuildingsAndImprovementsIntangibleLeaseAssetsAndOther
Finance leases	$ 1,939
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	mpw:LandBuildingsAndImprovementsIntangibleLeaseAssetsAndOther
Corporate [Member]
Right of use assets:
Operating leases	$ 11,419
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:OtherAssets