Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase in mortgage loan on real estate by entity with substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate or interest in real estate, from new investment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 948
-SubTopic 310
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29(Footnote 6))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow from the acquisition of a piece of land, anything permanently fixed to it, including buildings, structures on it and so forth; includes real estate intended to generate income for the owner; excludes real estate acquired for use by the owner.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis=mpw_TwoThousandEighteenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorPropertyClassAxis=mpw_GeneralAcuteCareHospitalAndHealthcareSystemMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type:

Real Estate Activities and Lending Activities - 2018 Activity - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 27, 2018 USD ($) Hospital	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payment of cash consideration for acquisition			$ 1,402,315	$ 273,728
2018 [Member] \| General Acute Care Hospital and Healthcare System [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of facilities acquired \| Hospital	2
Mortgage financing		$ 259,400
Payment of cash consideration for acquisition	$ 14,400