Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Operating activities
Net income	$ 156,211	$ 203,060
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	69,430	74,441
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	3,816	3,590
Direct financing lease interest accretion	(4,569)	(4,743)
Straight-line rent revenue	(49,501)	(41,664)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	13,032	6,725
Loss (gain) from sale of real estate, net	147	(25,618)
Straight-line rent and other write-off	3,002	13,294
Unutilized financing fees	914
Other adjustments	12,774	(14,718)
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivables	(265)	(7,285)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(6,885)	(10,603)
Net cash provided by operating activities	198,106	196,479
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(1,402,315)	(273,728)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	3,449	221,931
Principal received on loans receivable	420	262,862
Investment in loans receivable	(2,992)	(169,435)
Construction in progress and other	(39,987)	(22,875)
Capital additions and other investments, net	(165,486)	(20,400)
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,606,911)	(1,645)
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt	837,240
Revolving credit facilities, net	12,976	(4,618)
Distributions paid	(192,582)	(180,813)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	3,485	(28,001)
Proceeds from sale of common shares, net of offering costs	399,353
Other financing activities	(9,432)	(2,328)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	1,051,040	(215,760)
Decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash for period	(357,765)	(20,926)
Effect of exchange rate changes	(8,050)	(3,477)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	822,425	172,247
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	456,610	147,844
Interest paid	97,184	115,245
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Distributions declared, unpaid	99,093	91,547
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash are comprised of the following:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	820,868	171,472
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at beginning of period	$ 1,557	$ 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 beginning of period	$ 822,425	$ 172,247
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	451,652	146,569
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at end of period	$ 4,958	$ 1,275
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	$ 456,610	$ 147,844
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	156,211	203,060
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	69,430	74,441
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	3,816	3,590
Direct financing lease interest accretion	(4,569)	(4,743)
Straight-line rent revenue	(49,501)	(41,664)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	13,032	6,725
Loss (gain) from sale of real estate, net	147	(25,618)
Straight-line rent and other write-off	3,002	13,294
Unutilized financing fees	914
Other adjustments	12,774	(14,718)
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivables	(265)	(7,285)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(6,885)	(10,603)
Net cash provided by operating activities	198,106	196,479
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(1,402,315)	(273,728)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	3,449	221,931
Principal received on loans receivable	420	262,862
Investment in loans receivable	(2,992)	(169,435)
Construction in progress and other	(39,987)	(22,875)
Capital additions and other investments, net	(165,486)	(20,400)
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,606,911)	(1,645)
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt	837,240
Revolving credit facilities, net	12,976	(4,618)
Distributions paid	(192,582)	(180,813)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	3,485	(28,001)
Proceeds from sale of units, net of offering costs	399,353
Other financing activities	(9,432)	(2,328)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	1,051,040	(215,760)
Decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash for period	(357,765)	(20,926)
Effect of exchange rate changes	(8,050)	(3,477)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	822,425	172,247
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	456,610	147,844
Interest paid	97,184	115,245
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Distributions declared, unpaid	99,093	91,547
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash are comprised of the following:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	820,868	171,472
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at beginning of period	$ 1,557	$ 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 beginning of period	$ 822,425	$ 172,247
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	451,652	146,569
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at end of period	$ 4,958	$ 1,275
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	$ 456,610	$ 147,844