Leases (Lessee) - Summary of Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	May 27, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019
Right of use assets:
Real estate right of use assets, net	$ 60,653
Total right of use assets, net	70,914
Lease liabilities:
Operating leases	$ 75,643		$ 84,000
Operating Lease, Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	mpw:ObligationsToTenantsAndOtherLeaseLiabilities
Financing leases	$ 1,931
Finance Lease, Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	mpw:ObligationsToTenantsAndOtherLeaseLiabilities
Total lease liabilities	$ 77,574
Weighted average remaining lease term:
Operating leases	31 years 10 months 24 days	23 years
Finance leases	37 years 2 months 12 days
Weighted average discount rate:
Operating leases	6.30%
Finance leases	6.60%
Real Estate [Member]
Right of use assets:
Operating leases	$ 58,753
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	mpw:LandBuildingsAndImprovementsIntangibleLeaseAssetsAndOther
Finance leases	$ 1,900
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	mpw:LandBuildingsAndImprovementsIntangibleLeaseAssetsAndOther
Corporate [Member]
Right of use assets:
Operating leases	$ 10,261
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:OtherAssets