Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Operating activities
Net income	$ 246,478	$ 939,536
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	111,067	106,508
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	6,293	5,543
Direct financing lease interest accretion	(6,858)	(7,213)
Straight-line rent revenue and other	(84,758)	(64,840)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	22,119	11,695
Gain from sale of real estate, net	(62)	(672,822)
Straight-line rent and other write-off	7,232	17,615
Unutilized financing fees	4,873
Other adjustments	16,052	(21,354)
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivables	528	(10,158)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	4,413	(5,387)
Net cash provided by operating activities	327,377	299,123
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(3,703,092)	(1,166,618)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	4,859	1,513,666
Principal received on loans receivable	920	531,772
Investment in loans receivable	(34,149)	(174,494)
Construction in progress and other	(55,168)	(32,425)
Capital additions and other investments, net	(213,096)	(63,080)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(3,999,726)	608,821
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt, net of discount	1,732,740	759,735
Revolving credit facilities, net	417,089	(818,116)
Distributions paid	(291,675)	(272,360)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(8,349)	(25,511)
Proceeds from sale of common shares, net of offering costs	1,507,363
Other financing activities	(24,187)	(3,106)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	3,332,981	(359,358)
(Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash for period	(339,368)	548,586
Effect of exchange rate changes	(16,645)	(8,313)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	822,425	172,247
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	466,412	712,520
Interest paid	158,259	175,715
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Distributions declared, unpaid	120,023	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	461,622	710,965
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at end of period	$ 4,790	$ 1,555
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	$ 466,412	$ 712,520
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	246,478	939,536
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	111,067	106,508
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	6,293	5,543
Direct financing lease interest accretion	(6,858)	(7,213)
Straight-line rent revenue and other	(84,758)	(64,840)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	22,119	11,695
Gain from sale of real estate, net	(62)	(672,822)
Straight-line rent and other write-off	7,232	17,615
Unutilized financing fees	4,873
Other adjustments	16,052	(21,354)
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivables	528	(10,158)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	4,413	(5,387)
Net cash provided by operating activities	327,377	299,123
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(3,703,092)	(1,166,618)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	4,859	1,513,666
Principal received on loans receivable	920	531,772
Investment in loans receivable	(34,149)	(174,494)
Construction in progress and other	(55,168)	(32,425)
Capital additions and other investments, net	(213,096)	(63,080)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(3,999,726)	608,821
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt, net of discount	1,732,740	759,735
Revolving credit facilities, net	417,089	(818,116)
Distributions paid	(291,675)	(272,360)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(8,349)	(25,511)
Proceeds from sale of units, net of offering costs	1,507,363
Other financing activities	(24,187)	(3,106)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	3,332,981	(359,358)
(Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash for period	(339,368)	548,586
Effect of exchange rate changes	(16,645)	(8,313)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	822,425	172,247
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	466,412	712,520
Interest paid	158,259	175,715
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Distributions declared, unpaid	120,023	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	461,622	710,965
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at end of period	$ 4,790	$ 1,555
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	$ 466,412	$ 712,520