Consolidated Statements of Net Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues
Rent billed	$ 474,151	$ 473,343	$ 435,782
Straight-line rent	110,456	74,741	65,468
Income from direct financing leases	119,617	73,983	74,495
Interest and other income	149,973	162,455	129,000
Total revenues	854,197	784,522	704,745
Expenses
Interest expense	237,830	223,274	176,954
Real estate depreciation and amortization	152,313	133,083	125,106
Property-related	23,992	9,237	5,811
General and administrative	96,411	80,086	58,599
Acquisition costs		917	29,645
Total expenses	510,546	446,597	396,115
Other income (expense)
Gain on sale of real estate and other	41,560	719,392	7,431
Impairment charges	(21,031)	(48,007)
Earnings from equity interests	16,051	14,165	10,058
Debt refinancing and unutilized financing costs	(6,106)		(32,574)
Other	(345)	(4,071)	374
Total other income (expense)	30,129	681,479	(14,711)
Income before income tax	373,780	1,019,404	293,919
Income tax benefit (expense)	2,621	(927)	(2,681)
Net income	376,401	1,018,477	291,238
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(1,717)	(1,792)	(1,445)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 374,684	$ 1,016,685	$ 289,793
Earnings per share (unit) — basic
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.87	$ 2.77	$ 0.82
Weighted average shares (units) outstanding — basic	427,075	365,364	349,902
Earnings per share (unit) — diluted
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.87	$ 2.76	$ 0.82
Weighted average shares (units) outstanding — diluted	428,299	366,271	350,441
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Revenues
Rent billed	$ 474,151	$ 473,343	$ 435,782
Straight-line rent	110,456	74,741	65,468
Income from direct financing leases	119,617	73,983	74,495
Interest and other income	149,973	162,455	129,000
Total revenues	854,197	784,522	704,745
Expenses
Interest expense	237,830	223,274	176,954
Real estate depreciation and amortization	152,313	133,083	125,106
Property-related	23,992	9,237	5,811
General and administrative	96,411	80,086	58,599
Acquisition costs		917	29,645
Total expenses	510,546	446,597	396,115
Other income (expense)
Gain on sale of real estate and other	41,560	719,392	7,431
Impairment charges	(21,031)	(48,007)
Earnings from equity interests	16,051	14,165	10,058
Debt refinancing and unutilized financing costs	(6,106)		(32,574)
Other	(345)	(4,071)	374
Total other income (expense)	30,129	681,479	(14,711)
Income before income tax	373,780	1,019,404	293,919
Income tax benefit (expense)	2,621	(927)	(2,681)
Net income	376,401	1,018,477	291,238
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(1,717)	(1,792)	(1,445)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 374,684	$ 1,016,685	$ 289,793
Earnings per share (unit) — basic
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.87	$ 2.77	$ 0.82
Weighted average shares (units) outstanding — basic	427,075	365,364	349,902
Earnings per share (unit) — diluted
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.87	$ 2.76	$ 0.82
Weighted average shares (units) outstanding — diluted	428,299	366,271	350,441