Consolidated Statements of Net Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenues
Rent billed	$ 741,311	$ 474,151	$ 473,343
Straight-line rent	158,881	110,456	74,741
Income from financing leases	206,550	119,617	73,983
Interest and other income	142,496	149,973	162,455
Total revenues	1,249,238	854,197	784,522
Expenses
Interest	328,728	237,830	223,274
Real estate depreciation and amortization	264,245	152,313	133,083
Property-related	24,890	23,992	9,237
General and administrative	131,663	96,411	81,003
Total expenses	749,526	510,546	446,597
Other income (expense)
(Loss) gain on sale of real estate	(2,833)	41,560	719,392
Real estate impairment charges	(19,006)	(21,031)	(48,007)
Earnings from equity interests	20,417	16,051	14,165
Debt refinancing and unutilized financing costs	(28,180)	(6,106)
Other (including mark-to-market adjustments on equity securities)	(6,782)	(345)	(4,071)
Total other income (expense)	(36,384)	30,129	681,479
Income before income tax	463,328	373,780	1,019,404
Income tax (expense) benefit	(31,056)	2,621	(927)
Net income	432,272	376,401	1,018,477
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(822)	(1,717)	(1,792)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 431,450	$ 374,684	$ 1,016,685
Earnings per share (unit) basic
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.81	$ 0.87	$ 2.77
Weighted average shares (units) outstanding basic	529,239	427,075	365,364
Earnings per share (unit) diluted
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.81	$ 0.87	$ 2.76
Weighted average shares (units) outstanding diluted	530,461	428,299	366,271
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Revenues
Rent billed	$ 741,311	$ 474,151	$ 473,343
Straight-line rent	158,881	110,456	74,741
Income from financing leases	206,550	119,617	73,983
Interest and other income	142,496	149,973	162,455
Total revenues	1,249,238	854,197	784,522
Expenses
Interest	328,728	237,830	223,274
Real estate depreciation and amortization	264,245	152,313	133,083
Property-related	24,890	23,992	9,237
General and administrative	131,663	96,411	81,003
Total expenses	749,526	510,546	446,597
Other income (expense)
(Loss) gain on sale of real estate	(2,833)	41,560	719,392
Real estate impairment charges	(19,006)	(21,031)	(48,007)
Earnings from equity interests	20,417	16,051	14,165
Debt refinancing and unutilized financing costs	(28,180)	(6,106)
Other (including mark-to-market adjustments on equity securities)	(6,782)	(345)	(4,071)
Total other income (expense)	(36,384)	30,129	681,479
Income before income tax	463,328	373,780	1,019,404
Income tax (expense) benefit	(31,056)	2,621	(927)
Net income	432,272	376,401	1,018,477
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(822)	(1,717)	(1,792)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 431,450	$ 374,684	$ 1,016,685
Earnings per share (unit) basic
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.81	$ 0.87	$ 2.77
Weighted average shares (units) outstanding basic	529,239	427,075	365,364
Earnings per share (unit) diluted
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders (Operating Partnership partners)	$ 0.81	$ 0.87	$ 2.76
Weighted average shares (units) outstanding diluted	530,461	428,299	366,271