Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Operating activities
Net income	$ 656,940	$ 432,272	$ 376,401
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	333,781	275,953	156,575
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	16,856	13,099	8,881
Straight-line rent revenue and other	(288,717)	(226,906)	(138,806)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	52,110	47,154	32,188
(Gain) loss from sale of real estate	(52,471)	2,833	(41,560)
Impairment charges		19,006	21,031
Straight-line rent and other (recovery) write-off	(2,271)	26,415	22,447
Debt refinancing and unutilized financing costs	27,650	28,180	6,106
Tax rate and other changes	42,746	9,295
Pre-acquisition rent collected - Circle Transaction		(35,020)
Other adjustments	11,913	8,134	(2,271)
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivables	(23,867)	(2,438)	12,906
Other assets	(4,375)	18,264	(4,992)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	54,058	(18,424)	39,630
Deferred revenue	(12,697)	19,819	5,581
Net cash provided by operating activities	811,656	617,636	494,117
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(5,350,239)	(4,249,180)	(4,565,594)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	246,468	94,177	111,766
Principal received on loans receivable	1,595,708	1,306,187	920
Investment in loans receivable	(58,932)	(62,651)	(54,088)
Construction in progress and other	(67,725)	(68,350)	(83,798)
Proceeds from sale and return of equity investment	65,546	69,224
Capital additions and other investments, net	(289,239)	(36,180)	(293,163)
Net cash used for investing activities	(3,858,413)	(2,946,773)	(4,883,957)
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt, net of discount	3,407,535	2,215,950	3,048,424
Payments of term debt	(1,390,994)	(800,000)
Revolving credit facilities, net	559,985	162,633	(65,736)
Dividends / Distribution paid	(643,473)	(567,969)	(411,697)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	17,815	21,706	(12,260)
Proceeds from sale of common shares, net of offering costs	1,051,229	411,101	2,533,210
Payment of debt refinancing, deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(54,489)	(42,347)	(50,057)
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,947,608	1,401,074	5,041,884
(Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash for the year	(99,149)	(928,063)	652,044
Effect of exchange rate changes	4,662	16,441	(6,478)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year	556,369	1,467,991	822,425
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year	461,882	556,369	1,467,991
Interest paid, including capitalized interest of $3,289 in 2021, $3,030 in 2020, and $3,936 in 2019	326,406	309,920	211,163
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Dividends declared, unpaid	176,494	147,666	138,161
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash are comprised of the following:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	549,884	1,462,286	820,868
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at beginning of period	$ 6,485	$ 5,705	$ 1,557
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other Assets	Other Assets	Other Assets
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year	$ 556,369	$ 1,467,991	$ 822,425
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	459,227	549,884	1,462,286
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at end of period	$ 2,655	$ 6,485	$ 5,705
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other Assets	Other Assets	Other Assets
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year	$ 461,882	$ 556,369	$ 1,467,991
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	656,940	432,272	376,401
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	333,781	275,953	156,575
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	16,856	13,099	8,881
Straight-line rent revenue and other	(288,717)	(226,906)	(138,806)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	52,110	47,154	32,188
(Gain) loss from sale of real estate	(52,471)	2,833	(41,560)
Impairment charges		19,006	21,031
Straight-line rent and other (recovery) write-off	(2,271)	26,415	22,447
Debt refinancing and unutilized financing costs	27,650	28,180	6,106
Tax rate and other changes	42,746	9,295
Pre-acquisition rent collected - Circle Transaction		(35,020)
Other adjustments	11,913	8,134	(2,271)
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivables	(23,867)	(2,438)	12,906
Other assets	(4,375)	18,264	(4,992)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	54,058	(18,424)	39,630
Deferred revenue	(12,697)	19,819	5,581
Net cash provided by operating activities	811,656	617,636	494,117
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(5,350,239)	(4,249,180)	(4,565,594)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	246,468	94,177	111,766
Principal received on loans receivable	1,595,708	1,306,187	920
Investment in loans receivable	(58,932)	(62,651)	(54,088)
Construction in progress and other	(67,725)	(68,350)	(83,798)
Proceeds from sale and return of equity investment	65,546	69,224
Capital additions and other investments, net	(289,239)	(36,180)	(293,163)
Net cash used for investing activities	(3,858,413)	(2,946,773)	(4,883,957)
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt, net of discount	3,407,535	2,215,950	3,048,424
Payments of term debt	(1,390,994)	(800,000)
Revolving credit facilities, net	559,985	162,633	(65,736)
Dividends / Distribution paid	(643,473)	(567,969)	(411,697)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	17,815	21,706	(12,260)
Proceeds from sale of units, net of offering costs	1,051,229	411,101	2,533,210
Payment of debt refinancing, deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(54,489)	(42,347)	(50,057)
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,947,608	1,401,074	5,041,884
(Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash for the year	(99,149)	(928,063)	652,044
Effect of exchange rate changes	4,662	16,441	(6,478)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year	556,369	1,467,991	822,425
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year	461,882	556,369	1,467,991
Interest paid, including capitalized interest of $3,289 in 2021, $3,030 in 2020, and $3,936 in 2019	326,406	309,920	211,163
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Dividends declared, unpaid	176,494	147,666	138,161
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash are comprised of the following:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	549,884	1,462,286	820,868
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at beginning of period	$ 6,485	$ 5,705	$ 1,557
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other Assets	Other Assets	Other Assets
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year	$ 556,369	$ 1,467,991	$ 822,425
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	459,227	549,884	1,462,286
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at end of period	$ 2,655	$ 6,485	$ 5,705
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other Assets	Other Assets	Other Assets
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year	$ 461,882	$ 556,369	$ 1,467,991