The State of Healthcare Operations 2026 Report
Scheduling, Staffing, Patient Access, and BPO Challenges & Trends Shaping the Healthcare Landscape in 2026
Understand What Is Really Shaping Healthcare Operations in 2026
Healthcare organizations are entering 2026 under sustained operational pressure. Staffing shortages persist. Patient access remains a bottleneck. Costs continue to rise while expectations for access, experience, and efficiency grow.
The State of Healthcare Operations 2026 report provides a clear, data-backed view of how healthcare organizations are managing scheduling, patient access, staffing, technology, and outsourcing today and where leaders are focusing next.
This report is based on responses from healthcare operations, access, and administrative leaders across hospitals, outpatient centers, clinics, and healthcare networks in the United States.
What This Report Covers
This report examines the operational realities healthcare leaders are facing today and the strategies they are using to prepare for 2026, including:
How healthcare organizations manage scheduling and patient access
The impact of ongoing staffing shortages on operations
Adoption of in-house, hybrid, and outsourced operating models
Technology maturity from manual workflows to AI-enabled operations
Cost pressures, efficiency gains, and ROI measurement
Industry benchmarks by organization size and type and Practical recommendations for improving access and operational resilience
Key Findings at a Glance
Staffing shortages remain the most common operational challenge across organizations
Patient scheduling and intake are the primary pressure points in daily operations
Most organizations now operate in hybrid models combining in-house teams and outsourcing
EHR-centric operations dominate, but manual processes remain widespread
Automation and AI adoption is growing but still uneven
Cost control depends more on process change than cost cutting
High-performing organizations centralize access and standardize workflows
Download the full report to see how your organization compares.
Disclaimer: This report is based on survey responses collected from healthcare stakeholders across the United States between November and December 2025. Findings are directional and intended to support strategic planning, benchmarking, and operational decision-making.