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Most clinicians surveyed said the U.S. health care system has become less stable over the past two years, and many expect conditions to worsen, according to a survey reported by Austin Littrell in Medical Economics on June 19, 2026. The data come from the clinician-insights firm Inlightened, whose Q2 2026 network survey drew just over 100 responses from physicians, advanced practice clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, and nonclinical leaders in April. The poll sampled the firm's vetted network rather than a nationally representative group, a limitation the article notes, while adding that similar pressures appear in larger datasets.
Respondents described a less stable system than two years ago, with 70% saying conditions had deteriorated and one in three describing it as significantly less stable. Over the next 24 months, 72% expected further decline, while 4% anticipated improvement. Asked to identify the greatest threat over the next 1-2 years, respondents ranked clinician burnout first, followed by rising patient costs, workforce shortages, reimbursement instability, growth in uninsured or underinsured patients, and clinicians leaving practice.
That finding contrasts with some national burnout measures. The American Medical Association reported in April that 41.9% of physicians had at least one symptom of burnout in 2025, a third consecutive annual decline from 48.2% in 2023. The report suggests that workforce capacity lost through early retirements and shifts to cash-only practices may not recover on the same timeline as symptom measures.
Financial uncertainty was also a prominent concern for practices. Reimbursement uncertainty is limiting planning, according to 65% of respondents; 55% were moderately or extremely concerned about their organization's financial stability, and two-thirds said federal policy and reimbursement decisions affect their daily work.
On technology, respondents expressed mixed views. A slight majority expected AI to improve care delivery within two years, but 69% said the system is adopting new tools faster than it can responsibly integrate them. More respondents expected AI to reduce stability than to increase it, with unresolved questions about liability when AI tools are used in clinical workflows
