Vital Signs is a monthly newsletter from AdvancedMD highlighting the healthcare industry’s top trends and insights. It’s our way of helping you stay informed.
This summer has proven to be full of insights for the healthcare industry. Surveys from the Medical Group Management Association found that new-patient wait times are up, but so are patient encounters. Unfortunately, workplace violence continues to be a massive problem for the medical community, with many healthcare providers reporting that they have experienced or witnessed aggressive behavior from a patient. Health care deserts are also a major challenge, with more than 120 million Americans currently living in areas without adequate access to care. Summer also brought some good news: last month, the American Medical Association (AMA) reported that physician burnout rates are declining.
Here’s a recap of everything we learned:
- An MGMA survey revealed 48% of medical group owners say that patient encounters have increased this year compared to 2024.
- Nearly 80% of healthcare employees—physicians, nurses, and other staff—have experienced or witnessed aggressive behavior from a patient, underscoring just how much of a problem workplace violence has become within medical environments.
- According to a report from Healthcare Dive, telehealth advocates are urging the Drug Enforcement Administration to have a plan in place by the end of this year so that patients can continue to receive prescriptions for controlled substances remotely.
- A new study shed light on health care deserts across the U.S., revealing that more than 120 million Americans currently live in counties without adequate access to care.
- A consumer survey conducted by PYMNTS found that nearly 30% of Gen Z and Millennial patients used telehealth services for their most recent healthcare experience.
- Physicians Practice offered recommendations for private practice owners looking to help staff overcome summer fatigue.
- Another MGMA survey found that 31% of medical group owners reported wait times for new-patient appointments have increased this year compared to 2024.
- An AMA survey with nearly 18,000 responses showed physician burnout rates are moving in the right direction, with 43.2% of physicians reporting at least one symptom of burnout last year, down from 53% in 2022.
- Starting January 1, 2026, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation will oversee a new program called WISeR (Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction) that will add prior authorization requirements to Medicare services prone to abuse.
- A majority of medical group owners surveyed by MGMA reported that higher pay and higher employee engagement are their top tactics for retaining front-desk staff.
- To help private practice owners navigate the healthcare technology landscape, Physicians Practice shared six rules for evaluating technology solutions.
Vital Signs is brought to you by AdvancedMD. It’s our way of helping you stay informed on the trends and insights that shape our industry. Each month, we publish a roundup of healthcare headlines so that you are in-the-know when it comes to the topics that matter most to you, your staff, and your patients.