Will rural hospitals survive 2026?

Medical practices are entering 2026 facing a risk environment that is broader, more interconnected, and more relentless than at any point in recent memory. What were once isolated threats have begun to overlap, amplifying pressure on physicians, administrators, and health systems already stretched thin.

Burnout and mental strain remain persistent undercurrents. Staffing shortages, rising patient complexity, administrative burden, and financial uncertainty continue to erode morale across care settings. For many clinicians, stress is no longer episodic but structural, shaping daily decision-making and long-term career choices. The human cost of this strain increasingly intersects with operational and legal risk for practices themselves.

At the same time, cyber threats have...