Administrative workload has become one of the most consistent sources of operational strain for independent physician practices, according to a new report from healthcare technology company Veradigm.
The report surveyed 360 independent practice leaders in March 2026.
Here are five things to know:
1. More than half of respondents rated administrative workload as very or extremely challenging. Sixty-five percent of physicians report spending at least one hour per day completing documentation outside of scheduled patient visits, and 26% report spending two or more hours daily.
2. The staffing picture compounds the problem. Every single staffing category in the survey was flagged as difficult to recruit or retain by at least 31% of respondents. Physicians were the hardest role to fill, cited by 48% of respondents. Billing staff followed at 44%, clinical support staff at 42%, nurses at 39%, coders at 38%, front desk personnel at 32%, and nurse practitioners/physician assistants at 31%.
3. When multiple roles are hard to fill at the same time, the impact spreads across the organization. The report notes that existing team members may absorb additional responsibilities, documentation time may extend, and billing and follow-up work may remain unresolved longer.
4. Eighty-eight percent of respondents said AI and automation could deliver at least moderate improvements to practice efficiency, and 57% said automation and AI-enabled workflows could greatly improve efficiency, particularly for documentation, administrative tasks and repetitive workflows.
5. Despite confidence in automation’s potential, a gap exists between current tools and future expectations. Sixty-four percent of respondents say they’re confident their current technology helps reduce documentation and administrative burden, but 79% say technology will be extremely or very important to long-term financial and operational stability.
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