Healthcare Organizations Are Stuck in Crisis Mode as Clinicians Lose Time to Administrative Work

Healthcare organizations remain stuck in a never-ending “crisis culture,” with clinicians reporting they lose nearly 90 minutes a day to administrative work, according to symplr’s fourth annual Compass Survey released today.

The report titled “Progress Stalled: How Crisis Culture is Costing Healthcare” highlights ongoing burnout, staffing shortages, cybersecurity risks and financial strain—all affected by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—and calls attention to growing irregularity among clinical, IT and operations leaders.

The survey, conducted with more than 400 healthcare leaders, found that financial pressures were cited as the top challenge across the industry. Clinicians ranked burnout and staffing as their biggest concern (41%), while operations leaders pointed to staffing (33%) and IT leaders flagged cybersecurity (34%).

Although there were differences in priorities, the survey revealed an overall agreement that fragmented technology is adding to the burden instead of reducing it.

Susan Grant, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, chief clinical officer at symplr, told Managed Healthcare Executive that too many technology tools create friction rather than relief.

“Too often, the tools we give clinicians add to their workload instead of streamlining it,” Grant said. “What clinicians need are interoperable platforms that eliminate duplicate data entry, automate routine steps like scheduling and communication, and reduce the number of systems they must navigate. By creating a single source of truth for provider and operational data, technology can take the friction out of daily workflows and help ensure the right person is caring for the right patient at the right time.”

This year’s survey showed clinicians want more influence in technology decisions, with 85% saying they should have more of a role in software purchasing, which rose from 72% last year. At the same time, IT leaders reported a rise in “Shadow IT,” with 86% saying software is being purchased without proper oversight, creating greater cybersecurity risks.

Theresa Meadows, MS, RN, CHCIO, FHIMSS, FCHIME, chief information officer in residence at symplr, also shared with MHE that clinicians are not asking for more systems but for smarter, better-connected ones.

“Clinicians aren’t asking for more technology—they’re asking for technology that works together,” Meadows said. “We need to move away from piecemeal systems and toward platforms that integrate workforce management, provider data, safety, and communications. When thoughtfully applied, technology can automate routine processes, flag issues before they escalate, and free clinicians to focus on what only they can do: deliver safe, high-quality care.”

One encouraging shift revealed by the Compass Survey is that leaders are beginning to prioritize efficiency over simple cost-cutting.

Grant noted that this change signals a willingness to break from old habits.

“One of the most telling findings from Compass is that for the first time, leaders say they’re looking to improve efficiencies rather than relying solely on cost-cutting measures,” she said. “That tells us the old playbook of trimming budgets and asking teams to do more with less won’t solve the pressures we’re facing. But the solution hasn’t been fully defined yet—which creates an opportunity, and frankly a responsibility, to rethink how health systems operate.”

Meadows added that the urgency displayed during COVID-19 could serve as a model for everyday operations.

“COVID showed us that when pushed, health systems can move with incredible speed,” she said. “Tiger teams were formed overnight, workflows were reinvented in days, and decisions that normally took months were made in hours. The challenge now is how we carry that same spirit of urgency and collaboration into our everyday operations.”

The Compass Survey also found strong interest in artificial intelligence (AI), especially for non-clinical tasks such as scheduling and claims management. More than two-thirds of IT leaders and nearly two-thirds of C-suite respondents said AI has significant potential to ease administrative burdens.

These findings suggest that bringing leaders together and using one connected system could help healthcare organizations move out of crisis mode and build long-term stability.

“Moving forward will require breaking down silos and aligning leaders across clinical, IT, and operations functions,” Grant stressed. “That’s where a platform approach becomes critical: when core operational areas like workforce, provider data, and safety are connected, leaders can see the full picture, make better decisions together, and focus on long-term sustainability instead of short-term fixes.”

Meadows agreed, urging the need for more agile systems.

“If leaders can embrace more agile models—where clinical, IT, and operations teams come together quickly to tackle problems with shared data and shared accountability—we can get out of perpetual crisis mode and start making strategic progress,” she said.

This year’s survey makes it evident that fragmented systems, administrative burdens and misaligned priorities are slowing progress across the industry. However, it also shows that with partnerships and the use of connected systems, healthcare organizations can move past crises and prepare for the future.