FTI Consulting Survey: Majority of U.S. Hospital Leaders Predict Serious Financial Challenges in the Near Future

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FTI Consulting (NYSE:FCN) released its third annual Hospital Operations Outlook Survey, showing that 92% of U.S. hospital leaders expect major or moderate financial impact over the next decade. Key pressures include affordability, federal policy shifts, site-of-care migration, physician recruitment (86%), data security/privacy (57%) and workforce shortages/burnout (39%).

Hospitals are expanding digital access, with 92% using digital front doors and 89% supporting virtual-to-physical care models, yet patient wait times average five or more hours. Cybersecurity and data privacy are now top tech concerns (57% each), while AI worries have fallen below 40%. Value-based care’s impact on patient experience has risen from 37% in 2024 to 53% in 2025.

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WASHINGTON, May 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced the findings of its third annual Hospital Operations Outlook Survey, which found that 92% of hospital leaders are anticipating major or moderate effects on their financial performance over the next decade as affordability concerns intensify, federal policy shifts take hold and care continues to move beyond the hospital setting.

This year’s findings suggest the pressures facing hospitals are no longer isolated challenges, but interconnected forces affecting financial stability, workforce capacity and care delivery. The hospital leaders surveyed also pointed to physician recruitment constraints (86%), data security and privacy concerns (57%) and workforce shortages and burnout (39%) as among the top pressures shaping the road ahead.

“These are turbulent times for American hospitals and the health system,” said Lauren Crawford Shaver, Head of the Americas Healthcare & Life Sciences practice within the Strategic Communications segment at FTI Consulting. “Healthcare affordability and reform are the driving themes as we head into this year’s midterm elections, which is leading to increased scrutiny of hospitals and how they deliver care and at what cost. The leaders and hospitals that will emerge out of these challenging times will be those that zoom up, see the big picture, and chart a path forward that addresses the problems of today, while planning for the ones of the future.”

Key findings from the survey include:

• Hospitals continue to expand digital capabilities, with 92% of respondents saying they are operating digital front doors and 89% said they are supporting integrated virtual-to-physical care models. Despite these efforts, patient wait times have increased (averaging five or more hours), indicating ongoing challenges in patient throughput and potential staffing constraints.
• When it comes to cybersecurity and technology, hospital leaders’ concerns have shifted. In 2025, AI application in hospital operations was the top tech concern (52%), with cybersecurity second (49%). This year, cybersecurity and data privacy are tied at the top (57%), while AI concerns have moderated to less than 40%, suggesting hospitals may be more comfortable with AI governance.
• Value-based care, while enabled by digital tools in supporting preventative care, chronic disease management and more integrated scheduling across care-settings is beginning to deliver more consistent improvements in patient experience — jumping from 37% in 2024 to 53% this year — yet, operational challenges continue to hamper significant progress.
  
  

“For hospitals, there’s a lot of cause for concern amidst the uncertain road ahead,” said Rebecca Ayer Pitt, a Managing Director in the Healthcare & Life Sciences practice within the Strategic Communications segment at FTI Consulting. “However, organizations that are bold and dare to dream big can turn today’s pressures into catalysts for progress. Right now, there is great opportunity for hospitals to reimagine how care is delivered, expand access, and drive more innovative, patient-centered solutions that strengthen the future of healthcare.”

The full survey report can be found here.

About the Survey
FTI Consulting surveyed more than 200 leadership-level decision makers across academic medical centers, health systems, and standalone hospitals between March 11 and March 25, 2026. 

About FTI Consulting 
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a leading global expert firm for organizations facing crisis and transformation, with more than 8,100 employees located in 32 countries and territories as of March 31, 2026. In certain jurisdictions, FTI Consulting’s services are provided through distinct legal entities that are separately capitalized and independently managed. The Company generated $3.8 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2025. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com

FTI Consulting, Inc.  
555 12^th Street NW  
Washington, DC 20004  
+1.202.312.9100 

Investor Contact:  
Mollie Hawkes 
+1.617.747.1791 
mollie.hawkes@fticonsulting.com 

Media Contact:  
Nick Emmons
+1.617.747.1708
nick.emmons@fticonsulting.com

FAQ

What did the FTI Consulting (NYSE:FCN) 2026 Hospital Operations Outlook Survey reveal about hospital finances?

The 2026 survey found 92% of U.S. hospital leaders expect major or moderate financial impact over the next decade. According to FTI Consulting, affordability pressures, policy changes and site-of-care shifts are combining into broad challenges for financial stability, workforce capacity and care delivery.

What key operational pressures did FTI Consulting (FCN) identify for U.S. hospitals in its 2026 survey?

FTI Consulting reported hospital leaders cite physician recruitment constraints (86%), data security and privacy concerns (57%) and workforce shortages and burnout (39%) as major pressures. According to FTI Consulting, these issues increasingly interact, influencing both financial performance and care delivery models across hospitals.

How are U.S. hospitals using digital tools according to FTI Consulting’s 2026 Hospital Operations Outlook Survey?

According to FTI Consulting, 92% of surveyed hospitals operate digital front doors and 89% support integrated virtual-to-physical care models. Despite this digital expansion, reported patient wait times still average five or more hours, pointing to ongoing throughput and staffing constraints in many facilities.

What does the FTI Consulting (FCN) survey say about cybersecurity and AI concerns in hospitals for 2026?

The 2026 survey shows cybersecurity and data privacy now tie as top technology concerns at 57%. According to FTI Consulting, AI-related worries have eased to under 40%, down from 52% in 2025, suggesting greater comfort with AI governance in hospital operations.

How is value-based care affecting patient experience in FTI Consulting’s 2026 hospital survey?

FTI Consulting found value-based care is increasingly linked to better patient experience scores. According to FTI Consulting, reported improvements in patient experience from value-based care rose from 37% of respondents in 2024 to 53% in 2026, though operational hurdles still limit broader progress.