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Dr. Ben Barton of Asheville, North Carolina, shares practical insights on emerging healthcare and business trends affecting clinicians and patients today.
Asheville, NC, 23rd March 2026, ZEX PR WIRE — Medical consultant and author Dr. Ben Barton is highlighting several emerging trends affecting healthcare professionals and the patients they serve. Drawing on his experience working with cash-based medical practices, Barton says many of the biggest shifts in healthcare are not about new technology alone but about how practices operate and make decisions.
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Below, Barton summarizes four trends he believes individuals and healthcare professionals should understand right now.
Trend 1: More Physicians Are Moving Away from Independent Practices
The structure of medical practices has changed significantly over the past decade. According to recent survey data, only about 42% of physicians now work in private practices, down sharply from about 60% in 2012.
This shift toward hospital or corporate ownership is changing how healthcare is delivered.
“Healthcare systems are getting bigger and more centralized,” Barton says. “That can create efficiency, but it also means individual providers sometimes have less control over how care is delivered.”
What it means for people:
Patients may see more consolidation in healthcare and fewer independent practices in their communities.
“Structure matters,” Barton explains. “The way a practice is organized shapes how patients experience care.”
Trend 2: Physician Burnout Is Still a Major Issue
Burnout continues to affect a large portion of the medical workforce. Surveys show nearly half of physicians report feeling burned out, and some report plans to reduce patient care or leave the profession entirely.
Administrative work is a major contributor. Some doctors report spending around 15 hours per week outside normal work hours on documentation and other tasks.
Barton says this is partly a systems problem.
“Most clinicians are trained to deliver great care,” he says. “But the systems around them aren’t always built to support that.”
What it means for people:
Burnout affects access to care. When providers reduce hours or leave the field, patients often feel the impact through longer wait times and fewer options.
Trend 3: Healthcare Professionals Are Rethinking Career Paths
Another trend is increased career mobility among physicians. Surveys indicate that more than 60% of physicians have made a career change in the past two years, including changing jobs or practice models.
Barton says this shift reflects a broader reassessment of work structures.
“People are reevaluating how they want to practice medicine,” he says. “For many, that means looking for models that give them more control over their time and workflow.”
What it means for people:
Patients may see new types of care models emerge, including smaller specialty practices and alternative payment models.
Trend 4: Running a Practice Is Still a Business Challenge
Even outside healthcare, the operational side of running a business remains difficult. According to U.S. labor data, about 20% of new businesses fail within their first year, and nearly half close within five years.
Barton says medical practices are not immune to those pressures.
“Most problems aren’t dramatic,” he says. “They’re the result of small decisions repeated over time.”
What it means for people:
Operational clarity—how decisions are made, how workflows function—often determines whether a practice stays stable.
“You don’t fix systems with effort alone,” Barton says. “You fix them with structure.”
Dr. Barton believes the biggest lesson from these trends is simple: healthcare is evolving quickly, and both providers and patients are feeling the effects.
“Complex problems often come down to simple questions,” he says. “How does the system work? Who owns the decision? And is the process clear?”
Understanding those questions, he says, will become increasingly important as healthcare continues to change.
About Dr. Ben Barton
Dr. Ben Barton is a medical consultant with Regen Medical Consulting and the author of Practice Prosperity: The Six Biggest Mistakes Costing You Millions. Based in Asheville, North Carolina, he works with cash-based medical practices to improve operational systems, decision-making processes, and long-term sustainability. He studied at Appalachian State University and Clemson University before completing his doctorate at Palmer College of Chiropractic. Outside of consulting, Barton is an avid mountaineer who has climbed Mount Elbrus in Russia and Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa and is preparing to climb Aconcagua in Argentina as part of the Seven Summits challenge.
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Empire Gazette USA journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.