The healthcare sector is grappling with a renewed decline in staffing levels within physician practices and medical groups, signaling a worsening labor crisis that threatens to disrupt patient access to care. According to the latest findings from the American Medical Group Association (AMGA), the ratio of total clinic staff per provider has dropped to 2.17 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. This marks a significant regression from the 2.29 FTE figure that had remained stable for three consecutive years.

The Scope of the Staffing Deficit

The AMGA 2026 Medical Clinic Staffing Survey draws on comprehensive data from over 6,500 clinics and 30,000 providers across a diverse spectrum of medical, surgical, and primary care specialties. Notable institutions, including the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and CommonSpirit Health, are represented in this analysis, underscoring the widespread nature of the trend.

The steepest declines were in clinical support and ancillary roles.

The report highlights specific areas of attrition:

  • Clinical Support: Direct patient care roles, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and medical assistants, saw a reduction of 0.19 FTEs per provider, dropping from 1.48 to 1.29.
  • Ancillary Staff: Roles in laboratory and radiology services decreased by 0.06 FTEs, falling from 0.33 to 0.27.

Escalating Patient Demand Amid Labor Shortages

This contraction in support staff arrives at a critical juncture for the U.S. healthcare system. A December 2025 analysis by the Health Resources and Services Administration projects that by 2038, the country will face a deficit of practitioners across 30 of 35 medical specialties. For the average consumer, this translates to longer wait times and potential delays in accessing essential medical treatments.

Despite these mounting pressures, medical groups are reporting an uptick in operational intensity. The AMGA 2026 Medical Group Compensation and Productivity Survey indicates that patient visits have climbed by 2.0% over the previous year. Matthew Wells, senior director at AMGA Consulting, noted that while provider productivity continues to rise, the loss of clinic-aligned support is placing an unsustainable burden on the remaining workforce.

"Medical groups are also restructuring care teams," Wells explained. "They’re leaning more on medical assistants while nursing levels decline, and certain functions are being centralized within larger health systems. Every member of the clinic team is being asked to carry a heavier load."