Core Insights - Nearly three-quarters of healthcare executives believe their organizations will be as strong or stronger in 2026, while over half expect the overall healthcare industry to face a worse year ahead, indicating a widening confidence gap [1][7] - The demand for AI-savvy leaders is surging, with 63% of leaders prioritizing the development of a clear AI strategy, 48% focusing on clinician and staff engagement for adoption, and 41% emphasizing investment in data infrastructure [3][7] - Succession planning remains underdeveloped, with fewer than half of organizations maintaining formal succession plans for any leadership level [7] Industry Trends - The 2026 Healthcare Leadership Trends survey, conducted by B.E. Smith, gathered insights from 703 healthcare executives across various leadership levels and organizational types [2][5] - Leaders are navigating financial pressures, workforce realities, and rising expectations for innovation, with a focus on adaptable leadership that can leverage AI and technology for operational improvements [3][6] - Retention risk shows signs of cooling, but 35% of leaders considering leaving would like to do so within one year, indicating ongoing mobility concerns [7] Leadership Challenges - Attracting quality leadership candidates remains extremely or very challenging for 40% of respondents, highlighting difficulties in leadership recruiting [7] - Clinician engagement continues to lag, with leadership teams perceived as more engaged compared to physicians and nursing staff, reflecting ongoing workforce experience challenges [7] - Career advancement is a friction point, as only 21% of respondents feel they are on a promotion track, while 26% believe they must leave their employer to advance [7]

Core Insights - Kelly Services has appointed Patrick McCall as chief growth officer, effective February 16, 2026, to enhance organic growth and client capabilities [1][2] Company Overview - Kelly Services, Inc. is a global provider of specialty talent solutions, helping companies recruit and manage skilled workers while assisting job seekers in finding employment [6] - The company has a revenue of $4.3 billion in 2024 and connects over 400,000 people with work annually [6] Leadership Appointment - Patrick McCall brings 30 years of sales and operations experience, having previously served as chief growth officer at AMN Healthcare, where he stabilized the business post-pandemic [2][3] - McCall has a strong background in workforce solutions, having held senior roles at Randstad, where he managed a portfolio exceeding 3 billion euros [3] Strategic Focus - McCall's responsibilities will include developing and executing Kelly's growth strategy, managing large strategic accounts, acquiring new clients, and creating a client-centric go-to-market model [4]

Core Insights - AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 30 cents for Q2 2025, a decline of 69.4% year over year, but exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 76.5% [1] - The company’s revenues for Q2 2025 were $658.2 million, down 11.1% year over year, yet also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.9% [2] - AMN Healthcare's gross profit fell 14.5% year over year to $196.4 million, with a gross margin of 29.8% [7] Revenue Breakdown - The Nurse and Allied Solutions segment generated revenues of $381.9 million, down 13.7% year over year, with travel nurse staffing revenues declining by 25% [4] - The Physician and Leadership Solutions segment reported revenues of $174.5 million, a decrease of 6.2% year over year, with interim leadership revenues down 25% [5] - The Technology and Workforce Solutions segment's revenues totaled $101.8 million, down 9.3% year over year, with vendor management systems revenue declining by 31% [6] Margin and Financial Position - Selling, general & administrative expenses increased by 3.7% year over year to $154.6 million, while adjusted operating profit fell by 48.2% to $41.8 million [7] - AMN Healthcare ended Q2 2025 with cash and cash equivalents of $41.5 million, down from $55.8 million at the end of Q1 2025, and total debt decreased to $920 million from $1 billion [8] Future Guidance - For Q3 2025, AMN Healthcare expects revenues in the range of $610 million to $625 million, reflecting a decline of 9-11% compared to the prior year [11] - The company anticipates a decline of 11-14% in revenues for the Nurse and Allied Solutions segment and 12-14% for the Technology and Workforce Solutions segment in Q3 [12] Overall Assessment - The overall performance of AMN Healthcare in Q2 2025 was disappointing, with declines across all segments and contracting margins [13] - Despite the challenges, there was an encouraging uptick in Language interpretation services revenues and positive customer adoption of AMN Passport [14] - The recent sale of the Smart Square nurse scheduling software and the partnership with symplr is seen as a promising development for the company [15]

Core Insights - The average time to schedule a physician appointment in 15 major metropolitan areas has increased by 19% since 2022 and by 48% since 2004, now averaging 31 days [1][2][3] Appointment Wait Times - The survey indicates that average wait times for various specialties are as follows: - Obstetrics/Gynecology: 42 days, up 33% since 2022 and up 79% since 2004 [9] - Gastroenterology: 40 days (newly added in 2025) [9] - Dermatology: 36.5 days, up 6% since 2022 and up 50% since 2004 [9] - Cardiology: 33 days, up 23% from 2022 and up 74% since 2004 [9] - Family Medicine: 23.5 days, up 14% since 2022 and up 16% since 2009 [9] - Orthopedic Surgery: 12 days, down 29% since 2022 and down 29% since 2004 [9] Geographic Variations - Boston has the longest average wait time at 65 days, while Atlanta has the shortest at 12 days [4] - Wait times can vary significantly by specialty and metropolitan area, with some appointments taking as long as 291 days for dermatology in Portland, Oregon [6] Physician Acceptance Rates - 82% of physicians in the surveyed metropolitan areas accept Medicare, with Boston having the highest acceptance rate at 94% and Atlanta the lowest at 68% [7] - Only 53% of physicians accept Medicaid, with Detroit having the highest acceptance at 85% and New York the lowest at 28% [7][8] Implications - The increasing wait times for physician appointments indicate a growing shortage of physicians in the U.S., particularly in densely populated areas [3][5]

Core Insights - The nursing profession is under significant pressure, with 1 in 3 nurses eligible for retirement and high levels of burnout reported among the workforce [1][2][3] Survey Findings - 75% of nurses express satisfaction with their career choice, a slight increase from previous years, but 58% report feeling burned out most days [2][3] - 64% of nurses experience compassion fatigue, and 33% are eligible for retirement this year [2][7] - 49% of nurses believe flexible work hours would encourage them to remain in the profession longer [3][4] Recommendations for Improvement - Healthcare administrators are urged to invest in sustainable solutions that enhance nurses' work-life balance and job satisfaction [4] - Suggested strategies include advanced scheduling technologies, mentorship models, financial incentives, and workplace violence prevention measures [4][6] - 81% of nurses agree that flexible schedules would improve working conditions, highlighting the need for systemic changes in the industry [7]