5 ways to stay positive when practice pressures rise

Running a medical office has never been easy, but today’s headwinds—staffing shortages, razor-thin margins and an endless queue of prior authorizations—push many teams to the breaking point. More than half of physicians now report feeling burned out, according to the latest Medical Economics Physician Burnout Survey, and administrative staff aren’t far behind. Lingering supply-chain problems inflate everything from syringes to surgical gloves, while payer audits drain hours that could be spent with patients. The emotional toll is real: nearly two in three practice managers told Physicians Practice that workplace mood directly influences their decision to stay.

Yet positivity is one of the few levers leaders can pull without waiting for an insurer, a legislator or the Fed to act. An upbeat culture drives measurable returns because optimistic teams communicate better and recover faster from setbacks. Positivity isn’t about ignoring problems; it’s about framing them so solutions feel possible. These five tactics, grounded in real physician practices and current research, show how to cultivate hope and resilience without spending a dime.