South Carolina has the highest average salary among physicians who specialize in surgical care, according to a report released in May by the Medical Group Management Association.

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare revenue cycle management (RCM), principles of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are ushering in a new era of efficiency and optimization. Yet looking back at the foundational concepts that sparked these innovations can provide all new insights.

Running an ASC is not without its costs. Facilities are forced to make investments every day to add new technologies, new staff members and level up care for their patients. 

OpenAI has begun training a predecessor for its artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT, according to a May 28 blog post from the company. 

A family medicine physician in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has had his license revoked following an assault conviction and allegations of a sexual relationship with a patient, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reported May 27.  

Here are five hospitals with plans to shutter services Becker's has reported on since May 1:

Most surgical practices know their surgical scheduling and coordination processes are messy, and the workflows are leaving money on the table. However, they find it difficult to pinpoint the problems or how to address them effectively without precise surgical data tracking. Additionally, most EHR systems don't track this information out of the box.

Physicians in solo practice make an average of $443,274, according to Doximity's 2024 "Physician Compensation Report," published May 23.

Hematology saw a 12.4% jump in compensation from 2022 to 2023, according to Doximity's 2024 "Physician Compensation Report," published May 23.

April Aud, BSN, RN, the administrator of Black River Ambulatory Surgery Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo., has served as a registered nurse for 16 years — with experience in both the ASC and hospital settings.

Cardiologists have an average annual salary of $423,250, compared to $339,470 for anesthesiologists and $312,120 for ophthalmologists, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Chapin White, director of health analysis for the Congressional Budget Office, delivered testimony May 23 in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means subcommittee about how consolidation in healthcare, and specifically hospital employment of physicians, is increasing healthcare costs.

The average annual wage for nurse practitioners has increased in each of the past five years, rising from $111,840 in 2019 to $128,490 in 2023, a total increase of more than $16,000, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Washington, D.C., is the lowest-paying metropolitan area for physicians in 2024, according to Doximity's 2024 "Physician Compensation Report," published May 23.

U.S. News & World Report released its inaugural ranking of best ambulatory surgery centers May 14.

Pediatric endocrinology is the specialty with the lowest average annual compensation, according to Doximity's 2024 "Physician Compensation Report," published May 23.

Neurosurgery is the specialty with the highest average annual compensation, according to Doximity's 2024 "Physician Compensation Report," published May 23.

Though physicians on average earn over $400,000 annually depending on their practice setting and speciality, around 36% still feel dissatisfied with their earnings in 2024, according to Doximity's 2024 "Physician Compensation Report," published May 23. 

The majority of physicians believe that staffing shortages throughout the healthcare system are negatively impacting patients in 2024, according to Doximity's 2024 "Physician Compensation Report," published May 23. 

Hannibal (Mo.) Regional Healthcare Systems has scrapped plans for an ASC in Kirksville, Mo., according to a May 23 report from CBS affiliate KTVO.