Gratia Pitcher, MD, has been selected as chief medical officer of Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health.

As physician burnout and turnover remains high, organizations continue looking for ways to keep employees satisfied. 

CMS made changes to healthcare policy in 2023 that are set to change many facets of care in 2024.

Recent CMS data has South Dakota ranked the highest in physician communication. 

Across the country, 10.1% adults reported that they weren't able to see a doctor despite needing to due to the cost over the past 12 months, according to recent data from the United Health Foundation.

Total Access Urgent Care agreed to pay more than $9.1 million to settle allegations that it submitted false claims to Medicare. 

From leadership moves to layoffs, here are 13 Optum moves that physician leaders should know that Becker's reported on in 2023:

Artificial intelligence and telemedicine dominated the digital health news in 2023.

Massachusetts has become the first state in the country to have each of its hospital, health system and local health plans commit to eliminating questions about clinicians' mental health history or past drug use in the credentialing process.

As 2023 comes to a close, Becker's recently connected with Calie Santana, MD, senior medical principal for innovation for St. Louis-based Evernorth Health Services, to hear her perspective on the trends that defined the healthcare industry in 2023.

Becker's recently connected with Michelle Stansbury, VP of Innovation and IT Applications at Houston Methodist, to hear her perspective on the past year and how she will lead the hospital group in 2024.

Medical group revenue per physician jumped 16.7% in 2023 but expenses are also on the rise, according to the AMGA Medical Group Operations and Finance Survey.

Here are 24 acquisitions and partnerships that Becker's reported on in 2023:

Physicians and patients face a variety of barriers in the healthcare system when delivering or seeking care, with many healthcare leaders seeking solutions to reduce these challenges and deliver high quality care.

Indianapolis-based Community Health Network agreed to pay the U.S. $345 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and Stark law.

A surgery team at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland performed the system's first surgical removal of a herniated disc without the use of general anesthesia.

Staffing shortages, changes in healthcare reimbursement and the embrace of diversity, equity and inclusion measures were among the trends Brighton Ncube, senior vice president of physician practices and ambulatory care at Kingman (Ariz.) Regional Medical Center, identified as having the biggest impact on the healthcare space in 2023.

Still having more to contribute as a physician was the leading reason physicians said they would keep working at least until their late 60s, according to Medscape's 2023 "Physicians Eye Retirement Report."

Here are 18 physician executives who retired, resigned or plan to resign from their positions that Becker's has reported on in 2023:

Healthcare leaders and government officials have focused attention on violence in healthcare settings in 2023, with health systems setting clear expectations about visitor behavior and lawmakers introducing legislation to stiffen penalties for those who commit violence against healthcare workers.