Gary C. Werths Building, courtesy Perkins Eastman As ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) continue to adapt to industry trends, their designs will likely become even more patient-focused, efficient and technologically advanced.
“The key is balancing the needs of patients, families and medical staff,” Jeffrey Brand, executive director at global architecture and design firm Perkins Eastman, told ASC News. “When all three groups are considered, ASCs can deliver exceptional care and experiences.”
For ASC operators, staying informed about these design trends is essential for future-proofing their facilities and meeting the demands of patients, Brand said.
“Patients are nervous when they come in, and the space they enter can impact their stress levels,” Brand said.
To address this, many ASCs are adopting a hospitality-inspired approach.
“It shouldn’t look clinical,” he said. “Patients feel more comfortable in spaces that resemble a spa or a thoughtful gym environment.”
Post-surgery, some ASCs now return patients to their original prep rooms, providing privacy and continuity during recovery.
Additionally, patient movement is increasingly incorporated into recovery protocols, Brand said.
“We designed a center with an ambulation zone where patients could walk to retrieve a drink, encouraging movement post-surgery,” he said. “This deliberate design improves recovery outcomes.”
Other designers, as well as ASC operators, echoed many of Brand’s perspectives, and noted that ASC design has evolved as the sector has grown and matured. For example, ASCs now are becoming larger and are incorporating much more sophisticated technological infrastructure, Joseph D’Agostino, administrator of Gwinnett Advanced Surgery Center in Georgia, told ASC News.
Gary C. Werths Building, Courtesy Perkins Eastman
Elevating the patient, staff experience
ASCs are more often incorporating separate entrances and exits for incoming and outgoing patients, reducing congestion and ensuring privacy.
“We’re seeing arrival and departure areas designed to minimize patient overlap,” Brand said. “It’s a small but impactful change that enhances the overall experience.”
His team recently worked on a surgery center with 16 robotic operating rooms, designed to resemble a hotel rather than a traditional medical facility. Features like intimate check-in areas, couches, and small, private living room-style waiting spaces help reduce stress and foster a more pleasant experience for patients and their families, he said.
“The patients kind of have these little living rooms together, and that’s great,” he said. “And there are choices; I mean, their family members are staying there too, waiting for their patient to recover. So more activities — there might be an adjacent small grab-and-go, and there might be playrooms for kids to make noise and be there with the family members so the family can be together.”
These design elements extend to staff spaces, which now include more comfortable lounges with sofas, vending machines and collaboration zones, Brand said.
These areas enable medical staff to rest, discuss cases and prepare for subsequent procedures.
“There’s a more deliberate effort to create more collaboration zones for the staff and more family zones at the front end,” he said.
As ASCs expand their services to include higher-acuity procedures, the concept of 24-hour outpatient facilities is gaining traction, Brand said. These centers cater to patients undergoing complex surgeries, such as robotic cancer treatments, requiring extended recovery times.
“These facilities include private rooms with bathrooms, customizable lighting and temperature controls,” he said. “It’s about providing a personalized recovery environment where patients feel comfortable and cared for.”
ASCs also leverage technology to ensure seamless care post-discharge.
“We’ve seen centers sending patients home with laptops loaded with instructional videos and direct contact numbers for medical staff,” Brand said, adding that this approach keeps patients connected to their care teams.
Gary C. Werths Building, Courtesy Perkins Eastman
Optimizing performance
Joseph D’Agostino told ASC News he has seen a significant shift in ASC design. Gwinnett offers a variety of procedures, including in the areas of ophthalmology, orthopedics, pain management and otolaryngology.
“Historically, ambulatory surgery centers were small and simple,” he said. “But with the growth of outpatient procedures like total joint replacements and spine surgeries, we’re seeing operating rooms grow from 200-300 square feet to 500-600 square feet.”
Camilla Moretti, studio practice leader at global architecture and design firm HKS, echoed this sentiment. The rise of mixed-use buildings is also on the rise, combining ASCs with other healthcare services like clinics and imaging centers, she said.
“These facilities serve as one-stop shops, making it convenient for patients and efficient for healthcare systems,” she said. One recent project included an ASC paired with a freestanding emergency department on the first floor and clinics above, she added.
“This setup allows health systems to establish a presence in new markets or compete in growing areas,” Moretti said.
Standalone ASCs, particularly in outpatient settings, are also gaining popularity for their convenience.
“Parking is often right outside the facility, and patients can rely on scheduled procedure times without the risk of hospital-related delays,” Moretti added.
Regardless of facility type, larger rooms are needed to house advanced robotic technology and equipment in ASCs, which operators want to keep in the operating room, to prevent damage while moving the equipment.
“We need to consider imaging equipment, network capabilities and optimizing patient flow for both patients and staff,” D’Agostino said.
The larger spaces also prepare ASCs for future growth, ensuring they remain competitive and capable of handling higher-acuity procedures, he added.
“We’re seeing artificial intelligence used in ASCs to track data and discover patterns, especially in cancer care,” Brand said.
Remote observation tools, personalized recovery technologies and advanced imaging capabilities are becoming standard features in many centers, he added.
The most successful ASCs have quick turnover times, Moretti said.
“In hospitals, delays can occur due to inefficiencies like distant processing areas,” she said. “ASCs streamline these processes, allowing for faster room turnover and more effective use of physicians’ time.”
Given the increasing complexity of ASCs, it stands to reason that the design process demands careful planning and attention to detail. Design meetings for a new ASC project can start 9-12 months before construction, D’Agostino said.
“It’s about coordinating every detail, from backup generators to medical gas installations, to ensure efficient operations,” he said.
