Mass General Brigham plans $7.5M ASC with Regent Surgical
Mass General Brigham (MGB) has signaled plans to develop a standalone ambulatory surgery center (ASC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in collaboration with Regent Surgical Health. The project is estimated to cost around $7.5 million, based on a Determination of Need filing submitted to the state’s Department of Public Health (DPH).
In February, MGB announced plans to partner with Regent to expand ASC capabilities throughout New England. These ASCs would address a significant gap, as Massachusetts has the fourth-lowest number of ASCs per capita among all states in the U.S., according to the filing.
MGB and Regent submitted their application on Oct. 1 under a joint venture called New England Surgery Center Holdings LLC. The facility plans to have three operating rooms for endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures, and will be approximately 6,000 square feet.
This application process with the DPH is a regulatory step required for health care entities seeking to modify the health care market or make a significant capital expenditure in the state.
MGB officials reported a substantial waitlist for endoscopy procedures at their hospitals, Mass General and Brigham and Women’s. Over 25,000 patients are awaiting scheduling, most of whom could be treated in an outpatient setting. Additionally, inpatient discharge is delayed as patients wait for the necessary endoscopy procedures.
The new facility would “allow MGB to decrease wait time for patients needing routine screenings and to shift routine screenings that are currently performed at Mass General and Brigham and Women’s to a more convenient, cost-effective setting, improving access and throughput for cases that must be performed in the hospital setting,” according to the application.
Dignity Health breaks ground on Folsom Ranch ASC
Dignity Health broke ground on its new advanced ambulatory surgery center (AASC) at California’s Folsom Ranch on Oct. 2. The AASC will expand Dignity Health’s footprint and offer a variety of specialty and outpatient services to the community.
The center will include an outpatient surgery facility, specialty services and integrated technology such as telehealth and home monitoring to provide patients with convenient and innovative care close to home. The building is also expected to blend health and wellness with the surrounding environment, offering space for preventive care, advanced procedures and family-centered health.
“The advanced ambulatory care center is the first step in a long-term vision for a comprehensive medical campus at Folsom Ranch,” Dignity Health leader Rob Marchuk said in a release. “By integrating outpatient surgery, multi-specialty care and modern technology, this facility will provide patients and families with convenient access to exceptional care in a setting that reflects the community’s character.”
Marchuk serves as the “Dignity Health Market President, Physician Enterprise – Sacramento.”
Dignity Health is a multi-state network with 10,000 physicians, over 60,000 employees, 41 acute care hospitals and more than 400 care centers, all headquartered in San Francisco.
The facility is scheduled to open in summer 2027 and, once fully operational, will reportedly employ hundreds of full-time employees.
HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital announces $116M investment in expansion
HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, Illinois, has announced $116 million in major expansion projects. These include a $66 million upgrade of the emergency department, an inpatient nursing unit, and a new $50 million outpatient surgery center, along with improved imaging options and additional medical office space.
Construction of the outpatient surgery center and medical office building is expected to be complete by October 2026. The three-story, 70,000-square-foot facility will include four operating suites, two additional procedure rooms, six post-anesthesia care rooms, diagnostic imaging capabilities, and 16 prep and recovery stations.
OakLeaf Surgical Hospital completes construction on new surgical center
OakLeaf Surgical Hospital has completed construction and revitalization of its new River Prairie Surgery Center in Altoona, Wisconsin. The new facility is expected to accommodate 6,000 to 9,000 additional patients per year, according to the hospital. This comes just one year after HSHS hospitals and Prevea Clinics closed their doors in the community.
Oakleaf took occupancy of the former Prevea Clinic building in October 2024 and immediately began an accreditation process, according to a statement.
The new facility is expected to be open for surgical procedures as early as January 2026, with a soft opening and gradual build-up of services.
“Our number one priority is to care for the patients in our community,” Jim Nemeth, CEO of OakLeaf Surgical, said in a statement. “OakLeaf Surgical Hospital recognizes the vital role physicians play in providing quality health care and will work collaboratively to ensure a seamless transition and continued excellence in patient care.”
UHealth SoLé Mia Medical Center opens in North Miami
University of Miami Health System has opened UHealth SoLé Mia in South Florida. The seven-story, 363,000-square-foot facility is the largest ambulatory center in UHealth’s network and marks its latest expansion.
“Our vision at SoLé Mia is threefold: to expand access, improve outcomes and deliver a clinical experience unlike anything patients have seen before,” Dipen J. Parekh, CEO of UHealth and executive vice president for health affairs at the University of Miami, said in a statement. “This medical center is not simply a building. It is the North Star for how we are transforming care across our health system.”
In addition, a collaboration with the Hospital for Special Surgery combines two leaders in musculoskeletal care. Other specialties include neurology and neurosurgery, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, dermatology, otolaryngology and gynecology.
Every UHealth SoLé Mia physician is equipped with AI-enabled technology. From guided scheduling and self-check-in to other AI-powered clinical tools such as ambient dictation and advanced coding support, physicians are empowered to spend more time with patients while ensuring accuracy and efficiency in care delivery, according to the health system.
Located in the community, the center offers easy access for local residents while serving patients from the surrounding region.
Keck Medicine Debuts New Clinic
Keck Medicine of USC’s largest and most advanced outpatient facility is now open. The four-story, 100,000-square-foot medical office building more than doubles Keck Medicine’s capacity to provide care in Pasadena, California.
The new facility offers access to many of the same physicians who treat patients at Keck Medical Center of USC.
“From routine imaging to managing chronic arthritis to cardiac workups, we have our patients’ health care needs covered,” Smitha Ravipudi, CEO of USC Care Medical Group and Keck Medicine Ambulatory Care Services, said in a release. “We offer more than 15 different clinical specialties all under one roof, making care easier than ever to access.”
Keck Medicine, the USC medical enterprise, is one of two university-based health systems in the Los Angeles area.
IBJI OrthoAccess Immediate Care opens in Arlington Heights North
Illinois Bone & Joint Institute (IBJI) has opened its newest OrthoAccess Immediate Care clinic in Arlington Heights. The clinic expands IBJI’s network of orthopedic walk-in care centers, bringing injury treatment closer to residents and neighborhoods.
The location is designed to handle non-life-threatening musculoskeletal injuries. Patients who need evaluation and treatment for sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations and sports- or work-related injuries can receive care without the wait or expense of visiting an emergency department.
OrthoAccess coordinates closely with IBJI’s specialists to ensure seamless care. If additional surgical or rehabilitation follow-up is required, patients experience a smooth transition to IBJI’s orthopedic, imaging and physical therapy services.
TOA Opens first ASC in Tennessee
Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance (TOA) East Tennessee is now accepting patients at its first ASC in Knoxville. The Parkwest Surgery Center features 12 operating rooms and is equipped to provide a wide range of procedures, including joint replacements, spine surgeries and upper extremity surgeries.
The center was reportedly designed with patient satisfaction in mind, providing a modern, comfortable and efficient environment for outpatient orthopedic care.
