Image courtesy of AscensionAMSURG is positioned to play a key role in faith-based Ascension’s future plans, according to its 2025 Ministry in Action Report released Oct. 30.
Ascension is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health systems with a network of more than 1,650 care sites across 16 states and the District of Columbia, including 860 clinician network locations, 267 physical therapy outpatient clinics, 194 imaging locations and 59 ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).
In June, Ascension agreed to acquire AMSURG, which, once the transaction is complete, will add more than 250 ASCs in 34 states to expand outpatient care in gastroenterology, ophthalmology and orthopedics.
The acquisition boosts Ascension’s ability to expand patient-centered care in the communities it serves.
“By increasing access to specialized outpatient procedures, we can provide patients with more affordable, convenient options to inpatient care while maintaining our commitment to quality,” the report stated.
By investing in AMSURG’s ASC network, Ascension is furthering its long-term goal of building a more connected and value-focused health care system while also enhancing the organization’s capacity to adapt to the nationwide shift from inpatient to outpatient care.
“With over three decades of experience, AMSURG is recognized as a national leader in ASC development, management and operations, with a reputation for clinical excellence, strong physician partnerships and operational innovation,” the report continued.
Expanding access through technology
According to the report, Ascension is also developing virtual care integration across outpatient, inpatient and specialty settings to enhance access, minimize delays and support high-quality care. These digital tools ensure patients receive prompt treatment and help clinicians work more efficiently, focusing on complex needs.
Built into this are video visits integrated with Epic, Cerner and Athena, as well as other available sites using different electronic health records, streamlining documentation and expanding access for patients.
The organization is also using teleneurology and telepsychiatry to provide real-time consultations to hospitals lacking on-site specialists.
Ascension’s clinical and technology teams developed a streamlined system that integrates video consults and patient health records in a secure environment, enabling quick evaluations and earlier interventions.
As a result, neurologists can provide real-time stroke assessments virtually to patients in Wisconsin, Tennessee and Illinois. Since time is of the essence for these cases, the median time to a virtual stroke consultation is under three minutes.
“It’s completely transformed our experience to be more interactive and efficient, while also making it possible to scale access to patients that need timely care,” Dr. Johanna Morton, national medical director of acute care clinical transformation, said in the report.
Deepening community impact
In 2025, Ascension provided over $1.7 billion in care for people living in poverty and other community benefit programs, along with $1.8 billion in unreimbursed care for Medicare patients, according to the report.
Through the Dispensary of Hope, an Ascension subsidiary and nonprofit, 24 Ascension Rx locations provided over 71,000 free prescriptions to uninsured patients, helping to lower costs and improve access to essential medications.
“Every prescription we fill represents a person whose life we helped improve,” Mike Wascovich, vice president and chief pharmacy officer, stated in the report. “Ascension Rx is an important part of the work we do to remove barriers, simplify access to life-changing medication and reduce costs.”
Ascension Rx home delivery offers convenient access to maintenance prescriptions delivered straight to patients’ homes. This dedicated service allows patients and Ascension staff to connect with pharmacists and technicians who support pharmacy care.
In 2025 alone, more than 277,000 prescriptions were delivered to 28,500 patients across all 48 states.
The organization’s 45 community pharmacy locations continue to focus on acute discharge medication programs within Ascension hospitals, along with targeted partnerships across the Ascension Employed Clinician Network clinics, emergency care centers and urgent care clinics to meet ambulatory patient needs.
Through these locations, Ascension has provided $9.26 million in community benefits through charity card access in 2025.
