Optim Orthopedics and Southern Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine (SOSM) have announced a strategic merger. Moving forward, the deal will unite their operations under the Optim Orthopedics name. SOSM is a Brunswick-based orthopedic surgery office that specializes in treatments for a range of musculoskeletal conditions. This merger reflects the ongoing trend of consolidation in the surgery world, including in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) industry, particularly in specialty fields … [Read more...]

The ambulatory surgery center (ASC) industry is at a crossroads. As consolidation increases, many ASC operators are faced with the decision to either maintain their independence, or partner with larger health systems and corporate entities.  The development of the industry dates back to the 1960s, when small practices and individual ASCs began to emerge to cater to specific outpatient surgical needs. During this time, many ASCs were started by physicians seeking more control over their … [Read more...]

Hurricane Helene flooded a factory that produced 60% of the intravenous (IV) solutions used in the United States, causing a dramatic shortage.  The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) is now calling on the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to declare a shortage of sterile IV solutions to allow waivers to permit certain flexibilities not otherwise available to health care providers. Baxter International, the company that operates the Marion, North Carolina-based … [Read more...]

Bon Secours Mercy Health, Compass Surgical Partners and AlignedCardio have announced plans to open a cardiovascular ambulatory surgery center (ASC) in the Short Pump area of Henrico, Virginia.  Driven by technological advancements and data demonstrating safety, cardiovascular procedures are increasingly being performed in ASCs. The new facility, Short Pump Cardiovascular Ambulatory Surgery Center, is set to open in late 2025.  The 8,000-square-foot center will offer a range of procedures, … [Read more...]

Looking ahead, 2025 may be the year of the outpatient orthopedic surgery center. That’s according to Jon Van Valkenburg, executive director of Upstate Orthopedics Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) in East Syracuse, New York, who spoke to the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) for their podcast.  In 2024, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added total shoulder arthroplasties to its approved procedures list for ASCs. That, in turn, created opportunities for … [Read more...]

Last month, the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) President Mark Wainner was invited to the White House to participate in a summit focused on improving patient and workforce safety across the U.S. health care system.  The event included senior health care officials, leaders of 22 national health care organizations, including ASCA, and representatives from 16 major hospital systems. It marked a first-of-its-kind meeting at the White House, providing ASCA the opportunity to engage … [Read more...]

Essentia Health has joined forces with Brightside Surgical, an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) in Bismarck, North Dakota, to co-own the facility. Brightside offers a variety of specialties, from obstetrics to podiatry to general surgery.  The partnership aims to enhance access to outpatient surgical care for patients in the Bismarck-Mandan area, Dr. Stefanie Gefroh, interim president of Essentia Health’s West Market, told ASC News in an email.   “This joint venture solidifies existing … [Read more...]

As it becomes more evident that ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are both cost-effective and preferred by most patients, operators are left to prove that the outpatient setting is just as safe as a hospital.  For example, cardiovascular procedures began shifting into the outpatient setting in 2020, when percutaneous interventions (PCIs) were added to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) covered procedure list.  The inclusion happened only after cardiologists banded … [Read more...]

Certificate of need (CON) laws significantly limit the growth of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), increasing health care costs and reducing access to care. That’s according to a recently published study commissioned by conservative think tank The Cato Institute.  The research found that repealing ASC-specific CON laws led to a 44% to 47% statewide increase in the number of ASCs per capita. Rural communities saw even more dramatic growth, with ASCs increasing by 92% to 112% per capita, … [Read more...]

There is a growing movement in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) industry to include more cardiovascular codes in the Covered Procedures List (CPL).  ASCs have been positioned to transform cardiovascular care in the U.S. since the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) to its covered procedure list in 2020. What’s more, cardiovascular procedures in ASCs are becoming more and more common due to technological advancements, … [Read more...]