Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) operators face a rapidly evolving health care landscape, requiring strategic planning to thrive. During a recent panel discussion at an industry conference, ASC leaders shared their expertise on strategies for revenue growth and operational efficiency. If operators can understand and anticipate changing demographics and market conditions, they can turn challenges into opportunities, Patrick Garman, president of Spartan Health Surgicenter, said during the … [Read more...]
ASCQC Rolls Out New Tool to Help Surgery Centers with Quality Control, Payer Talks
The ASC Quality Collaboration (ASCQC) has released its ASC Safety & Quality Assessment tool. ASCQC is an organization focused on advancing patient safety and quality of care in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). It officially announced the release of the new tool on Feb. 3. The ASC Safety & Quality Assessment is a free online survey that surgery centers can use to “benchmark themselves against key attributes that help define a safe, high-quality site of ambulatory surgical care,” … [Read more...]
Why ASCs Should Brace for Consolidation in 2025
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) continue to face swift and significant consolidation trends, which will likely pick up even more in the coming year. Both private equity firms and health systems are intensifying their involvement in the outpatient surgical market, creating new challenges and opportunities for independent ASCs. Smaller, physician-owned ASCs have historically thrived on agility, personalized service and cost efficiency, Todd Currier, CEO and administrator of Bend Surgery … [Read more...]
Despite Outpatient Dip, HCA Healthcare Rides Strong Payer Mix and Ambulatory Expansion to Revenue Growth
HCA Healthcare (NYSE: HCA) ended 2024 with outpatient surgery cases down 1.3%. Still, despite softer case volumes in some outpatient segments, favorable payer and service mixes contributed to sustained momentum in ambulatory operations, CEO Sam Hazen said during the company’s Q4 earnings call Friday. “Outpatient surgery cases, while down, due to the strong payer mix and service mix, we had solid revenue growth in that service line,” he said, with overall revenue increasing by … [Read more...]
The Rise of Surgical Robotics in ASCs: Breaking Barriers to Adoption
The robot doctor is in. While surgical robotics have traditionally been the domain of large and well-resourced hospital systems, there is a growing movement bringing robotics into ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). As technology evolves, surgical robotics are set to become a staple in outpatient care, offering new opportunities for ASC operators. Yet there are barriers to overcome, including cost constraints and patient-safety concerns. “Robotics in ASCs is a challenge because of the … [Read more...]
‘The Future of Cardiovascular Care’: Atlas Healthcare Partners, MedAxiom Announce Joint Venture Expansion
Atlas Healthcare Partners and MedAxiom on Wednesday announced an expansion of their MedAtlas CV joint venture. In doing so, the pair are doubling down on their focus on providing cardiovascular care within ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). This partnership combines Atlas’ experience in ASC development and management with MedAxiom’s expertise in cardiovascular care, Aric Burke, president and CEO of Atlas, and Joe Sasson, chief commercial officer and senior vice president of Ventures at … [Read more...]
Top Ambulatory Surgery Center Trends for 2025
One of the most significant, sector-shaping trends in health care is the migration of care out of the traditional hospital and into lower-cost outpatient settings. Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) market growth reflects this idea. In light of this overarching theme of care shifting into non-traditional settings, the ASC industry has entered into a period of rapid change and fast-paced growth that’s certain to extend into 2025. More private equity investors will turn their attention to … [Read more...]
From Tension to Teamwork: Strategies for Managing Anesthesia Challenges in ASCs
The anesthesiologist shortage will likely not end anytime soon. Yet for ambulatory surgery center (ASC) operators, there are fixes that can help keep their centers running smoothly, such as collaborating with anesthesia providers, balancing payer mixes and making sure operating rooms are functioning efficiently. “In the past, anesthesia, surgeons and surgery centers often had a contentious relationship,” Alfonso del Granado, administrator of Covenant High Plains Surgery Centers in Lubbock, … [Read more...]
From Market Trends to Physician Engagement: Key Strategies for ASC Growth and Differentiation
Adding a new location or specialty to an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) can offer significant opportunities for growth, but it also requires careful planning and strategic execution. ASCs often compete with large health systems and hospitals, making differentiation critical. “You could do a market trend [survey] that cardiovascular would probably be really good in Florida, where you have a lot of older patients moving to and they don’t want to have to fly up for care,” Alyson Engle, a … [Read more...]
From Standalone ASCs to Scalable Hybrids: Insights on Building for Growth and Innovation
From standalone centers to hybrid models, patient-centered design, and the integration of new technology, ambulatory surgery center (ASC) design is transforming the way health care is delivered. Ambulatory Surgery Center News connected with Camilla Moretti, principal at architecture firm HKS, which has designed over 5,800 large-scale health care projects across the globe, to talk about the forces shaping the future of ASC design and how operators can plan for scalability and … [Read more...]