Technology

Oath Surgical is deepening its bet on artificial intelligence in outpatient surgery through a new collaboration with NVIDIA (Nasdaq: NVDA). The move further positions the up-and-coming company as one of the more aggressive experiments in building AI-native ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) from the ground up. NVIDIA is the well-known technology company that makes powerful computer chips and software used for artificial intelligence, data centers and other advanced computing … [Read more...]

As the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) industry heads deeper into 2026, many of the most consequential forces shaping its future are not the ones making headlines. Beyond the familiar debates over reimbursement, procedure migration and consolidation, a sometimes quieter set of dynamics is emerging – issues that are unfolding incrementally, often outside formal rulemaking or earnings calls, but with the potential to materially alter how ASCs operate, compete and grow. To surface these … [Read more...]

A new McKinsey & Company report paints a sobering picture of U.S. health care over the next several years, marked by margin pressure, policy disruption and uneven recovery. Yet amid the turbulence, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and outpatient care models are positioned for sustained growth. “Post-acute and outpatient care continue as bright spots supported by segments such as home health, hospice, and [ASCs], with an aging population and continued site-of-care shifts fueling … [Read more...]

Distalmotion has secured a strategic investment from Johnson & Johnson Innovation to bolster expansion of its DEXTER robotic surgery system into ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), the company announced Monday. The move underscores growing interest in deploying robotic technologies outside of traditional hospital settings. For the Lausanne, Switzerland-based medical technology company, the backing adds to its momentum following a $150 million Series G financing round in 2025, which … [Read more...]

There’s no denying that artificial intelligence is influencing ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) by enhancing efficiency. And leaders are further exploring how AI can streamline tasks while building staff trust in the technology.  The ongoing improvement of administrative tasks is important; however, these tools must be user-friendly to gain support. Dr. Greg Horner, a general partner at Seattle-based venture capital firm Untethered Ventures, noted that the number of administrative … [Read more...]

Apella, a hospital technology company focused on operating room efficiency, has raised $80 million in new funding. The infusion of new capital comes as health systems and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) alike grapple with mounting capacity constraints and growing pressure to do more with leaner teams. The Series B round, which combines equity and venture debt, underscores investor confidence in so-called ambient AI and computer vision tools that promise to automate some of the most … [Read more...]

The decision from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to allow cardiac catheter ablation procedures in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) for the first time marks an important step in the evolution of outpatient cardiovascular care. Finalized in the 2026 payment rule, the change reflects growing confidence that ablations can be performed safely in well-equipped outpatient settings, supported by advances in technology, clinical evidence and care pathways that enable … [Read more...]

Not every story that shapes the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) industry does so with splashy headlines or massive traffic numbers. Some of the most consequential developments unfold more quietly: through pilot programs, early-stage platforms, regulatory experiments or strategic bets that signal where the market may be headed next. In 2025, ASC News published several such stories that didn’t dominate the click charts but offered insight into how outpatient care is evolving beneath the … [Read more...]

More and more ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are leveraging AI to streamline administrative processes, boost operational efficiency, improve patient care and ensure safety.  And that’s a trend likely to pick up in 2026, industry insiders told Ambulatory Surgery Center News. “Baby boomers are reaching their high-demand years for health care needs, joint replacement surgery, orthopedic surgery,” Dr. Alexander van der Ven, head of the joint replacement division at Baptist Health Orthopedic … [Read more...]

From seismic policy shifts to blockbuster deals and the accelerating migration of higher-acuity care into the outpatient setting, 2025 was a defining year for the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) industry. ASC News readers gravitated toward stories that captured an industry in transition – one balancing rapid growth and innovation with mounting regulatory action, reimbursement pressures, and questions about scale, ownership and independence. Clinical evolution was another important theme. … [Read more...]