Technology

Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) operators can break the firefighting cycle of last-minute staffing by using data, forecasting and a ready bench of familiar, flexible clinicians. And utilizing third-party staffing solutions doesn’t just fill gaps; smarter staffing can also minimize full-time employee turnover and save facilities tens of thousands of dollars annually – and millions over time. Medely executive Phil Galligan explored these and other staffing topics during a recent ASC News … [Read more...]

Despite the GLP-1 craze, bariatric surgery may result in greater weight loss at significantly lower cost, according to a recently published study. The findings strengthen the case for expanding bariatric programs in outpatient settings. “Obesity is a heterogeneous disease,” researcher George Eid said in a podcast interview with JAMA Network. “Not everybody responds the same way; not everybody will have the same effect. Some patients will require surgery. You have a subgroup where … [Read more...]

Electronic health record (EHR) usage among ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) continues to climb. That’s according to the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association’s (ASCA) July 2025 60-Second Survey. The survey found that 76% of ASCs now use an EHR. That’s the highest percentage since ASCA began asking the question in 2021, reflecting the increasing importance of EHR technology. “It's probably a few industry [and] health care trends happening simultaneously,” ASCA regulatory counsel Alex … [Read more...]

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has reached a $250,000 settlement with Syracuse ASC LLC, doing business as Specialty Surgery Center of Central New York, over a ransomware breach that compromised the protected health information (PHI) of nearly 25,000 individuals. Announced July 23 by HHS’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the settlement addresses potential violations of the HIPAA Security and Breach Notification Rules. It also includes a two-year corrective action plan … [Read more...]

Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are under increasing pressure to meet hospital-level expectations with fewer resources. That is a reality that Katie Pierson, regulatory specialist at Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies, knows all too well. “Regulators, patients and payers want documentation, credentialing, infection control, emergency preparedness – the list goes on,” Pierson recently said. “But you’re expected to deliver all of that with leaner teams.” During a July 15 webinar hosted by … [Read more...]

Zimmer Biomet (NYSE: ZBH) and Getinge on July 10 announced a strategic partnership that aims to provide ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) with a bundled offering of surgical capital equipment, infection control products and implants via a single point of contact. Under the agreement, Zimmer Biomet will distribute Getinge’s operating room capital products – including OR integration systems, lighting and sterilization technology – alongside its own suite of joint replacement implants and … [Read more...]

As ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) enter the back half of 2025, operators are navigating a crosscurrent of forces. On one side is a drive toward growth, whether that’s through new specialties, strategic partnerships or investment in technologies such as robotics and AI. On the other: a thicket of operational hurdles that continue to complicate ASCs’ best laid plans. Earlier this year, Ambulatory Surgery Center News surveyed our audience on the biggest trends, challenges and opportunities … [Read more...]

Compliance may never be glamorous, but for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) navigating evolving regulations, staffing shortages and tightening margins, it is an especially important component of success. And that makes investing in compliance-support strategies critical, industry insiders point out. “Each and every day is a different day,” Suzi Gausman, CEO of Nebraska Orthopaedic Center, said during a recent MedTrainer webinar. “There are days where the excitement level may be a little bit … [Read more...]

Since the start of 2025, Ambulatory Surgery Center News has spoken with ASC leaders, investors, advisors and other health care executives about everything from robotics and new technologies, to payer pressures and Medicaid cuts. With the year officially at its midway point on July 2, ASC News wanted to take stock of those conversations and explore some of the comments that have best captured 2025’s first half.  Here’s what key ASC voices have said about the year thus far, with context on why … [Read more...]

A growing number of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are being built to meet demand for efficiency, patient convenience and higher-acuity capabilities, but designing them requires more than adding ORs and new technology.  In a recent ASC News webinar, three leaders from across the industry shared what they are seeing in the field and how forward-looking operators can avoid design and development missteps. The panel featured Michael McClain, managing partner at LeftCoast Healthcare Advisors; … [Read more...]