Surgery Center of Oklahoma

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...]

If 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) business model, it is also one that will test its limits. Rising labor costs, payer complexity, anesthesia shortages and margin pressure are operational realities that executives are confronting daily. The shift of higher-acuity cases into outpatient settings continues, but the economic and workforce infrastructure needed to support that growth has not always kept pace. For many operators, the challenge is … [Read more...]

The ambulatory surgery center (ASC) industry is entering 2026 with plenty of momentum, fueled by a shifting regulatory landscape plus rising demand from patients and payers alike. But there are sizable hurdles ASC operators will need to clear as they move forward. To help set the scene, Ambulatory Surgery Center News connected with 12 ASC leaders and market experts, asking them about the trends, challenges and opportunities likely to define 2026 most. Those who participated in this … [Read more...]

Holista is expanding its partnership with Oakleaf Medical Network and Cedarcrest Surgery Center. The move will go a long way toward enhancing patients' access to affordable surgical care in Western Wisconsin, according to executives from the organizations.  The expanded agreement strengthens the existing partnership between Oakleaf Medical Network’s physician expertise and Cedarcrest Surgery Center’s ambulatory surgical facility in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.  This expansion includes more … [Read more...]

Patients living in rural areas are having more difficulty accessing surgical care. That’s according to a recently published research letter in JAMA, which explored barriers to surgical care for rural patients. “Timely access to health care services is increasingly threatened for rural residents, with 151 rural hospitals closing between 2010 and 2024,” the JAMA letter explained. “Compared with nonprocedural services, provision of surgical care faces unique ongoing challenges related to the … [Read more...]

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...]

You can often take the pulse of any industry by analyzing the words of its leaders. And while there were plenty of interesting quotes from ambulatory surgery center (ASC) leaders in our reporting this year, a few stood out for their thoughtfulness, candor and relevance. From pricing transparency and strategic partnerships, to navigating compliance and the growing shift towards high-acuity procedures, these quotes capture the essence of the challenges and opportunities facing ASCs … [Read more...]

Over the past decade, Oklahoma City has seen an influx of visitors from out-of-state, and it’s not just for the National Cowboy Museum. The city is home to health care’s new frontier, according to Dr. Keith Smith of the Surgery Center of Oklahoma (SCO). “A $3,000 procedure at my facility is a $30,000 procedure in Miami, Idaho or California,” Smith told ASC News.  SCO, co-founded by Smith, is one of the first ASCs in the U.S. to embrace fixed, transparent pricing. His facility offers a … [Read more...]