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Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) have seen tremendous growth in the United States over the past few decades. These centers that specialize in outpatient surgeries have transformed how many low-risk surgical procedures are performed. Let’s take a closer look at the rise of ASCs in America.
What are Ambulatory Surgery Centers?
Ambulatory surgery centers, also known as outpatient surgery centers or same-day surgery centers, are specialized healthcare facilities that focus on providing surgical care on an outpatient basis. Patients are admitted to the ASC, undergo a surgical procedure, and are discharged home the same day without an overnight hospital stay.
ASCs are typically owned by physicians, hospitals, or other healthcare organizations. They employ surgeons, nurses and other staff trained specifically in outpatient surgeries. Some common procedures performed at ASCs include cataract surgery, colonoscopy, arthroscopy, endoscopy, and procedures involving the ear, nose and throat. ASCs aim to provide high-quality surgical care in a cost-effective manner without the expenses associated with inpatient hospital stays.
Growth of ASCs
In the early 1980s, there were only around 300 ASCs across the United States. However, over the past few decades, ASCs have grown tremendously in numbers as well as the scope and complexity of procedures performed. According to industry reports, there are now over 5,500 Medicare-certified ASCs in the US. It is estimated that over 70% of all surgeries in the country are now being performed in ASCs rather than hospital outpatient departments.
Some key factors contributing to the rise of ASCs include:
Cost Savings: ASCs are able to offer lower costs to patients, insurers and Medicare compared to hospital outpatient departments for many surgical procedures. On average, costs are 30-50% lower for the same procedures in ASCs.
Consumer Demand: With shorter wait times, more convenient locations and focus only on outpatient surgeries, ASCs provide a better patient experience. Recovery at home is also preferable to many over staying at a hospital even for one night.
Technological Advances: New medical technologies and minimally invasive procedures have increased the number and complexity of surgeries that can safely be performed in an outpatient setting versus requiring an overnight hospital admission.
Shift in Reimbursement Models: Changes in Medicare reimbursement models and private insurance policies favor the growth of ASCs by incentivizing cost-effective, high-quality outpatient care over inpatient treatment for many procedures.
Physician Investment: Many physicians are actively investing in and operating their own ASCs. This improves control over workflow, increases case volume and boosts revenue from facility fees beyond just physician professional fees.
The Changing Landscape
As procedures once only done in hospitals are now transitioned to ASCs, these centers have evolved significantly in their scope of practice over the past 20 years. An estimated 25-30% of ASC cases today involve advanced technologies, complex joint replacements and other specialty surgeries traditionally done only as inpatient care.
However, this expanding domain has made accreditation and regulations for ASCs a priority. Organizations like the Medicare Conditions for Coverage and The Joint Commission now strictly monitor standards, credentialing and quality metrics. National accreditation is also required for many ASCs to accept insurance reimbursement.
Controversies around ownership, profit motives and conflicts of interest with physician investors still remain a concern for some in the healthcare industry. On the other hand, others see ASC transition as key to containing costs without sacrificing quality care. Overall, ASCs are here to stay as prominent providers of efficient outpatient services across the United States.
Future Projections
Going forward, ASC trends point towards further growth, specialization and possibly consolidation. Industry analysts project the number of Medicare-certified ASCs to surpass 6,000 by 2025. As the population ages, demand for major joint replacements, spinal procedures and ophthalmology work will continue to shift towards ambulatory settings. Meanwhile, ASCs are ramping up investments in technology and infrastructure to handle even more high-acuity cases.
Specialized “boutique” ASCs focussed solely on a particular clinical specialty are emerging as well. These single-specialty centers allow optimized workflows for top outcomes. Larger multi-specialty ASC companies are also acquiring local operators to build regional or national platforms with economies of scale. This consolidation could increase competitive pressures and further transform the ASC landscape in the coming decade.
In conclusion, ambulatory surgery centers have revolutionized how outpatient surgical care is delivered in America. From a few hundred units a few decades ago, ASCs now handle the majority of surgeries nationally in a cost-effective manner. With their scope continuously expanding through high-acuity cases and specialization, ASCs remain central to healthcare reform goals of enhancing value, accessibility and quality outcomes for years to come.
*Note:
- Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
- We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
