What Are Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs)?

Ambulatory surgery centers, or ASCs, are facilities where surgeries that do not require hospital admission are performed. ASCs provide cost-effective services and a convenient environment that is less stressful than what many hospitals can offer. Patients who choose to have surgery in an ASC arrive on the day of their procedure, have their surgery in a fully equipped operating room and recover under the care of highly skilled nurses, all without hospital admission. Whether they are young or old or somewhere in between, patients and their families benefit from the comfortable environment ASCs offer. ASCs may perform surgeries in several specialties or dedicate their services to one specialty, such as eye care or sports medicine.

Resources with more information about ASCs

Meeting America's Surgical Needs: Comprehensive Brochure This comprehensive brochure provides an overview of ASCs and the role surgery centers play in meeting America's surgical needs. It includes information on the number of ASCs by state, specialties served in ASCs and the regulatory oversight and quality standards ASCs must meet.

Ambulatory Surgery Centers: A Positive Trend in Health Care This ASC Trends report illustrates research supporting the growth and expansion of ASCs.

An Analysis of Recent Growth of Ambulatory Surgical Centers This study provides evidence that ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) play a pivotal role in moving services out of hospitals and into less expensive yet clinically appropriate settings. The study findings highlight the role ASCs have played in meeting the growing population needs for essential surgical and cancer screening services.

Physician-Led Ambulatory Surgical Centers: Vital to Meeting the Surgical Needs of Tomorrow — Order Today! Citizens in every state have access to more than 5,300 ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) across the nation largely due to physician ownership. This report describes why physician ownership of ASCs is a win-win situation and the benefits of their contributions to ASCs.

Selective Contracting by Managed Care Organizations: Risky Business for Patients, Physicians and ASCs — Order Today! This report explains the practice of selective contracting, why it is problematic and provides possible remedies.