Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Market Report

Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC)

Market At-A-Glance

The ambulatory surgery center (ASC) market is valued at $43.1 billion in 2023. ASC market value continues to growdriven by the shift of care from inpatient to outpatient settings, technology innovations, and hospital outpatientdepartments (HOPD) converting to ASCs. As of June 2023, there are 6,223 Medicare-certified ASCs in the U.S.ASCs continue to perform more than half of all U.S. outpatient surgical procedures. ASC patient volumes increased13% from pre-pandemic levels and exceeded 1.2 billion in June 2023. In the next ten years, ASCs are projected toexperience 22% growth in procedure volumes.

Hybrid ASC/Office-Based Lab Surgery Centers Are On The Rise

Demand for services provided in the hybrid ASC/office-based lab (OBL) model is growing in 2023 due largely to themodel’s flexibility and decreased costs for payers and patients. Hybrid surgery centers operate as ASCs on some daysand OBLs on others. In 2023, hybrid surgery centers are experiencing an increase in cardiology procedures ascardiology services are shifting from inpatient to outpatient settings and patients desire convenience and accessibility.

ASCs Respond To Staffing Shortages With Automation And Financial

IncentivesASC staff recruitment remains a top challenge in 2023 with 63% of surveyed ASC leaders reporting that recruitingfor experienced operating room nurses in 2023 is more difficult than in 2022. In response to staffing shortages,ASCs are offering greater scheduling flexibility, adopting more workflow automation, and providing signing bonuses toattract candidates.

Single-Specialty ASCs Continue To Lead The Market

Over half of all ASCs in the U.S. are single-specialty with the leading specialties being endoscopy andophthalmology. Orthopedics, cardiovascular, and gastroenterology are the three specialties with the highestanticipated facility growth by 2024.Technology Innovations Are Expected To Fuel ASC EfficiencyThe use of artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics are changing how ASCs provide care and manage businessoperations. ASCs are utilizing AI to determine operating time, necessary recovery and discharge timelines, and patientscheduling among others. Other technology innovations such as radio frequency identification (RFID) and electronic healthrecord (EHR) platforms tailored for custom ASC needs are driving greater efficiency and profits.

Loosened Certificate Of Need Laws Are Opening The Door For New ASCs

In Multiple StatesIn 2023, 35 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have certificate of need (CON) laws or programs in place thatregulate the number of healthcare facilities and resources in their respective areas. Twelve states have fully repealedtheir CON laws and in late 2023 Mississippi and North Carolina are set to loosen their CON laws to allow theestablishment of new ASCs and the conversion of single-specialty to multi-specialty ASCs.