Investment in medical office buildings fell by 21% year over year in the first quarter of 2024, declining to $1.6 billion, according to a May 20 report from real estate investment firm CBRE. 

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, parent company of ASC giant United Surgical Partners International, has seen explosive growth in the last few years.

Here are five acquisitions of ASCs or medical buildings that Becker's has reported since May 1:

Optum's ASC arm, Deerfiled, Ill.-based SCA Health, quietly purchased at least two cardiovascular providers in 2023, National Cardiovascular Partners and Pivotal Healthcare. 

The ambulatory growth of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, parent company of ASC giant United Surgical Partners International, is surging, and the company has big plans for the future. 

Physician groups are continuing to consolidate, facing increasing pressure to access economies of scale.  

Hospitals and health systems are increasingly looking to ASCs for growth — forming partnerships and joint ventures for ASC development as procedures continue to migrate to outpatient settings. 

Texas has lost more than 20 hospitals since 2005, according to the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, which could mean a rise in volume for ASCs in the region.

The Lafayette, Ind.-based pain management practice of Julian Ungar, MD, unexpectedly closed May 1, WLFI reported May 13.

Healthcare giants Optum, Walmart, Rite Aid and Walgreens have recently announced plans to scale back healthcare offerings, sparking concerns about care access. 

Tenet Healthcare has been bullish on ambulatory growth. Here's what the company says about its ASC strategy.

A 43,450-square-foot medical office building in Valparaiso, Ind., has been sold after spending time tied up in the legal system, according to a May 10 report from REBusiness Online.

Anchor Health Properties has acquired a 70,418-square-foot medical office building in Sarasota, Fla., for $31.8 million, according to a May 9 report from Commercial Property Executive.

Healthcare giants HCA Healthcare and Tenet Healthcare have made their mark on the ASC industry.

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare is one of the largest operators of surgery centers through its ASC business Surgery Ventures. 

Physician services company Envision filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2023. 

Surgery Partners has started off the year strong, seeing big financial gains.

Here are 10 medical office buildings that changed hands occurred in the Southern U.S., as reported by Becker's since March 11: 

Though the ASC market is increasingly consolidating, the majority of surgery centers are independent.

Rural health clinic McCurtain Memorial Urgent Care - Hochatown near Broken Bow, Okla., closed April 28.