Four ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss what's driving ASC growth, from total joints to procedure migration.
Question: What is driving ASC growth in 2024?
Editor's note: These responses were edited lightly for clarity and length.
Thomas Feldman. CEO of the Center for Health ASC (Peoria, Ill.): Market realization of appreciable cost savings for all parties (including patients and insurance carriers/CMS), for identical procedures. Ability of surgeons to perform more complicated surgeries in a setting that lends itself to greater efficiency.
Marissa Freedman. CFO of Compass Surgical Partners (Raleigh, N.C.): ASC growth in 2024 will continue to be fueled by alignment between physicians, health systems and patients that surgical care is best delivered in a setting that is safe, convenient and lower cost. Compass Surgical Partners has seen an uptick in projects across specialties and geographies driven by both de novos and hospital outpatient department conversions as health systems are accelerating their outpatient strategy. Now is a great time for providers to consider fast-tracking projects to capture increasing market demand and tailwinds, and Compass is ready to assist on development and management of new projects.
Kris Mineau. CEO and Co-Founder of Constitution Surgery Alliance (Avon, Conn.): Total Joints. In our ASCs and across the industry, nothing else comes close right now. The sheer volume and the steady migration to ASCs have made this a multi-year driver of significant growth. At a macro level, we see pressure to migrate total joints from patients, surgeons, hospitals and payers. This pressure, combined with equal or better outcomes, creates the expectation that the vast majority of future joints will be done in the ASC setting.
Joyce White, RN. Facility Administrator of the Cypress Surgery Center (Wichita, Kan.): The driver for ASC growth in the future is total joints. ASCs are demonstrating that quality care for total joints can be achieved while ensuring patient safety and satisfaction are at the forefront of their experience. Strong, monitored and well-planned total joint programs with a nurse navigator to follow the patient months before the procedure through weeks of recovery are proving to lend a positive element to the success as well. Patient education/preparation and family/significant other involvement have also proven to be a strong foundation for building a successful program.