Here are seven new ASCs that have opened, earned approval or started construction in the South that Becker's has reported on since Nov. 6:

Cooper Green Mercy Health Services Authority, an affiliate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System, is opening a new Birmingham-based ambulatory care facility in December. 

An administrative law judge has approved Montgomery, Ala.-based Southern Orthopaedic Surgeons' plan for a surgical facility.

The River Landing Surgery Center opened its doors in Montrose, Colo., according to a Nov. 15 report from the Montrose Press.

Little Rock-based Arkansas Children’s has embarked on an eight-year, $318 million expansion project at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock and Arkansas Children’s Northwest in Springdale, according to a Nov. 13 report from Arkansas Money & Politics.

When ECU Health was created in 2022, its brand represented a promise to bridge world-class clinical care and academic excellence in service to the vision of building the national model for rural health care. That moment marked the beginning of a new chapter not only in our organization’s history, but in the trajectory of rural health care and education in North Carolina.

While California has the overall highest number of ASCs in the U.S. with 1,218, according to an April report by Definitive Healthcare, the Southeast has seen rapid growth of outpatient clinics. 

Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente is a massive player in the healthcare industry and continues to make significant plays in the ASC space, marked by increasingly large deals to expand their presence and a series of ASC purchases and developments. 

Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System has opened a new surgery center in Montgomery, Texas, according to a Nov. 8 report from Community Impact. 

UP Health System—Marquette (Mich.) held a ribbon-cutting for its new medical office building, according to a Nov. 7 report from TV6. 

The Homewood (Ala.) Planning Commission recommended approval of Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center's proposal to develop an ASC, according to a Nov. 6 report by Construction Review.

Plans for a free-standing ASC in St. Augustine, Fla., are under review, according to a Nov. 6 report by the Jacksonville Daily Record.

The Health Care Authority of the City of Hoover (Ala.) was issued its certificate of need for the Riverwalk Health and Wellness Center after being given initial approval in August, ABC News 3340 reported Nov. 5. 

Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare has opened an outpatient and imaging facility in Dunwoody, Ga. 

Adventist Health Lodi (Calif.) Memorial Hospital Foundation has purchased the Lodi Outpatient Surgery Center and added it to its network after years of leasing the center from local physicians, according to a Nov. 2 Lodi News-Sentinel report. 

Certificate-of-need laws require healthcare systems or providers to receive special approval  from the state before expanding or building a new facility, and they vary by state. 

Here are 15 ASCs that were opened or announced in the last month, as reported by Becker's:

ASCs are experiencing a development boom in the Sun Belt, a region that spans the Southeastern and Southwestern United States. The trend is being driven by demographic shifts, increased healthcare spending and regulatory factors.

Arjun Gangakhedkar, real estate and financial specialist for the recently formed ASC chain Ker Medical and principal at QHM Partners, joined Becker's to discuss two major risks to ASC real estate development. 

Raleigh, N.C.-based Compass Surgical Partners has linked with Lubbock, Texas-based physicians to develop an ASC in Lubbock, EverythingLubbock.com reported Oct. 31.