Industry leaders share main growth opportunities for ASCs

Editor's Note

Following are various growth opportunities for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), as identified by four industry leaders and published by Becker’s ASC Review on May 10:

Sean Hartzell, principal of ECG Management Consultants, identified:

• Growth potential in shifting low- to medium-acuity and single-night stay cases from hospitals to ASCs
• Increased screening guidelines are driving growth in gastrointestinal and colorectal cases
• There’s growing demand for lower-acuity cardiology procedures, though the transition is gradual
• Incorporation of robotic surgeries are increasing but being tempered by reimbursement rates.

Michael McClain, founder of LeftCoast Healthcare Advisors, identified:

• Cardiovascular/vascular services—Expansion in interventional cardiology and electrophysiology procedures
• Robotically assisted orthopedic and spine procedures—Growth driven by more affordable robotic services and payer acceptance
• Women’s services—Underserved area with potential for same-day alternatives for cancer care, biopsies, and hysterectomies, traditionally managed by cancer centers and hospital outpatient departments.

Alok Sharan, MD, surgeon at Spine and Performance Institute, identified:

• Many spine surgeries, such as laminectomies and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, are already being performed in ASCs. There’s growth opportunity in migrating lumbar fusions to ASCs, supported by protocols like rapid recovery spine surgery and awake spine surgery techniques.

Jon Vick, president of ASC Consulting Company Vick & Company, identified:

• Many ASCs are reaching capacity, necessitating additional ORs and larger facilities. Expansion can be funded through sale-leaseback transactions, which provide capital for growth without the need for loans or upfront cash.