When it comes time for planning an outpatient surgery, there are more options than ever before.
Traditionally, all surgeries were performed in the hospital, but in the past 50 years, patients are feeling more empowered to choose ambulatory surgery centers, or ASCs for short, for their next outpatient surgery or procedure.
According to a new U.S. News & World Report online survey, patient experience at the surgery center facility was one of the top key factors in selecting an ASC, along with quality of the procedure and doctor’s education, training and experience performing the procedure.
What Are Ambulatory Surgery Centers?
Ambulatory surgery centers are freestanding outpatient facilities that provide same-day surgical, diagnostic and preventive procedures. In the U.S., there are approximately 6,223 Medicare-certified surgery centers – up from 5,000 centers in 2010.
“Some of the most common procedures ASCs perform are colonoscopies and cataract surgeries,” says Bill Prentice, CEO of Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA). “As advances have been made in less invasive surgical techniques and pain control, the list of procedures ASCs can perform safely and comfortably for their patients has grown to include everything from simpler surgeries like the insertion of ear tubes, biopsies and tonsillectomies to more complex procedures, like total joint replacements, spine surgeries and several cardiology procedures.”