Hospital ownership of ASCs has become the standard, and “delaying action is neither a viable option nor a strategic choice,” according to Avanza’s Intelligence Hospital Leadership ASC Survey.
Here are five more key trends to know :
1. Ninety percent of hospitals and health systems plan to continue investing in or affiliating with ASCs — a growing trend driven by the shift to outpatient care, rising consumer demand, cost pressures and competition for surgical volume.
2. As the ASC market matures, hospitals are prioritizing greater ownership and operational control. Many are managing ASCs with internal teams that tap into external resources as needed, ensuring alignment with system-wide goals, according to the report.
3. About 75% of hospitals are structuring ASCs as joint ventures with physicians. Physician buy-in promotes engagement and cost-awareness. Even minority-ownership models remain attractive to physicians, especially when hospital-led deals offer access to better payer contracts and purchasing agreements.
4. The leading reason for ASC investment in 2024 is expanding outpatient surgical capacity. Enhancing physician relationships saw a notable rise this year, followed closely by responding to consumer trends, cost reduction, and retaining surgical volume within the system.
5. Sixty-three percent of hospitals report pressure from payers to shift more procedures to ASCs. With ASCs offering high-quality, lower-cost care, payers see them as key to managing healthcare spending while meeting member expectations for access and value.
The post Hospitals can’t afford to ignore ASCs anymore: 5 trends to know appeared first on Becker’s ASC.
