Ambulatory Surgery Centers: Introduction
- The effects of ambulatory services in the United States healthcare system have made caring for patients more efficient and cost-effective.
- The past few years have seen a marked reduction in the number of inpatient admissions due to the shift of many procedures to ambulatory surgery centers.
- In the U.S., over 65% of surgeries are done in ambulatory surgery centers, and this has largely been driven by the exorbitant cost of inpatient hospitalization and a newly adopted cost-effective technology that allows for speedy treatment.
- There has also been an increase in the number of patients receiving diagnostic testing at nearby ambulatory community care units due to the increasing pressure from Medicare as well as other payers.
- The ambulatory surgery centers market is attributed to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases within the population alongside the increasing number of surgeries being performed together with new product launches and key market players implementing new strategies. For instance, the article published by BMC Journal in April 2021 indicated that the rate of chronic diseases within the Canadian population was at a third or 33% in 2021.
- Similarly, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is estimated to occur in greater than 1 out of 7 adults in America each year, with statistics showing a figure of around 37 million people afflicted with the disease. In a similar manner, IDF data released in 2021 noted that 16.9% of the population in Mexico were diabetics in 2021, with projections estimating the number to grow to 18.3% by 2030.
Benefits and Effects of Ambulatory Surgery Centre (ASC) on Outpatient Services.
- Ambulatory Surgery Centers are efficient for certain patients as they are more cost-effective while achieving high quality results. For the past few years, there has been a shift of over 80% of surgeries being done as outpatient services, all thanks to the innovation of ambulatory surgery centers and their facilities. The newer technology and methods have allowed these procedures to be improved for comfort and safety. With America's aging population, especially baby boomers, the need for surgery centers is becoming greater.
- This part of the American public that is currently above 65 years old is estimated to be 49 million, which accounts for 15% of the population. This figure is set to increase up to 24% around 2060. Moreover, ASCs have been helpful with lowering the cost of healthcare for the general public and reducing expenses for patients, insurers, and even Medicare. Recently, these centers reported a total spending reduction of US$ 42.2 Bn in healthcare over the course of a year and are estimated to provide US$ 4.2 Bn to Medicare on a yearly basis.
Paradigm shift from surgical Procedures in hospitals to Ambulatory Surgery Centers
- The transition of surgical procedures in hospitals to ambulatory settings is a trend driving growth of the ambulatory surgery centers industry. In the last decade, the rate of surgical procedures performed within ambulatory surgery facilities has increased dramatically. With much shorter stays, new technologies, economical surgical procedures, and low-risk infection, large number of patients choose these healthcare facilities for different surgeries.
- Widespread industry trends are fueling the expansion of ambulatory surgery centers, the first of which opened in 1970. An ongoing rise in healthcare expenditures has strained costs and margins throughout the industry, favoring a move to outpatient care. Payers are helping to facilitate the migration of procedures to ambulatory surgery centers by reducing provider reimbursement to hospitals and reducing patient co-payments for outpatient procedures.
Advancements in Ambulatory Surgery Centers
- In November 2023, the inclusion of best ambulatory surgery centers to its yearly series of evaluations assessing healthcare facilities was announced by U.S. News & World Report, the world leader in consumer advice and health care rankings.
- In June 2024, WTWH Media LLC started expanding its focused healthcare industry coverage with the launch of Ambulatory Surgery Centre News, a dedicated news and business insights service for operators, investors, and the other stakeholders in the ambulatory surgery centre space.
By Center Type, Multi-Specialty Segment Accounted for the Largest Share of the Ambulatory Surgical Centers Industry
- The ambulatory surgical centre market is classified into single and multispecialty segments based on center type. The market for ambulatory surgical centers was dominated by the multispecialty category in 2024 under the centre type market segment. It could be attributed to the high volume of surgical procedures carried out in these institutions along with the availability of payment for these procedures.
- Due to its comprehensive and patient-centred approach to surgical treatment, which offers a variety of services under one roof and helps simplify patients' healthcare experiences, the multi-specialty segment is expected to develop at the quickest rate throughout the projected period. A multispecialty center has between 50 and 100 surgeons, in contrast to single-specialty ambulatory surgery centers. Therefore, it is anticipated that the advantages of multi-specialty ambulatory surgery centers will propel market expansion.
- These are some of the factors expected to dominate multi-specialty segment in the overall centre type market segment.
North America to Lead Ambulatory Surgery Centers Market
- In 2024, the market for ambulatory surgical centers was dominated by North America. The market for ambulatory surgical centers is expanding in North America due to increased government financing for primary care services and extended coverage for outpatient procedures. Currently, the United States has 11,255 Ambulatory Surgery Centers, of which 6,223 are Medicare-certified ambulatory surgery centers. The need for ASC services is growing as the number of elderly people rises.
- Over the course of the projection period, Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the quickest rate in the market. The market is driven by the growing number of chronic illnesses, rising healthcare costs, and the expanding healthcare industry. Market growth is also supported by favorable government policies that encourage the expansion of ambulatory surgery centers. Another factor driving market expansion is the expanding medical tourism sector in Asia-Pacific. More than 70% of elective surgeries performed in Chinese eye facilities are day surgeries. The growth of ambulatory surgery centers is aided by the growing investments and partnerships among important stakeholders. Leading the way in the development of Ambulatory Surgery Centers are nations like South Korea, Japan, and China.
Key Players Operating in the Global Ambulatory Surgery Centers Market
The major players operating in the global market are focusing on advancements in research and development to meet the rising demand for ambulatory surgery centers solutions. Moreover, service providers are entering into partnerships for the development of innovative products.
Key players operating in global ambulatory surgery centers market include:
- AMSURG
- C-HCA, Inc.
- TH Medical
- Surgical Care Affiliates, Inc
- Surgery Partners
- Heathway Medical Group
- Community Health Systems Inc
- Vision Group Holdings
- GE HealthCare
- Ambulatory Surgery Center Association
- Other Prominent Players
Market Segmentation :
- By Centre Type:
- Single Specialty Centers
- Multispecialty Centers
- By Ownership:
- Hospital-based Ambulatory Surgical Centre
- Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical Centre
- By Services:
- By Application:
- Orthopedics
- Gastroenterology
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Urology
- Dermatology
- Obstetrics/Gynecology
- Others (Dental, etc.)
- By Region:
- North America
- Europe
- Germany
- France
- U.K.
- Italy
- Spain
- Rest of Europe
- Asia Pacific
- China
- Japan
- India
- Australia & New Zealand
- Rest of Asia Pacific
- Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Rest of Latin America
- Middle East & Africa
- GCC Countries
- South Africa
- Rest of Middle East & Africa
