Becker's Healthcare January 14, 2020
This year, the ASC industry celebrates its 50th anniversary. According to the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, the first ASC was established in 1970 by Wallace Reed, MD, and John Ford, MD, in Phoenix.
Much has changed for the industry in the last five decades. Here are a few recent trends:
1. Today, there are about 5,800 ASCs across the country. According to the ASCA, the states with the most Medicare-certified ASCs include California (794), Florida (426) and Texas (391).
2. The top specialties offered in ASCs include orthopedics, plastic surgery, podiatry and pain management, according to data from CMS cited by the ASCA.
3. Consolidation, regulatory changes, the rise of patient consumerism and new technologies are some of the key...