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Miracle Hills Surgery Center looks forward to becoming a beneficial resource for physicians
and patients in the Omaha area. The information below provides an overview of Ambulatory
Surgery Centers (ASCs).
Q. What are Ambulatory Surgery Centers?
A. Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) are facilities where
surgeries that do not require hospital admission are performed. They provide a cost-effective
and convenient environment that may be less stressful than what many hospitals offer. Particular
ASCs may perform surgeries in a variety of specialties or dedicate their services to one
specialty, such as eye care.
Patients who elect to have surgery in an ASC arrive on the day of the procedure, have the
surgery in an operating room, and recover under the care of the nursing staff, all without a
hospital admission.
Q. How long have outpatient surgery centers been in existence?
A. The first ASC opened in 1970. Today more than 14 million
surgeries are performed each year in the more than 4,500 surgery centers across the United States.
Q. Are outpatient surgery centers subject to regulation?
A. Yes. ASCs are some of the most highly regulated health care
providers in the country. Medicare has certified 85% of the centers, and 43 states require ASCs
to be licensed. These states also specify the criteria that ASCs must meet for licensure. Both
states and Medicare survey ASCs regularly to verify that the established standards are being met.
In addition to state and federal inspections, many surgery centers choose to go through
voluntary accreditation process conducted by their peers. ASCs that want to demonstrate a
commitment to quality can seek accreditation from one of four accrediting bodies. All four
are recognized by Medicare for their rigorous adherence to the highest standards of quality
care. All accredited ASCs must meet specific standards that are evaluated during on-site
inspections. As a result, patients visiting accredited ASCs can be assured that the centers
provide the highest quality care.
Q. Why are ASCs a good choice?
A. Patient satisfaction is a hallmark in the ASC industry. The U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General surveyed Medicare beneficiaries
who had one of four procedures in an ASC. He found that 98% of the people were satisfied with their
experience.
One reason for high patient satisfaction is convenient scheduling. According to ASC Association’s
Outcomes Monitoring Survey, 75% of ASCs started more than 95% of their cases on time. Patients also
choose ASCs for their high level of professionalism and safety. FASA’s survey shows that over 50% of
ASCs had fewer than two complications per 1,000 encounters and that over 95% of their medical staff
is board certified.
Source: 2008 ASC Association and Ambulatory Surgery Foundation
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