The Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) is perhaps the most common health care environment that has only been around in recent years, as the term itself suggests, with the first ASC being established in Phoenix, AZ in 1970. The name was originally chosen based on the proximity of the facility to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, as well as its proximity to a variety of business districts. It quickly became a favorite among many Phoenix-area residents who sought fast, convenient, and safe outpatient surgical procedures.
The concept behind Ambulatory Surgical Centers is
similar to many other medical practices that seek to serve the public's needs
for quick and convenient services in an atmosphere where an in-person physician
can easily be reached in a matter of minutes. Patients are given the
opportunity to choose from a range of doctors and practitioners and the idea is
that they will end up with the type of doctor they prefer.
The primary goal of such centers is to help the
patients achieve their goals without having to deal with scheduling and
transportation issues, which can often be a pain. While the concept of the ASC
is relatively simple, the process of opening and operating an ASC can be rather
complicated, especially in terms of the establishment of procedures and
policies.
Over the forecast period, the rising prevalence of the chronic disease is expected to aid in the expansion of the worldwide ambulatory
surgery center market.
One of the biggest challenges in operating an ambulatory
surgical center is the requirement for a legal entity to act as the legal owner
and operator of the facility. Most states require that all physicians working
in such an establishment must be licensed by the state. Many states also
require that the physician in question must be an active member of the Arizona
Medical Association (AMA) or some other similar organization. Additionally,
some states require that the physician hold a special license that allows him
to conduct surgery within the state, as well as for the facility to perform
surgery within Arizona.
At present, there are more than 9,280 active
ambulatory surgery centers in the U.S.