According to VMG Health’s “ASCs in 2024: A Year in Review” report, the shift of procedures to the office-based setting has been driven by advances in minimally invasive technologies and cost-containment strategies in ophthalmology, dermatology, pain management and minor orthopedic procedures.
Some ASC leaders view the rise of office-based procedures as an emerging threat in the industry.
Glen DeBrueys, CEO of East Brunswick, N.J.-based AmericanSurgisite, recently joined Becker’s to share why he’s not worried about office-based procedures.
Glenn DeBrueys: There’s two reasons why I don’t think it will ever really take off.
The first one is that I don’t think any state in America would ignore the standard of care and what you have to have related to safety. And that burdens a small practitioner from doing something in his or her office. If there is a provider in a marketplace that has OR capacity and that has reasonable sense as a business person, I could always probably make a more attractive offer to somebody to become part of my surgery center. I could probably find a reasonable spot to bring somebody in as an owner at the end of the day and the return on investment would be better for that surgeon.
[The second reason] is the bureaucratic nightmare it is to run these places over time, and it is, trust me. They don’t [want to] have to deal with it on their practice level.
If somebody’s in a geography where there’s only one other surgery center in town and the state laws are prohibitive towards opening a surgery center, then this might be an avenue. I just don’t see it having a big impact on the business in America.
At the Becker's 23rd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference, taking place June 11-13 in Chicago, spine surgeons, orthopedic leaders and ASC executives will come together to explore minimally invasive techniques, ASC growth strategies and innovations shaping the future of outpatient spine care. Apply for complimentary registration now.
