Meredith Warf, administrator at Jackson-based Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, shared her predictions for ASCs over the next 12 months.

The ASC industry is dynamic and has a growing role in the healthcare ecosystem as more procedures become outpatient.

  Bloomington, Ind.-based device company Cook Medical launched its Hercules 100 transnasal esophageal balloon in the U.S., according to an Oct. 26 press release.

  A study published in the American Journal of Otolaryngology suggests that an ultrasound tool for the neck could be used to cut down on aerosol-generating procedures for otolaryngologists during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Columbia, Tenn.-based Maury Regional Medical Center suspended its elective surgery program Oct. 26, in response to surging COVID-19 case numbers in the region, The Daily Herald reports.

The recent completion of the first outpatient anterior total hip arthroplasty at Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee Surgery Center in Franklin, TN, was an especially notable accomplishment for orthopaedic surgeon Brian Perkinson, M.D., one of the center’s twelve surgeon-owners.

  Little Rock-based Arkansas Otolaryngology Center provided notice of an email breach that happened earlier this year, according to an Oct. 22 news release.

 Here are the top-read stories on Becker's ASC Review for the week of Oct. 19-23:

Five employees at Albuquerque, N.M.-based UNM Health's outpatient surgery center recently tested positive for COVID-19, local news affiliate KRQE reported Oct. 21.

The shift of more complex orthopedic, spine and cardiology procedures to the ASC has accelerated over the past few months. That transition will likely continue in the coming years with CMS’ proposal to remove 266 orthopedic procedures, including 67 spine procedures, from the inpatient only list in 2021.

Houston Metro Ortho and Spine Surgery Center asked the appeals court for the 14th District of Texas to vacate an $8 million award Harris County District Court awarded Richard Francis, MD, because of the language in Dr. Francis' employment contract, Law360 reports.

  A New York otolaryngologist and lawmaker allegedly arranged to sell pills to a woman for sex at a Goodwill store parking lot, according to an NBC4 report Oct. 20.

During an Oct. 14 panel led by Scott Becker at the Becker's ASC Virtual Event, industry experts gathered to discuss where they see the potential for growth in ambulatory surgery center chains.

During an Oct. 15 panel led by Scott Becker at the Becker's ASC Virtual Event, industry experts gathered to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and their priorities going into 2021.

Here are the top five companies by number of centers in the ambulatory surgery space and the people who lead them:

More than 300 members of two healthcare-focused unions in Hawaii protested in response to Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente's decision to close an ASC and discontinue gastroenterology services at Wailuku (Hawaii) Medical Office, Pacific Business News reports. 

The Colorado Court of Appeals reversed a $7 million judgment against Surgery Center at Lone Tree (Colo.) on Oct. 15, saying the ASC should not have been held vicariously liable for a spine surgeon's alleged malpractice.

The ASC landscape has changed significantly in the past year due to the pandemic and payment updates from CMS.

Tarrytown, N.Y.-based ENT Allergy and Associates is welcoming Brian Sanders, MD, to its Yonkers, N.Y., clinic, according to an Oct. 15 press release.

Mobile, Ala.-based Infirmary Health is trying to stop its competitor USA Health from opening an outpatient center in Fairhope, Ala., according to an NBC15 report.