Tenet Healthcare is leaning into its higher-acuity service lines with robotic surgery remaining a key growth strategy for United Surgical Partners International, the Dallas-based health system’s ASC arm.
USPI added roughly 150 robotic surgery programs in its ASCs during the first quarter of 2026 and deployed $125 million to acquire seven ASCs.
“There is no question about the increase in acuity,” Tenet CEO and Chair Saum Sutaria, MD, said during the company’s first-quarter 2026 earnings call. “We are on the outpatient side probably the largest single provider of outpatient joint replacements when you collectively look at almost 570 assets at USPI, many of which do orthopedics, and we are still posting double-digit growth in total joint replacement surgeries within the ASCs off of a pretty high base.”
Total joint replacements have also been essential to USPI’s growth. Same-facility revenue growth at USPI grew by 5.3% year-over-year, led by double-digit volume increases in total joint replacements at ASCs.
These trends also point to sustained demand coming from patients as well as a steady appetite for work in the ASC environment, Dr. Sutaria added.
“If you create the right operating environment for these surgeons and give them an efficient, safe way to do the work, the demand is out there,” he said. “We continue pushing in our high-acuity strategy. You can see it in the revenues.”
Tenet reported an operating income of $1.3 billion (24.1% operating margin) in the first quarter of 2026, up from $943 million (18.1% margin) during the same period in 2025. Net operating revenue reached $5.4 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up from $5.2 billion during the same period in 2025.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.