A recently formed ASC development company has a new model for consolidation — a network of independent surgery centers that puts power directly in the hands of physicians. 

Four ASC owners, operators and developers are joining forces to form Ker Leader Medical — a surgery center development company focused on aligning independent ASCs. 

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist has submitted a certificate of need to construct a $25.06 million ASC, according to an Aug. 21 report from the Winston-Salem Journal. 

The Callahan (Fla.) Town Council has deferred a vote on a new medical office building until Sept. 3, according to an Aug. 20 report from the Jacksonville Daily Record.

Here are seven ASC development and activity updates taking place in the Midwest that Becker's has reported on since July 17, including openings, approvals and proposals:

Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Parkview Health has broken ground on an ASC in Warsaw, Ind., inside of a facility that will house Parkview Kosciusko SurgeryONE, Ortho NorthEast clinic and Parkview Physicians Group — Primary Care clinic, according to an Aug. 20 report from The Journal Gazette. 

Certificate-of-need laws have long been controversial among ASC leaders. CON laws require healthcare systems to receive special approval from state governments to expand or build new facilities, and they vary state-to-state. 

The Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin, Minn., celebrated its completion on Aug 12., reported Lakeland PBS Aug. 14. 

Wilmington, Del.-based ChristianaCare and surgery center development company Atlas Healthcare Partners partnered to develop an ASC network across Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Last month, Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare received certificate-of-need approval to develop an ASC in Hanover, Va., after two consecutive rejections by state health authorities, reported the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Aug. 13. 

Cook County (Ill.) Health plans to open a new ASC in early 2025 on the site of the former Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, reported WBEZ Chicago Aug. 8

SAAK Health held a July 31 ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new ASC in Brookfield, Wis., according to an Aug. 12 news release. The ceremony was hosted by the Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce.

Atlanta-based practice group Georgia Urology broke ground on an ASC and medical office building campus in Fayetteville, Ga.

An ASC is on track to open in Jamestown, Wis., later this year, according to an Aug. 10 report from the Telegraph Herald.

The Munson (Mich.) Healthcare Cadillac Hospital's board of directors has approved the development of two new joint venture ASCs in Cadillac and Gaylord, Mich., according to an Aug. 9 report from Cadillac News.

Jefferson Health opened a multispecialty outpatient center in Philadelphia with an ASC.

The city of Jacksonville, Fla., is reviewing a permit application for a new $5 million ASC in the area, according to an Aug. 8 report from the Jacksonville Business Journal.

Bloomfield, N.J.-based CHA Partners and its parent company, Prospect Medical Holdings signed a letter of intent to acquire Upland, Pa.-based Crozer Health, a spokesperson for the system confirmed to Becker's. 

Construction has stopped on a three-story Duke University Health System medical office building in Mebane, N.C., according to an Aug. 1 report from The Alamance News.

A 14,000-square-foot ASC is planned for Imperial Medical Center in Sugar Land, Texas, according to an Aug. 5 report from Community Impact.