A January survey of health system executives by VMG Health found that 60% of leaders were considering pursuing outpatient surgery joint ventures in 2024, the highest area of interest of any potential specialty partnerships.
This interest is driven by a number of factors, including ASCs’ cost effectiveness, their enhanced experience for patients and a growing approval of procedures for the outpatient setting.
Here’s what five health system leaders have recently told Becker’s about their outlook on ambulatory and outpatient growth:
1. David Banks, CEO of AdventHealth (Altamonte Springs, Fla.): “At AdventHealth, our growth strategy is focused on strengthening how we care for people across the full continuum, not just in acute care but also through wellness, prevention and other key points in a person’s health journey. We’re deepening our presence in both established and expanding markets by investing in ambulatory care offerings through our primary health division, which includes primary care, home health, virtual care and hospice.”
2. Amy Perry, president and CEO of Banner Health (Phoenix): “We are growing our health plans and networks to create more affordable care and make significant investments in wellness. To this end, we have expanded our primary care footprint focusing on physicians who enjoy a value-based care approach.”
3. Mark Clement, CEO and president of TriHealth (Cincinnati): “Our mission is to deliver the right care in the right places in the right way to achieve the right clinical outcomes at the right cost. We have learned that increasingly the ‘right care in the right place’ is preventative care, early detection and better management of chronic conditions, all provided in the more accessible, convenient and affordable ambulatory setting close to home.”
4. Pete November, CEO of Ochsner Health (New Orleans): “We also see significant potential in the growth of outpatient and ambulatory care, enabling us to deliver high quality, convenient care closer to where our patients live and work. These efforts are all part of our commitment to innovation and meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve.”
5. Ethan Chernin, president of health services at Ardent Health (Nashville, Tenn.): “We are investing in urgent care clinics, hybrid clinics and ambulatory surgery centers to bring care closer to home, while also advancing virtual capabilities such as inpatient specialist visits and virtual nursing to provide timely, convenient care across our communities. Alongside expanding access in the markets we currently serve, we continue to explore opportunities to bring value to new communities.”
