Ambulatory Surgery Center Market

Market Overview

The global ambulatory surgery center market size was valued at USD 2.19 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 19.13 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 27.23% from 2022 to 2030.

 Ambulatory surgical centers, also known as ASCs for short, are state-of-the-art outpatient healthcare facilities that offer same-day surgical treatments, in addition to diagnostic and preventive care. Pain treatment, orthopedics, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, urology, and dermatology are some of the main medical disciplines that are offered in these kinds of facilities.

The steadily increasing costs of providing medical care are a key source of concern for the industry as a whole. As a result, an increasing number of patients are unable to pay for the necessary treatment, which may include surgical operations. Because of this, healthcare providers have been forced to devise novel approaches to lower the cost of providing these services without sacrificing their high standard of care. ASCs have demonstrated over and again that they are an efficient option in scenarios like this one.

Market Dynamics

Global Ambulatory Surgery Center Market Drivers

Shifting Preference Toward ASCs

The expansion of the market is being driven in large part by the trend away from performing surgical procedures in hospitals and toward doing them in ambulatory settings. Over the course of the last ten years, there has been a notable rise in the number of surgical procedures performed in ambulatory surgery facilities. These healthcare facilities are preferred by a significant number of patients for various surgical operations for a variety of reasons, including shorter stays, cutting-edge technologies, cost-effective surgical procedures, and reduced chances of infection.

For instance, the number of outpatient surgical procedures performed at ambulatory surgical centers has been on the rise over the past ten years, as seen by data provided by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and VMG Health. In 2010, only 48 percent of outpatient surgical operations were carried out in ASCs; in 2019, over 60 percent of such procedures were carried out in such facilities.

During the time of the forecast, it is anticipated that the growth of the market will be driven by increasing government investments in the development of new ambulatory settings.

Global Ambulatory Surgery Center Market Restraints

Disadvantages Associated with ASCs

Over the course of the last decade, a sizeable portion of the patient population residing in the United States has indicated a preference for undergoing surgical operations at outpatient surgery centers. However, the expansion of the market is anticipated to be hampered throughout the aforementioned term by a number of the drawbacks associated with ASCs. Among these drawbacks include the absence of overnight accommodations, the potential for difficulties and crises during some surgical operations, and the absence of any contingency measures. In the event that difficulties or issues arise during a particular surgical procedure, patients may need to be transferred from ambulatory surgical centers to hospitals in the surrounding area. As a result, certain patients favor having their surgical procedures performed in hospitals.

For instance, the rate of complications and adverse events that occurred as a result of orthopedic procedures performed at ASCs was between 0.05 percent and 20.0%, as stated in a research report that was distributed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in the year 2017.

During surgical operations, the most common complications include experiencing pain and nausea, having poor recovery, and getting infections. During the duration of the forecast, the growth of the market could be hampered by these disadvantages.

Global Ambulatory Surgery Center Market Opportunity

Positive Reimbursement Scenario

One of the most important factors contributing to the expansion of the industry is reimbursement. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is shifting more of its attention toward expanding the list of surgical procedures that ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) are permitted to perform as a result of favorable reimbursement regulations. The increasing number of initiatives taken by commercial payers to encourage physicians to carry out a variety of surgical operations in these facilities is anticipated to be the primary driver of market growth over the next several years. Furthermore, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) places a constant emphasis on analyzing the complications related to the surgeries that are conducted, with the goal of making surgical procedures performed on patients safer.

According to a recent post on the Advisory Board's blog, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had plans in September 2018 to investigate 38 procedures, including spine surgery, and lumbar and cervical spinal fusions, to determine whether or not these procedures can be safely carried out in ambulatory care settings.

A greater number of patients from all over the United States will seek treatment at these healthcare institutions because of the considerable focus that payers place on the safety of surgical operations. As a result, the attractive reimbursement scenario for operations that are performed in ambulatory settings along with the growing emphasis on the safety of procedures is anticipated to fuel the market expansion in the future.

Regional Analysis

The market is split by region into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

In 2018, North America held the largest share of the market, and this is likely to remain the case throughout the duration of the projection. Increasing government financing to enhance primary care services and increased coverage for outpatient treatments are two major reasons contributing to the expansion of this sector.

Demand for ambulatory and primary care services is likely to be fueled by strategic initiatives undertaken by key market players in North America. These initiatives, which can take the form of collaborations, mergers, acquisitions, and other similar arrangements, aim to provide technologically advanced surgeries and treatments. By way of illustration, in March 2015, United Surgical Partners International entered into a relationship with Tenet Healthcare, which resulted in the expansion of its network of ambulatory care facilities. The partnership provided access to 4,000 medical professionals, around 265 facilities for same-day or same-weekend surgery, and 20 imaging centers.

Within the Asia Pacific region, the idea of ASCs is still in its infancy. However, the rise in the incidence of chronic diseases, the aging population, high healthcare expenditures, and an increase in the number of patients readmitted to hospitals have all contributed to an increase in the number of outpatient centers that have been established. As a result, it is anticipated that this region will experience the highest rate of growth in the years to come. The most significant contributors to the expansion of the regional market include countries such as Japan, China, India, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.

Segmental Analysis

The market for ambulatory surgical centers has been categorized by application into ophthalmology, orthopedics, gastroenterology, pain management/spinal injections, and plastic surgery, among others. Due to the global prevalence of gastrointestinal departments, the gastroenterology category held the highest share of the global market in 2018.

The gastrointestinal department is present in 34.0% of all outpatient surgery centers in the United States, and approximately 3,744 gastroenterology operations are performed annually in each ambulatory center. According to data given by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, around sixty million Americans suffer from digestive issues (NIDDK). This is due to lifestyle changes and excessive consumption of high-cholesterol foods and junk food. This aspect is anticipated to increase the demand for ambulatory digestive disorder services.

The segment of plastic surgery is predicted to experience the most growth throughout the forecast period. Increasing demand for reconstructive surgery has contributed to the expansion of ASCs as a result of an aging population, improved surgical safety, and a greater emphasis on physical appearances. Additionally, an increase in patient preference for non-surgical and minimally invasive procedures is projected to contribute to sector expansion.

Recent Developments

• In 2019, GE Healthcare launched Edison Datalogue Software for Cryochain, and MEDITECH collaborated with Google to make electronic health records data accessible on the Google Cloud Platform. This contributed to scalability, interoperability, and the secure distribution of patient information.
• In 2019, MEDITECH and Google cooperated to offer EHR data via the Google Cloud Platform. This aided in the delivery of patient data securely, enhanced scalability, and facilitated interoperability.
• In 2019, Epic Systems collaborated with Teledoc Health to include Teledoc Health's virtual care platform into Epic's App Orchard, enabling the company to conduct telehealth video visits.