For years, the story of ambulatory surgery centers was all about moving care out of the hospital. But the most important ASC trend today isn't growth. It's variation.

Organizations are using ambulatory surgery centers to pursue very different goals. Some view ASCs as a way to relieve inpatient capacity. Others are trying to lower costs, protect market share, recruit physicians, expand access, or create room for more complex hospital care. And those strategies can vary dramatically depending on the service line, ownership model, market dynamics, and state policy environment.

In this episode, host Rae Woods talks with Advisory Board researchers Nick Hula, Gaby Marmolejos, and Rachael Peroutky about why no two ASC strategies look exactly alike, and how healthcare leaders can determine the right role for ASCs in their market.

We’re here to help:

• Webinar | How to design an ASC-specific commercial strategy
• Report | Site-of-care shifts 2026: Inside the latest trends and data
• Report | Which services are most at risk of leaving the hospital?
• Quick Guide | Guide to today's top orthopedic trends
• Report | Supplier playbook for developing an ASC commercial strategy
• Episode | 291: If you build it, will they buy it? The new rules for proving value in life sciences

Sponsor link: Webinar | Value-based care demystified

Sponsor link: Report | 4 ways health systems are pursuing lab growth

A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.