Is the force on your side? Ambulatory surgical facilities in the competitive environment

Consumers, legislators, and third-party reimbursers are rallying behind the ambulatory surgical facility (ASF) movement. Physicians, too, have begun to appreciate the convenience, calm setting, and profit opportunity offered by the freestanding surgical center. However, far too many medical group practices have hesitated a moment too long in establishing a facility or participating in a joint venture with a hospital or corporate chain, and now they are losing the benefits of high-revenue-producing procedures to competing facilities. Positive and negative considerations in exploring an ASF; physician, patient, and third-party perspectives; the feasibility study and CON processes; project stages and development team members; and time-frame and financial details are presented here as keys to getting the force of the ASF movement on your side and securing the future of your group practice in the new healthcare delivery system.