Here are five steps for surgery centers to survive in markets where hospitals are employing independent physicians and physician groups.

The Colorado Center for Orthopaedic Excellence bought new office space for $2.84 million, according to a report from The Colorado Springs Business Journal.

Ambulatory surgery centers are taking several steps to upgrade their facilities and compete with hospitals in their communities. Here are seven building trends for new and mature ASCs to bring them into the new millennium.

MedPassage was founded by spine device industry veterans Gavin Fabian and Mike Biselli as a forum for providers to connect with device companies and purchase commodity medical devices at wholesale prices. The company's online procurement platform allows medical center members to search the MedPassage market and order quality medical technologies at prices significantly below industry averages.

Edward Gronka, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon and co-owner of a freestanding plastic surgery center, Fayette Plastic Surgery Center in Fayetteville, Ga., which is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Facilities. He discusses the challenges for surgery centers in Georgia and other tough markets that require a certificate-of-need, as well as an outlook for the future.

Here are 10 ambulatory surgery centers that were recently acquired by hospitals or management companies.

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IMA Endoscopy SurgiCenter in Merriville, Ind., announced it will be acquired by Indiana’s Methodist Hospitals which will co-manage the center.

Cleveland Clinic acquired Marymount Ambulatory Surgery Center in Garfield Heights, Ohio, for $10.9 million earlier this year.

Southwestern Eye Center in Mesa, Ariz., has acquired Southwest Eye Clinics in Las Cruces and Santa Teresa, N.M.

Physicians Endoscopy acquired North Bergen, N.J.-based Ambulatory Center for Endoscopy and Colonoscopy at Palisades Medical Center.

Elgin (Ill.) Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center recently sold minority interest to Physicians Endoscopy.

Physicians Endoscopy also acquired minority interest in the Endoscopy Center of Robinswood in Hagerstown, Md.

ASC management company Symbion acquired 60 percent of St. Louis Women’s Surgery Center for $7.6 million.

Scottsdale Healthcare & Sovereign Healthcare acquired majority ownership of Biltmore Surgical Center in Phoenix.

Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, Conn., has taken steps to acquire Shoreline Colonoscopy Suites which had operated as a freestanding, physician-owned ASC.

Hackensack University Medical Center has acquired Hackensack Endoscopy Center and Endoscopy Center of Bergen County, and along with United Surgical Partners International will partner with physicians to own and operate a network of ASCs in the region.

More Articles on Surgery Centers:
5 Creative Ways for ASCs to Improve Profitability Next Year
6 Steps for ASCs to Participate in New Payment Models
10 Hospitals Recently Opening or Planning Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Reed Martin, COO of Surgical Management Professionals, discusses five key initiatives for surgery centers to enhance patient volume next year.

Here are 10 freestanding ambulatory surgery centers with four operating rooms. If you would like to recommend another ASC for this list, please contact Laura at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Hospitals are employing surgeons at a higher rate than ever before, and many surgery centers are competing with these hospitals for physician as well as patient volume. Here, Cliff Deveny, MD, vice president for physician practice management at Catholic Health Initiative;  Jim Schafer, managing principal at Rehmann; and Kathy Tayon of Fowler White Boggs, discuss this trend and how surgery centers can position themselves for success in the future.

There are several key trends making an impact on the financing market today with a specific focus on healthcare and ambulatory surgery centers.