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What Is an Ambulatory Center?

Ambulatory centers provide a wide variety of outpatient, same-day surgical procedures that do not require hospitalization. Some examples include cosmetic surgery and laser eye surgery.

  1. History

    • A group of anesthesiologists opened the first ambulatory surgical care center in 1970. As accreditation programs developed and centers were certified by Medicaid, they became attractive to investors and their popularity grew. Centers are now located all over the country and may be owned by hospitals, doctors or other investors.

    Features

    • In general, ambulatory center procedures are less expensive than those procedures would cost in a hospital. Patients enjoy the convenience of not having to spend several days in a hospital setting for relatively simple medical procedures. In addition, families and friends have access to patients while they are recovering from surgery. Since there is less administrative red tape to work through, many doctors feel that they can be more efficient since they are not encumbered by standard hospital administration.

    Controversy

    • Many ambulatory care centers are owned by the doctors who perform surgery there. This has given rise to questions as to whether doctors have too much of a vested interest in the success of these centers.

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