Ambulatory surgery centers are facilities where surgeries that do not require hospital admission are performed. Patients who elect to have surgery in an ASC arrive on the day of the procedure, have the surgery in an operating room, and recover under the care of the nursing staff, all without a hospital admission. ASCs offer much needed innovation and competition in health care. By embracing new technology, specialization, patient-centered customer service, and a lower cost approach to health care, ASCs have revolutionized what it means to have surgery in the United States today.

​

ASCs are typically opened by physicians either alone or in partnership with hospitals or other corporations. They may be stand-alone buildings or located within larger structures, like medical office buildings. Most physicians who operate at ASCs also take emergency calls and perform surgery at their community hospitals. Missouri’s ASCS are licensed, inspected, and regulated by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. ASCs contribute to the state’s economy by paying all appropriate taxes; they are not tax-exempt. ASCs provide their communities a cost-effective, high quality, and convenient alternative to hospital care that enjoys extremely high patient satisfaction.