What ASCs need to thrive in 2025

A strategic playbook for forward-thinking ASCs to stay competitive

Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) have earned their place as a cost-effective, high-quality alternative for outpatient care. But in 2025, margins are tighter. Regulations keep changing. Patient expectations are shifting with a desire for faster scheduling, shorter wait times, and a smoother experience from intake to discharge. And the tech world? It’s not slowing down for anyone.

So, what does it take for an ASC to thrive in 2025 and beyond?

It’s more than just having the right healthcare IT solutions. It’s about a strategy built on modern infrastructure, financial clarity, and an honest look at how operations stack up.

Let’s walk through what the most resilient ASCs are focusing on and why it’s working.

1. Embrace smart, integrated technology infrastructure

Disconnected systems quietly drain time, energy, and dollars. A scheduling app here and a legacy EHR there, sound familiar? With higher patient volumes and more complex reimbursement models, relying on these patchwork solutions isn’t sustainable.

That approach doesn’t scale. Not in 2025.

The ASCs that are thriving are moving to cloud-native platforms built for outpatient surgical workflows, not just clinical documentation. These integrated systems help manage everything from pre-op readiness, charting, handoffs, and discharge planning. They bring together scheduling, prior authorizations, clinical records, charge capture, billing, and analytics into a single interface. They connect the entire patient journey, supporting interoperability with hospitals, referring clinicians, and payers, which reduces administrative burden and improves care coordination.

We’re not just talking about convenience. We’re talking about strategic agility.

With smarter tech, ASCs can:

• Track patient flow in real time
• Speed up prior authorizations and pre-op clearances
• Automate repetitive tasks like charting, case logs, coding, and scheduling
• Share data such as surgical summaries and post-op instructions effortlessly with external clinicians and payers

AI is increasingly embedded into these systems to help teams stay ahead. AI-driven tools are assisting with spotting billing issues before they become denials, flagging trends in payer behavior, predicting future case volumes, and accelerating prior authorizations. The result? Faster turnaround, cleaner claims, and stronger visibility into key performance metrics.

When technology stops feeling like a workaround, operations can finally run the way they’re supposed to — less friction, more control, and a future-ready ASC.

2. Clean up the revenue cycle from start to finish

Revenue loss rarely comes from one big mistake or from missed eligibility. More often, it’s the slow drip of inefficiencies like manual coding, inconsistent documentation, and error-prone workflows that quietly add up over time. These create slowdowns, clinical inefficiencies, and missed revenue opportunities that most ASCs simply can’t afford.

High-performing surgery centers are fixing this with automation and real-time insights through end-to-end revenue cycle management (RCM) solutions. These platforms integrate eligibility checks, collections, coding, claims, and payments into a smooth workflow.

Here’s what that can look like in action:

• Insurance is verified before the patient even walks through the door
• Clinical documentation is accessible and easily attached to a claim for quick claim submission
• Denials are prevented with smart rules that flag problems before claims go out

But the bigger shift? Using financial data as a strategic asset. The best systems surface real-time data through intuitive dashboards. Leadership can quickly see payer mix analysis, service line profitability, reimbursement timelines, and denial patterns. This clarity drives smarter resource allocation and gives ASCs leverage during payer negotiations.

Instead of reacting to revenue problems, these strategic ASCs are staying ahead of them. When RCM becomes more than a back-office function, managing margin pressure and long-term financial health becomes possible.

3. Strengthen accreditation and operational readiness

Compliance isn’t a box you check once and forget. It’s built into accreditation, clinical protocols, and operational workflows. As regulatory requirements around data sharing and patient safety are evolving, the stakes are high.

Successful ASCs aren’t trying to chase compliance after the fact. They’re prioritizing readiness and using platforms with built-in compliance tools, automated audit trails, and user-based access controls that make regulatory readiness part of day-to-day operations.

Ransomware attacks are targeting healthcare practices of all sizes, making cybersecurity even more important. ASCs are stepping up with layered security, routine risk assessments, and team training that goes beyond checklists. This strong regulatory alignment and digital security protects operations, reputation, and the trust patients place in a facility.

Compliance done right doesn’t get in the way. It keeps your surgery center moving safely.

4. Make the digital patient experience part of your ASC strategy

Patients are showing up with a different set of expectations now, they want convenience, transparency, and a personalized experience.

Digital-first ASCs are responding with self-service tools like digital forms and pre-op reminders. They keep people informed and ready before the day of surgery, so patients know what to expect before the procedure, not after.

It’s not just about modernizing the patient experience. These automated engagement tools help reduce no-shows, speed up intake, and improve pre-op compliance. They also create better feedback loops through post-op surveys and online reviews, which now play a bigger role in driving growth than ever before.

Patient satisfaction used to be a nice-to-have clinical metric. Now, it is directly tied to referrals, reputation, and even reimbursement. By integrating digital engagement throughout the patient journey, ASCs improve outcomes and build stronger relationships.

Success for ASCs today isn’t just about clinical excellence; it’s about embracing technology, streamlining operations, and delivering patient-centered care with a clear strategy.

5. Scale through strategic growth and partnerships

As the site of care continues to evolve, more ASCs are expanding through physician ownership, joint ventures, private equity partnerships, or multisite networks. And with growth comes new challenges like standardization, visibility, and coordination that can quickly overwhelm organizations still relying on outdated systems.

Without the right infrastructure, growth can turn chaotic. Inconsistent processes, data trapped in siloed tools, and leadership operating without clear insights.

That’s why smart scaling depends on centralized platforms with unified scheduling, billing, credentialing, HR, and supply chain tools that keep things consistent and visible across multiple sites without sacrificing flexibility. These platforms also support collaboration with hospitals, payers, and referral networks, driving cost efficiency and operational excellence.

Growth isn’t only about adding locations. It’s about replicating quality and efficient operations in every setting (clinical or surgical). And having the tech, insights, and partnerships to know what’s working and what’s not.

Scaling without the chaos, that’s what sets thriving ASC networks apart.

Strategy, not reactivity, drives long-term success

Operational challenges aren’t going away, but with the right strategy and tools, surgery centers can manage them and thrive. The ASC space is complex. Growth demands more than determination, profitability requires more than a strong payer mix, and compliance is an ongoing commitment.

For outpatient surgery centers, thriving in 2025 doesn’t mean chasing every trend. It means taking a proactive approach by putting interoperable systems in place that brings together clinical and financial workflows, automates routine tasks, and provides clear insights to guide decisions. These tools reduce administrative burden, improve cash flow, and scale as your organization grows.

That’s the strategic foundation for financial stability, regulatory compliance, and patient satisfaction. It’s what lets you expand without compromising quality.

At athenahealth, we're applying our experience in bringing efficiency and revenue optimization in ambulatory care to the ambulatory surgery space, starting with orthopedics and pain management. If you’re planning for what’s next, we’re here to help you build the infrastructure for lasting success. Let’s connect.