By: Francesca Mathewes, Becker’s ASC Review
Joint ventures with hospitals and health systems have become an increasingly important tenet of ASC growth and development, as the demand for outpatient surgery rises and the market becomes more competitive.
Here are three trends shaping the way that ASC leaders are approaching joint ventures.
Commitment to sustainable long-term growth
While plenty of hospitals and health systems have a stated interest in developing their outpatient services, it’s important for ASC leaders to align themselves with JV partners that are investing in the long term growth of ASCs — rather than viewing them as just another revenue source.
Travis Messina, CEO of Regent Surgical Health, told Becker’s that ASC leaders should also avoid partnering with systems that are investing in outpatient growth solely because their competitors are, and ask potential partners why outpatient surgery supports their mission.
“That upfront transparency helps align goals,” he said. “You can have the greatest ASC, but if it doesn’t fit their ecosystem, it won’t work.”
Steve Hockert, chief development officer of Oklahoma City-based Solara Surgical Partners, echoed the importance of transparency and alignment to Becker’s.
“First and foremost, we believe alignment with an experienced healthcare partner is a fundamental ingredient to deliver on all stakeholder fronts, paramount of which are the patients served within the ASC,” he said. “Beyond that, ASC leaders should seek partners who understand what motivates physicians, how to bring operational transparency into a partnership, and generally offer true value beyond capital.”
Investment in IT and analytics
While 66% of ASCs now use an EHR system — up from 55% in 2021, according to the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association’s July 2025 60-Second Survey.
An investment in IT and analytics will be a key investment for ASCs looking to boost operational efficiency and patient satisfaction, and potential JV partners should be aligned with ASCs on reaching these goals.
“In this industry, many centers still rely on paper-based medical records, which is mind-blowing,” Mr. Messina said. “Though costly, electronic medical records create a better operating environment and enable us to leverage analytics so we can run our centers not only more efficiently, but better.”
“When I think about sustainable growth, it’s about adding new centers without just adding a lot of new staff,” he explained. “That’s why IT and analytics are critical.”
Relationships with payers, vendors and other stakeholders
As operational costs continue to climb and reimbursements rates for ASCs remain a significant economic concern, ASC leaders must carefully evaluate a potential partners’ relationship with payers and other stakeholders.
“Strong partnerships with payers remain critical,” Tony Brunazzi, executive director of Tri-State Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Pittsburgh, Pa., told Becker’s. “By using data on patient outcomes and experiences, it’s possible to negotiate fair reimbursement and adopt payment models that reward quality care, efficiency,and long-term value.”
Among independent practices, the most influential factor in deciding to sell off to either hospitals or private equity companies in 2024 was the ability to better negotiate higher payment rates with payers, according to the American Medical Association’s Physician Practice Benchmark Survey. The AMA surveyed 5,000 physicians who have completed residency, provide patient care for at least 20 hours per week, are not employed by the federal government and practice in one of the 50 states or D.C.