By: Patsy Newitt, Becker’s ASC Review
ASCs have long relied on paper documentation, even as hospitals moved to electronic health records. That gap is narrowing.
According to the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association’s July 2025 survey, 76% of ASCs now use an EHR, up from 55% in 2021. The shift reflects growing consolidation, partnerships with health systems, and payer pressure to provide better data.
Yet nearly one in four ASCs still rely on paper, and two-thirds of those plan to remain paper-based until regulations force a change. Cost is the top barrier, with 49% citing expense as the reason for staying analog.
For the first time since 2021, ASCA’s survey found data collection ranked as the most valuable EHR benefit, cited by 87% of users. Data is increasingly seen as a tool to improve efficiency, strengthen payer negotiations and demonstrate outcomes.
“I recognize that many people may see AI as the technology that will bring the most value to ASCs. However, I believe that the continued integration of electronic health records in the ASC setting is equally valuable,” Gina Taylor, RN, quality and accreditation program manager of Harris Health in Houston told Becker’s. “I understand that cost can be a barrier for some ASCs, preventing them from implementing this technology. However, having an EHR in place allows for quicker access to patient information, improving patient care and helping to meet regulatory and accreditation requirements.”
Travis Messina, CEO of Regent Surgical Health, told Becker’s that reliance on paper is “mind-blowing” in today’s environment. Regent has made IT and analytics its strategic differentiator, viewing digital infrastructure as essential for sustainable growth.
“The majority of centers still rely on paper-based medical records,” Mr. Messina said. “Our partners—health systems or independent physicians—see the value of electronic medical records. Though costly, they create a better operating environment and enable us to leverage analytics so we can run our centers not only more efficiently, but better.”
Vijay Sudheendra, MD, president of Narragansett Bay Anesthesia, noted how analytics improve operations.
“ASCs monitor OR turnover, claim denial rates, and days in accounts receivable,” he said. “Benchmarking outcomes against industry standards helps track progress and improve patient safety.”
One barrier is that hospital-focused vendors like Epic and Cerner often repurpose products for outpatient centers without fully tailoring them. In response, specialized ASC solutions now offer features such as surgical preference cards, streamlined scheduling and compliance modules.
Still, cost remains an issue for lean, physician-owned centers.
“With our cloud-based EHR, I’ve been able to reduce IT costs, space, and FTEs,” said Sean Gipson, division CEO and president of Remedy Surgery Center. “Eliminating server maintenance and capital outlay has been huge. Accessibility and mobility save time by cutting out calls, faxes, and slow offsite interaction.”
There is no federal mandate requiring ASCs to adopt EHRs, but discussions around legislation are gaining traction.
“I think that ASCs will start embracing EMR technology more readily in the next five years than they have in the past. Many ASCs continue to use paper charting, but the technology for digital records has improved dramatically and will help provide more efficiency and better access to data,” Brent Ashby, CEO and administrator at Jankat Services in Pueblo, Colo., told Becker’s.