‘Hospitals without an outpatient footprint will struggle’: Health systems race to build ASC networks

Hospitals are generating more revenue, but a continued migration toward outpatient care and rising operating costs are accelerating one of healthcare’s biggest strategic shifts: investment in ambulatory surgery centers.

Kaufman Hall’s latest “National Hospital Flash Report” found outpatient revenue per calendar day increased 8% year over year through May, outpacing the 5% increase in inpatient revenue. At the same time, adjusted patient days rose 1% while inpatient discharges remained relatively flat, underscoring the industry’s steady shift away from traditional inpatient care.