A new Web site touting ambulatory surgery centers is the centerpiece of a campaign that seeks to raise awareness about the high-quality, patient-centered care that ASCs provide and the significant savings they create for both patients and the healthcare system.

"Advancing Surgical Care" is the name of the campaign that kicked off earlier today, says the Ambulatory Surgery Center Advocacy Committee (ASCAC), which includes the national and state ASC associations as well as representatives of all types of ASC operators and physicians.

"At a time when healthcare costs are skyrocketing and access to quality patient care is a national priority, ASCs continue to offer high-quality, patient-centered care to communities throughout the country and create a cost savings for both the individual and the health care system as a whole," says Andrew Hayek, chair of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Advocacy Committee and president and CEO of Surgical Care Affiliates. "As an industry, we are committed to providing patients the highest quality care in the safest environment possible and are working with physicians, hospitals and other stakeholders throughout the healthcare system to ensure that we continue to advance surgical care."

"Patients report a 92% satisfaction rate in the healthcare services they receive at ASCs throughout the country," says Kathy Bryant, president of the ASC Association. "We are proud to come together as an industry to lead this much-needed dialogue around the care, value and superior patient outcomes associated with ASCs."

Outpatient Surgery Magazine Staff