An ambulatory surgery center (ASC) is a freestanding healthcare facility providing outpatient procedures and surgical care. ASCs are also sometimes referred to as outpatient surgery centers.

Advances in surgical techniques, medical technology and anesthesia have made it possible to perform many common surgeries and procedures in an ASC. Having a procedure or surgery done at an ASC may mean a shorter admission procedure and quicker release once you’re ready to go home, giving you a more convenient, overall experience.

Not all surgeries are appropriate for an ASC setting, so the types of surgeries performed at a hospital may differ from those performed at an ASC. How outpatient surgeries are performed is NOT different in an ASC. ASCs are equipped with multiple operating rooms and recovery areas and staffed by the same clinical teams found in a hospital surgery department, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, surgical nurses and other healthcare professionals.

If approved by the State Health Planning and Development Agency Certificate of Need (CON) Review Board, the proposed ASC will be multi-specialty and able to provide a wide range of surgical procedures. The initial contemplated specialties for the ASC include general surgery, gynecology, and ophthalmology, but other specialties may be added as needs arise including podiatry, pediatrics, and plastic and reconstructive surgery. Cullman Regional anticipates that many of its physicians would provide surgical care at the ASC.