We’re so glad you asked! An ASC, or Ambulatory Surgery Center, is an outpatient healthcare facility that provides patients the ability to undergo procedures and surgeries outside of a traditional hospital setting. Procedures and surgeries performed in an outpatient setting typically save the patient time and money, as patients can expect to spend less time there overall, as patients will go home the same day of their procedure or surgery. Further, ASCs offer the same standard of surgical care in a highly monitored and specialized environment.

The short answer is no. The types of surgical procedures conducted at each ASC will vary greatly ranging from multi-specialty ASCs to highly specialized ASCs. Rest assured, there are some commonalities that ASCs tend to share. Common types of ASCs include surgery centers for:

• Cosmetic, facial, and plastic surgery
• Ophthamology practices
• Laser eye surgery
• Oral and Maxillofacial surgery
• Orthopaedics
• Podiatric procedures

Thanks for reminding us. Before we get too far, it’s important to chat safety. The Iowa Clinic is committed to providing exceptional patient care while upholding the highest standards of safety and quality. The care provided in an ASC is governed by federal and state licensure, Medicare certification and/or voluntary accreditation. These surgery centers must meet demanding requirements and participate in meticulous inspections on an ongoing basis to continue operating. By choosing an ASC for your or your loved one’s next surgical procedure, you can feel confident that the ASC is a highly regulated and controlled facility built to achieve the best quality patient care at the highest standard of safety simultaneously.

One of the biggest benefits of using an ASC is the reduced wait times, especially when compared to surgical procedures done in a hospital setting. Gone are the weeks or months of waiting for an appointment to open in a hospital’s surgery center where emergency room demands pose a constant risk to scheduling, postponing care for some. Since ASCs focus almost exclusively on a small process in one setting, they can control schedules in way which hospitals cannot.

In addition to being centered around creating the best patient experience possible, pricing is also a large focus for many ASCs, as they’ll disclose pricing information before surgery to help patients prepare for the impact of undergoing a surgical procedure in their care. Not only are ASCs transparent in their pricing, they’re also commonly more cost-effective than hospitals without compromising on quality of care.

Many ASCs are either owned and run by larger hospital systems or by the physicians that practice and treat patients there. Many patients experience closer patient-surgeon relationships and give credit to the ASC setting, rather than a hospital setting where doctors are constantly on rotation. In an ASC, you can expect to interact with a limited number of nurses and doctors throughout your surgical procedure, making it a synch to build a trusting relationship and a clear line of communication from pre to postoperative proceedings.

So, how about it? Looking for consistent care and a better relationship with your doctor? Look no further than our South Waukee Iowa Clinic ASC! The next time you’re facing a surgical procedure, chat with your trusted Iowa Clinic healthcare provider about whether you’re able to undergo your procedure in our cutting-edge, beautiful new ASC located conveniently off Grand Prairie Parkway in Waukee, just minutes off I-80.