For years, health system leaders have discussed the possibility of introducing ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) as an alternative care setting for cardiovascular (CV) procedures. But while this model has had notable success for specialties such as orthopedics, ophthalmology, and GI, migration for CV procedures remains far slower and is more complicated than expected.

This article explores the role the different outpatient settings, including ASCs and hospital outpatient departments, can play in health systems’ CV outpatient strategies and offers a three-pronged approach to navigating CV expansion. Armed with the facts, health system leaders can confidently move forward with a pragmatic CV strategy that balances growth, safety, and sustainability.

Contributing Authors: Matt Kilton, Sandra Myerson, and Emily Lopez