Two ASC companies have made major leadership transitions since Jan. 1:

A growing number of hospital leaders are exploring ASCs as a pathway for growth, with 63% open to joint ventures in outpatient surgery ventures, according to a report from VMG Health published Jan. 9.

Most healthcare leaders have a generally positive outlook on financial performance in 2025, according to VMG Health's "Health System Leader Expectations" survey for 2025. 

Employee engagement in the U.S. fell to its lowest level in 10 years in 2024, according to a Jan. 14 report by Gallup. 

A recent series of court rulings have halted enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act, enacted in 2021 with certain regulations affecting physician practices set to go into effect Jan. 1, according to a Jan. 13 article from the American Medical Association. 

Every detail matters. In healthcare, small actions can lead to big outcomes—and sometimes, those outcomes save lives. An often-overlooked threat in outpatient care is Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), which includes Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE). For providers working in Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), Office-Based Surgery facilities, and Day Surgery practices around the world, the challenge is clear: how do we consistently deliver the highest standard of care while managing risks that, though sometimes unseen, carry profound consequences?

There are 6,300 Medicare-certified ASCs in the U.S., a 3.5% increase over December 2022, according to CMS data.

Caitlin Zulla, who previously led Optum Health East and SCA Health, was named CEO of US Radiology Specialists, according to a Jan. 7 news release. 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated to lead HHS under President Donald Trump's second term, holds a range of positions on healthcare issues.

The fate of noncompete agreements has been in flux recently as changes to the FTC remain possible under a new presidential administration and the clauses remain the subject of lawsuits in healthcare.  

The ASC industry has evolved tremendously in the last three years and independent surgery centers are making strategic investments for future growth.

Union activity among physicians has skyrocketed in the last two years, according to a recent JAMA study. 

2024 has been a year of seismic shifts and bold perspectives in the ASC industry, with leaders grappling with the accelerating consolidation of physician practices, reimbursement challenges and the ongoing shift toward ASCs. 

President-elect Donald Trump will take office for the second time in January, and ASC leaders are preparing amid his plans to appoint a swath of new leaders to oversee aspects of the healthcare system.

Ker Leader Medical, a new ASC development company, is dedicated to preserving physician autonomy and promoting ASC independence.

Here are 15 healthcare leadership moves for ASC leaders and physicians to know in 2024:

Ker Leader Medical, a new ASC development company, is committed to preserving the autonomy of physicians and ASC leadership. One key way they achieve this is through their innovative financing model.

ASCs remain a fast-growing segment of the U.S. healthcare market driven in part by value-based care, regulatory changes, shifting demographics, and patient preferences. Ongoing staffing challenges, however, continue to threaten ASC growth and profitability, placing greater focus on the need to bolster recruitment and retention efforts.

A Santa Paula, Calif., physician has been sentenced to two years for defrauding Medicare of more than $3 million for medically unnecessary claims. 

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare has made seven leadership changes across its hospitals in the last month.