The South Whitehall Township Planning Commission approved a construction plan for an outpatient facility in Allentown, Pa., local news source WFMZ reported May 19.

Lake Erie (Pa.) College of Osteopathic Medicine Health broke ground on a $14.5 million ASC, Your Erie reported May 20.

Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Center for Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics broke ground on an ASC, The Chattanoogan reported May 20.

The University of California Board of Regents approved a $579 million ASC at UC Davis Health's Sacramento campus, Sacramento Business Journal reported May 19.

Mediplex Property Group has started converting a building in Prussia, Pa., to an ASC, Healthcare Design reported May 18.

Independently owned medical group Coastal Orthopedics of Bradenton, Fla., opened its new medical center May 16, which cost more than $30 million, reported Sarasota community newspaper Your Observer.

A 54-bed hospital with surgery centers is being proposed in Port St. Lucie, Fla., TCPalm reported May 16. 

Canado, N.D.-based Towner County Hospital Authority has secured a $10.9 million loan that will expand its ambulatory surgery offerings, U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said May 13. 

Glendale, Ariz.-based Arrowhead Endoscopy Center is in construction and set to open in summer, Phoenix Business Journal reported May 12.

Lewes, Del.-based Beebe Healthcare opens its new specialty surgery center in Rehoboth Beach, Del., on May 16.

Here are eight hospitals that have opened or have plans to open ASCs:

A surgeon from Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush in Chicago is planning to open an outpatient orthopedic surgery center in Chesterton, Ind., according to a May 12 nwi.com report.

Real estate developer Olympus closed a deal to build a $100 million medical office campus with Healthcare Trust of America in Clermont, Fla., GrowthSpotter reported May 11.  

Eye MD Surgery Center has been approved to open in Bethlehem, Ga., as Barrow County's first ASC, Barrow News-Journal reported May 11.

National Spine and Pain Centers, a network of minimally invasive spine and pain physicians, has recently added 12 locations and a new ASC, and the group is eyeing several places for future expansion.

Houston, Mo.-based Texas County Missouri Hospital will get $1 million toward its new surgery center if a state budget approved by legislators is signed by the governor, Houston Herald reported May 9.

Richmond, Va.-based VCU Health is planning an outpatient facility as part of an upcoming mixed-use development in Chesterfield, Va., Richmond BizSense reported May 9.

BayCare's St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla., has opened a $152 million patient tower that will expand its surgical offerings, hospital owner BayCare Health System said May 6. 

Kerrville, Texas-based Peterson Health has secured a $1.6 million grant that will help prepare the site for its $44 million surgical center, Jam Broadcasting reported recently. 

The Mount Sinai Health System in New York City is creating a nearly $80 million outpatient health center in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood.