Lori Ramirez, Chief Executive Officer, Elite Surgical Affiliates in Houston, Texas:
The landscape of ASCs is changing rapidly. There are fewer players in this space each year and consolidation is rampant. National players are acquiring small ASC operators for financial stability and leverage with managed care payers. In an effort to create efficiency and “work smarter, not harder,” ASC operators are building smaller and more specialized surgical centers of excellence. In addition, technology is surpassing all expectations as robotics, smart
systems and virtual reality become more prominent. These systems will soon also affect routine tasks such as
direct patient care. The use of analytics and quality outcomes data will define the success and growth of companies
in this space in the next 10-20 years.