The Rise of the Cardiovascular ASC
Meredith Banasiak
2 min read
By 2030, an estimated 82% of outpatient cardiovascular procedures could shift from hospitals to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), a trend accelerated by Medicare's 2020 decision to allow percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ASCs, pandemic-driven demand for lower-exposure care settings, and loosening Certificate of Need regulations.
This shift has direct implications for how cardiovascular ASCs should be designed. Cath labs need enough size, layout flexibility, and infrastructure to accommodate electrophysiology and structural heart procedures as case volumes grow. There's also a broader move away from sterile, OR-style rooms toward biophilic design: nature imagery, ambient lighting, aromatherapy, and improved air filtration. These measures can reduce patient stress and potentially shorten recovery and sedation times.
Beyond the procedure itself, cardiovascular ASCs are increasingly expected to function as hubs for ongoing monitoring and rehab. Wearables and implantable monitors support a "Smart Heart" model of remote patient tracking that connects procedural care to longer-term diagnostics. App-based virtual cardiac rehab programs are also gaining traction, with participation rates notably higher than traditional center-based rehab, and advocacy groups continue pushing Medicare to expand telehealth reimbursement for cardiac and pulmonary rehab.
On-site imaging is another likely evolution, since consolidating diagnostics and procedures in one location would streamline patient flow and reduce the need for multiple visits. Altogether, the cardiovascular ASCs built today need enough flexibility to absorb a fast-evolving continuum of care over the next decade or two.
Read more about our ideas for designing Cardiovascular ASCs in this CathLab Digest article, written in collaboration with Mark Toth, Vice President of Cardiovascular Services at Atlas Healthcare Partners.
