A facility where operative procedures are performed and the patient is released the same day.

Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC) are either hospital-based or freestanding entities which operate exclusively for the purpose of furnishing outpatient surgical procedures. Back to the top of the page

A facility operated exclusively to provide surgical services to patients who do not require overnight hospitalization. Term usually refers to distinct, freestanding centers certified under federal Medicare program. There are also hospital-affiliated ambulatory surgery centers.