Ambulatory surgical centers are facilities where patients can have common surgical procedures that don't require them to be hospitalized—common things like cataract surgery or a colonoscopy. Unlike patients who need more involved surgeries performed in hospitals, ambulatory surgical patients have the operation and then are usually back home the same day.
There are over 5,000 Medicare-certified ambulatory surgery centers around the country in all the major surgical specialties —orthopedic surgery, cardiac surgery, eye surgery, spinal surgery and so on. To help our readers make knowledgeable choices when they seek surgical care for themselves or their loved ones, Newsweek has for the third year partnered with respected global research firm Statista to name America's Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers.
This year we've expanded our list to 510 facilities, up from 470 last year. We've awarded the facilities in the 25 states with the most facilities (according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) by individual state and have grouped facilities in the remaining states into four regions: Northeast, Midwest, West and South. Our rankings are based on recommendations by medical professionals and a careful analysis of the facilities' performance data.
We hope our rankings help you make your own choices with confidence.