Guides and tools to help you prepare for outpatient surgery and choose the right facility.
A step-by-step walkthrough of what happens from the moment you arrive at the ASC to the time you go home. Covers check-in, pre-op prep, the procedure room, recovery, and discharge instructions.
Everything you need to do in the two weeks, two days, and two hours before your outpatient procedure. Includes medication guidance, fasting rules, what to bring, and how to set up your recovery space at home.
General, regional, and monitored sedation — what's the difference, and which one will you get? This guide explains each type, what to expect waking up, and questions to ask your anesthesiologist before the procedure.
Most ASC patients go home the same day — but recovery doesn't end at discharge. Learn how to manage pain, spot warning signs, follow activity restrictions, and know when to call the facility.
These organizations set the standards for ambulatory surgery center safety, accreditation, and patient care in the United States.
The national trade association representing ASCs in the United States. ASCA advocates for patient access to high-quality, cost-effective outpatient surgery and provides resources for patients and providers.
Visit ASCAOne of the largest accreditors of ambulatory surgery centers, AAAHC accredits over 6,000 organizations. Their peer-based review process focuses on clinical quality, patient rights, and safety systems.
Visit AAAHCAAAASF was the first organization to accredit office-based and ambulatory surgery facilities. Their standards emphasize surgeon credentialing, facility safety, and patient outcomes across thousands of accredited sites.
Visit AAAASFThe nation's oldest and largest healthcare accrediting body. The Joint Commission accredits ASCs under the same rigorous standards applied to hospitals, with a strong focus on patient safety, medication management, and infection control.
Visit The Joint CommissionCMS certifies and regulates ASCs that accept Medicare patients. Their public quality data — including OAS CAHPS patient experience scores — is a key resource for comparing surgery centers and understanding safety performance.
CMS ASC Quality DataProvides free case management services and financial assistance resources for patients dealing with insurance denials, prior authorization issues, and medical debt related to surgical care.
Get Help with InsuranceSearch our directory of 5,700+ Medicare-certified ambulatory surgery centers and compare quality scores, accreditation, and patient reviews.