Ambulatory surgery centers are facing rapidly growing pressures. Rising costs, a shortage of available workers, and a steady influx of patients are all negatively impacting the ability of ambulatory surgery centers to function at peak levels.
When left unaddressed, these problems not only impact facility workflow but can also start to affect patient outcomes, nurse and healthcare professional satisfaction, and, inevitably, revenue. With the right tools, though, ASCs can have greater control over future planning and easily navigate these pain points.
Pain points affecting ambulatory surgery centers
Administrators need to accomplish more with fewer resources. Because of that, certain challenges continue to trend for ASCs.
Operating costs
According to a survey from Ambulatory Surgery Center News, 31% of ASCs cited operational costs as the largest concern facing their facility. On average, ASCs report operating costs are 76.8% of net operating revenue, creating tight margins.
Administrators are looking to reduce costs where possible, and the biggest target is labor spend, which accounts for a staggering 50% of ASC operating costs. In order to cut down on labor costs, ASCs have to strike the perfect balance between maintaining the correct number of healthcare workers while also ensuring they aren’t overstaffed or understaffed, which can both be costly.
Staff turnover
Facilities are operating with a skeleton team of nurses, health professionals, and physicians, leaving no room for callouts or unplanned absences. Running a successful operating room with such a small team can lead to healthcare workers feeling overworked and underappreciated. When negative staff sentiment reaches its peak, nurses and health professionals are more likely to quit, looking for new opportunities with better work-life balance. Some even end up leaving the healthcare field entirely in search of a more stable career. Based on Ambulatory Surgery Center News’ survey, “25% [of ASCS] identified staffing constraints as the single greatest challenge for ASCs.”
Not only does this leave ASCs vulnerable to cancellations, but it’s expensive. According to the 2025 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report, “The average cost of turnover for a staff RN is $61,110, with the range averaging $49,500 to $72,700.” As ASCs drain their resources to replace staff, revenue is lost, and it becomes more challenging for ASCs to stay afloat.
Lack of flexibility
The majority of ASCs oscillate between being overstaffed or understaffed, both of which cause a strain on budgets. As staying in budget becomes more critical, it’s important that ASCs remain flexible in their staffing to keep up with demand while also ensuring that they’re in line with designated labor spend.
How technology can create more efficient ambulatory surgery centers
When ambulatory surgery centers rely on outdated manual processes, they’re not able to operate efficiently, leading to lowered capacity to take on new patients, canceled procedures, and unhappy staff members, all of which have a negative impact on revenue goals.
For ASCs that are looking for a better way to manage their pain points, technology solutions like Medely can help streamline the process and ensure staffing needs are met.
Here are some examples from surgery centers that have implemented Medely to solve their staffing problems with ease and little impact on their bottom line.
Jefferson Surgical Center at the Navy Yard saved 47% with Medely
Since labor costs account for a large portion of ambulatory surgery centers’ operational costs, finding ways to be more strategic about reducing labor costs is essential. When Jefferson Surgical Center at the Navy Yard was looking for consistent support in the operating room that didn’t break the bank, Paula Solipaca, RN, administrator and group vice president, turned to Medely.
Paula found that Medely offered consistent, high-quality per diem workers who fit seamlessly in with her full-time staff. After using Medely to fill shifts instead of relying on traditional agencies, her surgery center saved 47%, almost cutting in half the fees and costs associated with traditional agencies.
Not only has Medely slashed expensive labor costs, but it’s also reduced unnecessary administrative costs. Manual credentialing can drain precious administrative resources, ultimately costing ASCs thousands of dollars. With Medely, all nurses and health professionals are pre-vetted, ensuring credentials are updated and their background checks are clear.
Harbor Heights Surgery Center and Potomac View Surgery Center reduced staff turnover and filled 1500+ shifts with Medely
In 2020, nurses and health professionals at Harbor Heights Surgery Center and Potomac View Surgery Center were calling out more and eventually leaving the facilities entirely. Christine was worried about the increased potential for canceled procedures, so she set out to find an effective solution to maintain coverage and keep surgeries running. Since then, Christine has favorited almost 100 nurses and health professionals on the Medely platform, establishing go-to coverage at a moment’s notice.
While Christine still contacts her internal staff when a shift opens up, Medely serves as a buffer in case one of her full-time staff can’t pick up the shift. “I went ahead and posted the shift on Medely while I was still reaching out to other staff members to see if anybody could get it covered. I didn’t have any luck, so it was perfect to just get to Medely and have that as a backup,” Christine shared. Having a plan in place for callouts has alleviated some of the pressure full-time staff felt to pick up open shifts. Through Medely, Christine has been able to address staff overwhelm, which has had a positive effect on reducing turnover.
NW Surgery Center fills last-minute shifts within 60 minutes
NW Surgery Center was experiencing increased turnover and callouts when Lea Davis, director of nursing, reached out to Medely. When someone would call out, Lea would typically need someone to fill the shift the next day, leaving little room for error when searching for a per diem worker. Now, Lea can rely on Medely to get any last-minute shifts filled within an hour with quality nurses and health professionals. “It’s just the ease of filling that position, and I can utilize them to fill those holes in my schedule,” Lea shares. “It’s efficient.”
This flexibility has brought Lea peace of mind and also allows her to strategically plan her schedule. On a slower day when her full-time team can handle the caseload, she can simply rely on them to perform surgeries. If the center is experiencing a surge in patients or unplanned absences, Lea can post shifts to Medely, knowing that she’ll find the coverage she needs. This has allowed her to think more creatively about staffing, building out a strategy that’s proactive instead of reactive while decreasing overall budget spend.
Be proactive with Medely
Whether you’re in the middle of a staffing crisis or want to be prepared for any future needs, Medely’s Talent Marketplace platform can be a simple addition to your staffing strategy. With access to pre-vetted nurses and health professionals nationwide, no matter what your ambulatory surgery center is looking for, Medely can help you meet your staffing goals and alleviate stress.
To learn more about how your ASC can staff more efficiently, check out our latest webinar with Ambulatory Surgery Center News.
