Docs dominate surgery center field

About 47% of the nation’s estimated 5,000 ambulatory surgery centers are owned entirely by physicians -- down about 1% from 2004, according to a survey by the American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers. Meanwhile, only about 5% of such centers are owned entirely by hospitals, a 1% drop from 2004, according to the survey. All told, about 88% of ambulatory surgery centers have at least some physician investment, according to the survey, which was conducted in December 2006 and drew about 90 responses. About 32% of ambulatory surgery centers are owned at least in part by hospitals, up from about 29% in 2004, the survey found. -- by Michael Romano