Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Guest: Bruce Feldman, Administrator, Eastern Orange Ambulatory Surgery Center
Host: Grace Lynn Keller
Date: August 30, 2025
Recorded at: 22nd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management Conference

Episode Overview

This episode features a conversation with Bruce Feldman, a seasoned ambulatory surgery center (ASC) administrator with over 20 years of experience. Feldman discusses major industry trends, workforce strategies, the evolving role of ASCs, and partnerships driving innovation in the outpatient surgical space. The discussion provides practical insights for healthcare leaders navigating the shifting ASC landscape.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introduction & Background

• Bruce Feldman’s Experience
  • Over two decades in ASC leadership, spanning multi-specialty, single-specialty, de novo centers, and those owned by joint ventures or management companies.
  • Recent consulting focused on ASC business development and expansion.
• Quote:
  • “I’ve held a number of leadership positions...Currently, I do a lot of ASC business consulting, specifically in the area of business development.” (00:56)

2. Industry Trends and Shifts

• Migration of High-Acuity Cases to ASCs
  • Increasingly complex procedures, especially cardiovascular, are moving from hospitals to ASCs.
  • Surge in single-specialty cardiac ASCs.
  • Hospital systems are actively acquiring or developing ASCs to remain competitive.
• Quote:
  • “I think we’re going to continue to see more and more complex, higher acuity level cases shifting from the hospital to the ASC arena...the hot ticket right now is going to be in the area of cardiovascular services.” (01:47)
  • “...healthcare systems getting into the ASC arena, either through acquisition of existing ASCs or through the development of their own ASCs...” (02:08)

3. Workforce Challenges and Retention Strategies

• Internal Recruitment Incentive Program
  • Staff are financially rewarded for referring candidates who fill positions and pass probation.
  • Leveraging employee networks fosters team cohesion and effective onboarding.
• Focus on Employee Retention
  • Emphasizing a collaborative work environment is key to retaining staff and reducing recruitment needs.
• Quote:
  • “If one of our staff refers...a surgical technologist, they get a certain dollar amount...after that individual has passed that probationary period...it has proven to be a very good effective strategy.” (02:41)
  • “If you retain your employees, then you don’t have a recruitment problem. So I’m a very firm believer in developing a collaborative working environment, 100%.” (03:35)

4. ASCs' Growing Role in Healthcare

• Expansion Driven by Partnerships
  • Notable growth in the East Coast via joint ventures between healthcare systems and ASCs.
  • Outpatient setting offers greater efficiency, satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness.
• Strategic Positioning
  • Organizations must participate in this shift to retain relevance:
    “It’s a matter of do you want a smaller piece of the pie or no pie at all.” (03:50)
  • Ongoing transition of higher-acuity cases to ASCs likely to accelerate.
• Quote:
  • “ASCs are more cost effective, higher patient satisfaction, higher physician satisfaction, and more efficient.” (04:12)

5. Innovation: Vendor Partnerships and Service Line Development

• Collaboration with Vendors
  • Vendors now play a crucial role in helping ASCs develop clinical services, such as orthopedic and joint replacement programs.
  • Examples include partnerships with device companies like Stryker and DePuy.
• Quote:
  • “A lot of vendors are now partnering with ASCs to help them devise various clinical service lines...helping ASCs to develop joint replacement programs.” (04:52)

6. Closing Thoughts

• Optimism for ASC Growth
  • Feldman underscores that the future is promising for ASCs, with ongoing migration of cases from inpatient to outpatient settings.
• Adaptability is Key
  • Staying flexible and fluid will be essential as industry changes accelerate.
• Quote:
  • “It’s an exciting time for ASCs...we’re going to continue to see a tremendous growth...we just have to be very fluid to keep up with those rapid changes.” (05:27)

Notable Quotes

• On industry trends:

  • “The hot ticket right now is going to be in the area of cardiovascular services.” – Bruce Feldman (01:54)

• On workforce:

  • “If you retain your employees, then you don’t have a recruitment problem.” – Bruce Feldman (03:35)

• On ASC positioning:

  • “Do you want a smaller piece of the pie or no pie at all?” – Bruce Feldman (04:00)

Important Timestamps

• 00:56 – Feldman introduces his background and consulting work
• 01:47 – Key industry trends: high-acuity and cardiac cases moving to ASCs
• 02:41 – Strategies for recruitment and retention
• 03:50 – The evolving, strategic role of ASCs for health systems
• 04:52 – Innovation and partnerships with vendors
• 05:27 – Closing thoughts: ASC growth and the need for adaptability

Summary:
In this candid conversation, Bruce Feldman delivers a clear-eyed assessment of the ambulatory surgery center sector, detailing the strategic importance of higher-acuity case migration, health system engagement, innovative workforce strategies, and deepening vendor relationships. His optimism is tempered with a message: agility will be crucial as the ASC ecosystem continues to rapidly evolve.