Carrie Marut, Administrator, Mentor Surgery Center

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Episode: Conversation with Carrie Marut, Administrator, Mentor Surgery Center
Date: October 25, 2025
Host: Gracelyn Keller
Guest: Carrie Marut

Main Theme:
This episode provides insight into current trends, growth drivers, and collaboration opportunities in the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) space, as seen through the eyes of Carrie Marut, Administrator at Mentor Surgery Center. Marut discusses technology’s impact, patient-driven growth, and strategic partnerships shaping the future of ASCs.

---

Guest Introduction and Background

[00:36 - 01:25]

• Carrie Marut details her transition from a large hospital organization to the ASC world five years ago.

• Started as Director of Nursing, quickly promoted to Administrator at Mentor Surgery Center.

• Emphasizes her passion for administration despite her RN background.

  “I'm an RN by trade, but love the administrative world.” – Carrie Marut [01:13]

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. ASC Market Growth and Patient-Driven Expansion

[01:25 - 01:49]

• ASCs in the US are projected to be worth $60.8 billion by 2030.

• Marut identifies patients as a major force behind this growth:

  • ASCs offer a less formal, more welcoming setting than hospitals.
  • Patients perceive lower costs (especially out-of-pocket/deductibles) and increased efficiency.
  • Partnerships with hospitals help direct cases suitable for outpatient surgery to ASCs.

  “I think a lot of the force that's driving the expansion of ASEs are actually patients... They feel a little bit more comfortable with the atmosphere. It's a little less expensive... and it's actually way more efficient.” – Carrie Marut [01:52]

Preparation Advice:

• Expect higher patient volumes.
• Focus on efficient patient turnover and a positive patient experience.

---

2. Technology Integration in ASC Operations

[02:40 - 04:06]

• Transitioned Mentor Surgery Center from paper charting to an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.

  • Result: Increased nurse-patient interaction, streamlined documentation.

• EHR systems lead to better use of nurse time and improved patient engagement.

• Robotics, while not yet implemented at Mentor Surgery Center, are cited as having a significant impact on faster, less invasive procedures—aspirational for their future growth.

  "The actual time that the nurses get to spend with the patients went up because of the EHR... It allows the nurses to engage with the patients, talk to them a little bit more, make them feel more comfortable.” – Carrie Marut [03:18]

  “We do not currently have robotics... robotics also is huge in how quickly patients can get in and out and how less invasive some of the procedures can be.” – Carrie Marut [03:51]

---

3. Collaboration and Strategic Partnerships

[04:06 - 05:26]

• Collaboration with vendors is vital to streamline billing, collection, and supply chains, enhancing operational efficiency.

• Joint ventures with hospitals and health systems offer mutual benefits:

  • Drives patient referrals to the ASC.
  • Expands the availability of procedures and reduces operational costs.
  • Ultimately enhances the patient experience.

  “Collaboration is important in any adventure and ase, especially whether it's with your vendors that you choose to help streamline your billing or collecting or anything in your space... As far as joint ventures go, it's always nice to have a partnership with a larger organization who can also drive patients to your ase.” – Carrie Marut [04:25 – 04:52]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I think people should just be prepared to have a higher rate of patients coming through their door.” – Carrie Marut [02:12]
• “Anything like that that you can you find a good partner who sees the same vision as you do, it's obviously a greater experience for the patient.” – Carrie Marut [04:32]

---

Final Thoughts

[05:26 - 05:43]

• Carrie expresses gratitude for the opportunity and looks forward to future participation.

  “I just really appreciate being here. Thanks to Alec for having me from CareCredit and I hope that next year I'm able to do the same.” – Carrie Marut [05:33]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:36 – Host welcomes Carrie and her background
• 01:25 – Discussion starts on market forces and trends
• 02:40 – Technology’s impact on ASC operations
• 04:06 – Role of collaboration and partnerships
• 05:33 – Closing remarks and final thoughts

---

Summary

Carrie Marut offers an insightful snapshot of operational realities and strategic direction for Ambulatory Surgery Centers. With an emphasis on patient-centered growth, the accelerating adoption of technology, and the power of collaborative partnerships, she illustrates how ASCs can thrive in the evolving healthcare landscape. Her perspective bridges both clinical and administrative worlds, providing actionable advice for ASC leaders positioned for future growth.

Transcript

[A]

Looking for a solution that helps alleviate administrative tasks for your staff and also helps your patients cover their out of pocket health care expenses. Find what you're looking for from CareCredit because CareCredit is a credit card and more. It's a helping hand for staff and a flexible payment solution for patients. For over 30 years, CareCredit, a synchrony solution, has offered patients a credit card with promotional financing options to get the care they want while helping staff do what they do best. Provide care. To learn more, visit carecredit.com beckerspodcast this.

[B]

Is Gracelyn Keller with the Beckers Healthcare Podcast and we are recording live at the 31st annual Business and Operations of ASCS. I'm currently joined by Carrie Marout who is the Administrator at Mentor Surgery Center. Carrie, thanks for joining us today. Let's kick off by having you share a little bit about yourself and your work in the ASC space.

[C]

Well, first of all, thank you for having me. I started in the ASC space about five years ago. I was working at a large hospital organization running the operating room same day, surgery, pain management, endocs, all the things that come in with the surgery space. The doctors recruited me to come over to the ASC side as a Director of Nursing and then the administrator shortly after that and I've been there ever since. I'm an RN by trade, but love the administrative world.

[B]

Wonderful. Well, thanks for taking the time to be here and let's start our conversation talking about the ASC market because in the US this is projected to reach 60.8 billion by 2030 and continues to experience strong year over year growth. So from your perspective, what are the most significant trends in market forces driving this expansion and how should ASC leaders be preparing for today?

[C]

I think a lot of the force that's driving the expansion of ASEs are actually patients. You know, patients come into an ASE, it's a little bit more formal or less formal than a hospital space. They feel a little bit more comfortable with the atmosphere. It's a little less expensive when you look at their deductibles that they have to pay and it's actually way more efficient. So the partnership with larger hospitals and and them looking out for the benefit of their patients, I feel like is a huge factor. I think people should just be prepared to have a higher rate of patients coming through their door. Look at their turnovers, look at their greeting the patients and making the patients just feel as most comfortable as possible.

[B]

Absolutely. And from AI and robotic surgeries to advanced EHR Systems technology remains both a make or break factor and a critical driver of ASC operations at scale. So how do you see deeper tech integration shaping the way ASCs deliver care and manage the business over the next few years?

[C]

It's kind of funny. We started out when I became administrator over at the asc. We were actually charting on paper still, which I believe a lot of people still do. We've integrated an EHR recently into our surgery center and the the actual time that the nurses get to spend with the patients went up because of the ehr. Everything is really nice. It's pretty much pre populated for you in that and it's a few questions and click of the button and basically your medical record is done. And so it allows the nurses to engage with the patients, talk to them a little bit more, make them feel more comfortable on the settings. We do not currently have robotics, but I know just from past experience at the hospitals that robotics also is huge in how quickly patients can get in and out and how less invasive some of the procedures can be. And so I think in the ASD space it's also a great thing to have. I wish we did, but unfortunately we'll have to grow a little bit more first.

[B]

Absolutely. And with 60% of health systems considering ASC joint ventures and many ASCs already partnering with systems in their communities, what opportunities do you see for collaboration, whether with other providers or vendors, to strengthen to strengthen patient care and operational efficiency?

[C]

I think collaboration is important in any adventure and ase, especially whether it's with your vendors that you choose to help streamline your billing or collecting or anything in your space when it comes to supplies, how to make your operation more efficient, anything like that that you can you find a good partner who sees the same vision as you do, it's off obviously a greater experience for the patient. As far as joint ventures go, it's always nice to have a partnership with a larger organization who can also drive patients to your ase. And honestly, it's just better for the patients. I mean the experience, like I said earlier, the cost to operate in an ASC versus a hospital and getting those patients there and the procedures there that can be done in an ASC is just going to make healthcare and patients, you know, just so much happier.

[B]

Absolutely. Well, Carrie, thanks so much for joining me today. Is there anything we didn't touch on or any final thoughts you'd like to share on the podcast?

[C]

I just really appreciate being here. Thanks to Alec for having me from CareCredit and I hope that next year I'm able to do the same.

[B]

Wonderful. Well, thanks so much. And again, we are recording live at the 31st annual Business and Operations of ASCS. Thanks so much.