Episode Overview
Podcast: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Guest: Tara Good-Young, MSHA, CASC, CEO, PDI Surgery Center
Host: Grace Lynn Keller
Recording: Live at the 31st Annual Business and Operations of ASCs
Date: December 21, 2025
In this episode, Tara Good-Young, an accomplished leader with over 40 years in healthcare and deep expertise in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), discusses the dynamic ASC market, the role of technology and AI, strategic collaboration opportunities, and practical advice for ASC leaders navigating a rapidly changing landscape. The conversation focuses on trends, operational strategies, and thoughtful leadership in outpatient healthcare.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Introduction and Background (00:35–01:21)
- Tara Good-Young’s Experience:
- 42 years in healthcare; 20 years in leadership roles.
- Extensive work in multidisciplinary ASCs (maxillofacial, oral, plastics).
- Current focus: Pediatric dental and oral reconstruction.
“Becker's is one of my favorite conferences to attend.”
— Tara Good-Young (00:53)
2. Market Forces and Trends in ASC Growth (01:21–02:39)
- Market Context:
- The US ASC market projected to reach $60.8B by 2030.
- Key Drivers:
- CMS Policy: More outpatient procedures shifting from hospitals to ASCs.
- Pricing Pressure:
- Expectation of declining prices due to increased ASC adoption.
- Importance of robust payer negotiations and market analysis.
- Profitability and Saturation:
- Not every new opportunity will be profitable; market share and oversaturation are risks.
- Value and reputation trump simply following trends.
“Just because the shiny new thing for you to possibly be able to do in the ASC doesn't necessarily mean that it'll be profitable.”
— Tara Good-Young (02:06)
“It may quickly be a race to the bottom on price rather than pivoting to take a look at where you can deliver the best value, customer service for your reputation.”
— Tara Good-Young (02:16)
3. Technology Integration: AI & Operational Efficiency (02:39–04:38)
- AI Applications:
- Automation of repetitive, menial tasks (data entry, phone call triage) for increased staff engagement.
- Aggregation and analysis of operational data for better business intelligence.
- EHR Optimization:
- AI-driven tools to reduce “click time” for staff and doctors.
- Potential to alleviate bureaucratic frustration, improve staff satisfaction, and create more face-to-face time with patients.
- Business Impact:
- Positive patient experience drives referrals and growth.
“If AI can do the basic level of receiving and triage of calls, then to the human that really needs to handle it... you can load in a lot of your data and have it aggregated rather than spending all of this time putting it into spreadsheets.”
— Tara Good-Young (03:07)
“If you can alleviate some of those bureaucratic frustrations... you're going to have better satisfaction as well. It's going to free them up to have more of that face-to-face patient time, which is where your value of customer service and your return patient is going to come from.”
— Tara Good-Young (03:41)
4. Collaboration: Opportunities with Providers and Vendors (04:38–06:15)
- Partnership Trends:
- 60% of health systems considering ASC joint ventures.
- Vendor Relationships:
- Vendors are information conduits, offering broader market insights.
- Strategic vendor collaboration aids in sustainable procurement, supply chain transparency, and rate negotiation.
- COVID has highlighted the need for backup vendors and robust supply planning.
“Collaborating with your vendors is a really great way to know what's out there in the market. They'll hear from others and they'll have inside information—not the secret information—but you'll have a bigger look on a SWOT, wider outside your surrounding market...”
— Tara Good-Young (05:01)
“Just-in-time ordering is no longer just in time and you always really need to have a backup plan vendor for your mission critical items...”
— Tara Good-Young (05:45)
5. Final Thoughts and Practical Leadership Advice (06:15–07:13)
- Strategic Patience:
- Caution against “chasing the shiny new thing.”
- Regulatory, reimbursement, and authorization challenges often accompany new procedures.
- Leaders must anticipate and plan for the up-front costs and training required for new technology or service lines.
“Sometimes it's not always best to be first. When a lot of new regulations are rolled out, new procedures are released to outpatient, it still can be a gray area of how it's billed, how it's going to be reimbursed, how will it be handled, what's the pre-authorization pain points going to be because you need to be prepared for all of that...”
— Tara Good-Young (06:27)
Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes
-
On market expansion:
"Just because the shiny new thing for you to possibly be able to do in the ASC doesn't necessarily mean that it'll be profitable."
(Tara Good-Young, 02:06) -
On technology and staff satisfaction:
"If you can alleviate some of those bureaucratic frustrations... you're going to have better satisfaction as well."
(Tara Good-Young, 03:41) -
On vendor collaboration:
"You get those vendors to work together to give you better pricing and sustainable supply."
(Tara Good-Young, 06:06)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:35–01:21: Introduction to Tara Good-Young and her ASC leadership background.
- 01:21–02:39: Discussion on major ASC market trends and growth factors.
- 02:39–04:38: The role of AI and advanced technology in ASC operations.
- 04:38–06:15: The importance of provider and vendor collaborations.
- 06:15–07:13: Closing advice for ASC leaders—caution and strategic planning.
Conclusion
This episode provides a concise, experience-driven roadmap for ASC leaders. Tara Good-Young highlights the importance of strategic focus, the proper pace of innovation, and the central role of technology and partnerships in building sustainable ambulatory surgery operations. Her advice centers on preparing for complexity, prioritizing excellent patient experiences, and building strong collaborative networks to thrive in the growing ASC sector.