Becker’s Healthcare Podcast – Episode Summary

Guest: Thomas Hutchinson, Administrator, Surgery Center of Central Florida
Host: Francesca Matthews (Becker's Healthcare)
Release Date: December 1, 2025
Episode Focus: Trends, challenges, and strategies in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) with a focus on cardiology, featuring growth strategies and insights on service expansion.

Episode Overview

In this episode, Francesca Matthews talks with Thomas Hutchinson about current trends in healthcare affecting ambulatory surgery centers—especially those specializing in cardiology. Hutchinson shares his experience leading the Surgery Center of Central Florida, discusses the pressing issues facing ASCs, the excitement around new procedures, practical insights for expanding services, and the operational decisions driving growth in the next year.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thomas Hutchinson’s Professional Background

• [01:11]
  • Hutchinson has worked at the Surgery Center of Central Florida for nearly four years, taking over as administrator after experience in the hospital’s operating room, cath lab, radiology management, and cardiology practice management.

2. Top Trends in Healthcare and ASCs

• [01:56] Hutchinson identifies three major trends:

  • Electrophysiology (EP) Ablations in ASCs:
    • Growing interest in performing these advanced cardiac procedures in outpatient surgery centers.
  • Impact of Government Policy and Medicare Rules:
    • Uncertainty around reimbursement due to pending rules and possible government shutdowns.
  • Staffing Challenges:
    • Difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified staff as ASCs compete with hospitals for talent.

  Quote:

  “One of the big trends … is EP ablations. … Another kind of nerve-wracking one is the government shutdown … and then … the trend of staffing, trying to compete with hospitals and get good staff in the doors and keep good staff.”
  – Thomas Hutchinson [01:56]

3. Excitement About EP Ablations in the Outpatient Setting

• [03:02]

  • Hutchinson is most enthusiastic about being able to offer EP ablations at his ASC, citing struggles with contracting private payers and drawing on examples from Arizona and Alaska where progress was made during COVID-19 via the “hospital without walls” policy.
  • Medicare’s allowance for these procedures in outpatient settings is seen as a huge advantage for both patients and hospitals.

  Quote:

  “With Medicare being able to allow us to do those ablations in the outpatient setting, I think that’s a huge advantage to our cardiology patients and … it will take some of the workload off the hospital a little bit.”
  – Thomas Hutchinson [03:38]

4. Planned Growth Strategies (Next 12 Months)

• [04:07]

  • Physician Recruitment: Adding cardiologists and locum tenens (temporary physicians) to expand procedure offerings.
  • Service Line Expansion: Planning to introduce vascular surgery, requiring both recruiting vascular surgeons and ensuring coverage via locums.
  • Facility Expansion: Increasing physical capacity by adding 10 more pre- and post-op bays to accommodate higher patient volume.

  Quote:

  “Our ASC … has three operating rooms and … eight pre and post op days. We're looking to add … another 10 patient bays …”
  – Thomas Hutchinson [04:51]

5. Advice for ASCs Adding New Procedures

• [05:37]

  • Emphasizes comprehensive financial projections (pro formas) before launching new services, especially when reimbursement rates are uncertain.
  • Critical to understand device costs, disposable and supply expenses, capital equipment needs, staffing and fixed costs.
  • Admits that launching new EP ablation services now is partially a leap of faith due to unknown Medicare reimbursement.

  Quote:

  “The biggest thing is to know where you stand, what your capital costs are going to be, your disposable costs, your staff costs, your fixed cost, and just do a good, in depth pro forma … So you have the, you know, you only have one variable, the reimbursement right now.”
  – Thomas Hutchinson [06:05]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Service Expansion Risks:

  “We kind of took a leap of faith and we’re prepared for it for January 1st, but we still don’t have any hard numbers, what Medicare is going to reimburse us on these EP ablations.”
  – Thomas Hutchinson [05:54]

• Strategic Outlook:

  “We’re looking at possibly bringing on locums EP, also physical growth … our ASC is … looking to add on another 10 patient bays for pre and post op.”
  – Thomas Hutchinson [04:38]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:11] – Thomas Hutchinson’s background
• [01:56] – Top three trends in healthcare and ASCs
• [03:02] – Excitement for outpatient EP ablations, Medicare rules, and benefits
• [04:07] – Planned growth, physician recruitment, facility expansion
• [05:37] – Advice for other ASC leaders: pro forma financial analysis
• [06:05] – Uncertainty regarding Medicare reimbursement

Summary Takeaway

Thomas Hutchinson provides an insider’s perspective on the evolving cardiology ASC landscape—highlighting new reimbursement opportunities for advanced cardiac procedures, wisdom in methodical business planning, and persistent staffing and regulatory challenges. For ASC leaders considering expansion, his advice underscores the importance of thorough preparation and bold yet calculated risk-taking, especially amid ongoing change in healthcare policy and practice.