Todd Currier, CASC, CPA, FACMPE, CEO/Administrator at Bend Surgery Center

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Guest: Todd Currier, CEO/Administrator at Bend Surgery Center

Date: October 26, 2025
Host: Gracelyn Keller
Recorded at the 31st Annual Business and Operations of ASCs

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Episode Overview

This episode spotlights the dynamic evolution of the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) market. Todd Currier, CEO and Administrator at Bend Surgery Center, draws on his two decades of ASC experience and his earlier work as a CPA to analyze industry growth, the shift of procedures from hospitals, and the rapidly advancing role of technology—including AI and robotics. He also offers perspectives for ASC leaders on advocacy, adaptation, and seizing new opportunities.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Todd’s Background and Perspective

• (00:54–01:41)
  • Todd Currier shares his career journey:
    • 17 years as a CPA, with extensive healthcare consulting and auditing.
    • 20 years in ASC leadership, from smaller centers to his current large, multi-specialty ASC in Oregon, which manages around 15,000 cases annually.
  • “I really fell in love with the industry...have been able to work in a variety of different types of ASCs...We do about 15,000 cases. We're multi-specialty in Oregon and really love the direction that we're going.” — Todd Currier (01:17)

2. Growth of the ASC Market

• (01:41–03:38)
  • The US ASC market is projected to reach $60.8 billion by 2030.
  • Major growth drivers:
    • Ongoing shift from hospital-based to outpatient procedures.
    • CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) adding more procedures to ASC coverage, recognizing their value.
    • Advances in technology and surgical techniques, enabling safer, higher-acuity outpatient procedures.
  • Todd’s advice to ASC leaders:
    • Remain active in the industry—engage with conferences, state associations, and national groups (ASCA).
    • Be proactive advocates: educate legislators and the public about the quality and community impact of ASCs.
  • Notable Quote:

    "Be active and speak with your legislators. Make sure people are aware of the quality care we do every single day. You'll be amazed that a lot of people out there don't understand or realize what we do for our communities." — Todd Currier (02:59)

3. Technology’s Transformational Role in ASCs

• (03:38–05:28)
  • Technology is a central driver in delivering care and managing operations at scale.
    • AI and EHR systems provide data-driven insights, essential for operational efficiency as financial margins tighten.
    • Robotics are expanding beyond joint programs, with soft tissue robotic-assisted procedures entering the ASC market.
  • Todd emphasizes the importance of technology for efficiency:
    • “I'm a data guy...the AI and the EHR tools really provide a lot of data to help us streamline our operations and make them more efficient as our margins continue to get smaller.” (04:23)
  • The future impact of robotics and AI will unfold over the next 5–10 years.

4. Most Transformative Innovation on the Horizon

• (05:00–05:28)
  • AI is seen as potentially the most transformative development, though its full impact is not yet realized.
  • Notable Quote:

    “I think we are on the cusp of understanding what AI can do for us. There's a lot of positives...and a lot of unknowns...that make it scary. So I think we're definitely on the cusp of what could be very innovative and helpful in our industry.” — Todd Currier (05:08)

5. Final Thoughts & Advice for ASC Leaders

• (05:28–06:21)
  • Networking and peer engagement—through conferences and associations—are vital for staying informed, identifying new opportunities, and sustaining growth.
  • Notable Quote:

    “The biggest thing I would leave is to continue to be active within the association...We're in a stage right now where we're seeing a lot of growth and a lot of opportunity ahead.” — Todd Currier (05:51)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Be active and speak with your legislators. Make sure people are aware of the quality care we do every single day.” — Todd Currier (02:59)
• “I'm a data guy...the AI and the EHR tools really provide a lot of data to help us streamline our operations and make them more efficient as our margins continue to get smaller.” — Todd Currier (04:23)
• “I think we are on the cusp of understanding what AI can do for us...That's yet to be seen.” — Todd Currier (05:08)
• “The biggest thing I would leave is to continue to be active within the association...We're in a stage right now where we're seeing a lot of growth and a lot of opportunity ahead.” — Todd Currier (05:51)

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Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:54–01:41 – Todd’s background and introduction to the ASC industry
• 01:41–03:38 – Market growth trends and advice on industry engagement & advocacy
• 03:38–05:00 – Technology’s role: EHR, AI, robotics, and operational efficiency
• 05:00–05:28 – The potential and uncertainty of AI in healthcare
• 05:28–06:21 – Closing thoughts: importance of networking and staying active in the industry

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For ASC leaders and healthcare professionals, this episode provides a concise look at the evolving landscape of ambulatory surgery centers—and the essential role of adaptability, technology, and advocacy in navigating coming changes.

Transcript

[A]

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[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 Todd Currier who is the CEO and Administrator at Bend Surgery Center. Todd, thanks for being here today. Let's have us kick off by sharing a bit more about yourself and your work in the ASC space.

[C]

You bet. Thank you for having me here. I really enjoy conferences such as this Becker's Conference and to share a little bit about myself. My past history was as a CPA for 17 years in public practice. A lot of that was within the healthcare realm. I did a lot of auditing and consulting with healthcare related entities and private practices, but for the last 20 years I've been involved with the ASE industry and the leadership roles. I really fell in love with the industry and have been able to work in a variety of different types of ASCs to smaller ASCs to my current one which is a large ASC. We do about 15,000 cases. We're multi specialty in Oregon and really love the direction that we're going.

[B]

Wonderful. Well, 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 it 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 today?

[C]

It's very exciting times, isn't it? It's really exciting to be in the ASC industry right now because things are evolving really fast. We continue to see the shift of procedures from the hospital setting to the outpatient setting. So the site of care we're seeing continuing to see a shift. We're seeing CMS recognize the added value of ASCs by adding more procedures to the covered procedure list or continuing advances in technology and techniques. And ASCs are continuing to prove we can do higher acuity procedures and advanced care in a safe and effective manner as far as preparing. I think the main thing is ASC leaders need to stay active within the industry. Going to conferences like this Beckers conference is one of those. Those being involved in your state association and the National ASKA association are critical. There's a lot of information out there. Everybody keeps you up to date on what is happening, what is shifting within the industry. And probably the last thing is, you know, advocate for our industry, be active and speak with your legislators. Make sure people are aware of the quality care we do every single day. You'll be amazed that a lot of people out there don't understand or realize what we do for our communities and the constituents within our legislators. Our legislators really need to understand that we're a vital role within our communities and we provide such an impact.

[B]

And from AI and robotic surgeries to advanced EHR systems, technology remains 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 their business over the next few years?

[C]

Another exciting component. We are just on the surface of some of the advances within technology and AI and when we look at the AI versus robotic, everything is happening really fast and moving forward into the ASC environment, I think the biggest impact that's going to have and deliver for us as managers of businesses. I'm a data guy that my background in cpa, I love data and so the AI and the EHR tools really provide a lot of data to help us streamline our operations and make them more efficient as our margins continue to get smaller. That's critical for our future that we are able to monitor that in a very hands on and active way. As far as when we look at the robotic surgeries, we continue to see not only our joint robotic programs, robotic assisted procedures, but we're also seeing the soft tissue procedures that entering the ASE market. So that'll be interesting to see how that gets integrated over the next five to 10 years.

[B]

And is there one technology or innovation that stands out to you as especially transformative?

[C]

I think we are on the cusp of understanding what AI can do for us. That there's a lot of positives with AI and there's a lot of unknowns with AI that make it scary. So I think we're definitely on the cusp of what could be very innovative and helpful in our industry. What that is, I think that's yet to be seen.

[B]

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

[C]

Well again I'd like to thank you for having me on the podcast. I look forward to the this conference every single year. I think it provides a lot of great information and data. It's a great networking opportunity to be able to be with our peers and the vendors, see new product line. Probably the biggest thing I would leave is to get back to the continue to be active within the association. Be active within your state associations, national and within your peer groups that you're able to meet up with like conferences such as these. We're a very exciting time within our industry. We've gone through stages over the last 50 years but we're in the stage right now where we're seeing a lot of growth and a lot of opportunity ahead.

[B]

Wonderful. Well thanks so much for joining me today. Again we are recording live at the 31st annual business and operations of ASCS.