Ames Surgery Center Opens

The Ames Surgery Center (ASC), located at 2120 Bailey Ave. in Ames, is a partnership between Mary Greeley Medical Center and McFarland Clinic. 

A variety of outpatient surgical procedures will be performed at the ASC.  A facility like this offers many benefits for patients in the multicounty central Iowa region served by Mary Greeley and McFarland. 

Here are some commonly asked questions about the ASC.

Is the Ames Surgery Center considered an ambulatory surgery center? Yes. An ambulatory surgery center or outpatient surgery center, as it is sometimes called, is a facility where same-day or outpatient procedures are performed. 

What are the benefits of the ASC? There are several, including the following:

• Patient satisfaction—They have high patient satisfaction due to quality outcomes, patient convenience, and lower costs. 
• ost—Ambulatory surgery centers are typically more affordable than hospitals because they have less overhead expense than hospitals (i.e., they can specialize in a few procedures only and don’t have to be prepared for any/all emergency situations). Procedures can cost 40–60 percent less than hospital surgeries. 
• Convenience and accessibility—Surgery centers are typically located in smaller buildings, in comparison to hospitals, and things like parking and wayfinding are easier to navigate. 
• Scheduling—Because they are solely focused on same-day surgery, more efficient scheduling practices and workflows can be adopted. This benefits both patients and the physicians who work there. 

When will the ASC open? Because the surgery center will be pursuing Medicare certification, it is required to have a small number of procedures performed and then surveyed. This will occur during the period covering November 7, 2024, through the end of 2024. Once Medicare certification has been achieved, Medicare beneficiaries can be seen at the ASC. We anticipate that will occur in early January 2025. After Medicare certification is received, the surgery center can then start seeing commercial payers like United Healthcare and Wellmark of Iowa. 

What kinds of procedures are performed at the ASC? Same-day procedures that do not require hospital services can be performed at the ASC. When the center is fully operational, a variety of procedures will be performed there, including ENT, gastroenterology, general surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, podiatry foot and ankle surgery, and urology.

Does the ASC need to be licensed or accredited? The state of Iowa recently adopted legislation requiring a license. In addition, if a facility treats Medicare patients, it must be Medicare certified. The Ames Surgery Center will be accredited through the American Association of Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). The state, Medicare, and the AAAHC assure the ASC is following the required standards to provide safe, high-quality healthcare. These requirements evaluate the building and system safety, standards for the healthcare providers working at the facility, and national standards for the delivery of safe care. 

Can all patients be seen at the ASC? The ASC has specific patient medical selection criteria. Patients who have complex medical needs and/or do not meet the criteria must have their surgery within a hospital setting. The surgery might not require an overnight stay, but the patient’s medical conditions may require increased monitoring at a hospital. The physician will ensure the most appropriate facility is selected based on the patient’s medical and surgical needs. 

I’ve had great experiences at Mary Greeley Medical Center. What if I want to have my surgery there even if I qualify to have it at the ASC? We encourage you to visit with your provider about the most appropriate facility for your procedure. Factors influencing a surgeon’s decision regarding medical complexity could include age, weight, or other comorbidities. Our overall goal is to honor patient choice and deliver high-quality healthcare in the most appropriate setting. 

What happens if there are complications with a surgery performed at the ASC that require a patient to be hospitalized? This would be a rare occurrence. If something like this did happen, an ambulance would be called and the patient would be transported to the hospital’s Emergency Department for further evaluation and treatment. 

How will billing work? If you have surgery at Mary Greeley, you receive a bill from the hospital, the anesthesia provider (if receiving anesthesia), and the provider who performed the surgery. The process will be similar at the ASC. You will receive a bill from the ASC, the anesthesia provider (if receiving anesthesia), pathology for some procedures, and the provider who performed the surgery.