US News & World Report Releases Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers Ratings for Ophthalmology and Other Specialties

US News & World Report Reveals Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers for Ophthalmology in the US

US News & World Report has recently unveiled its second annual rankings of the Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) in the United States, focusing on specialties such as ophthalmology, colonoscopy & endoscopy, orthopedics & spine, and urology. The report provides valuable insights into the top-performing ASCs across the country, highlighting their excellence in providing surgical and diagnostic procedures that do not require an overnight stay.

In the field of ophthalmology, the ASCs were evaluated based on their performance in procedures such as cataract surgery with lens implant, destruction of retinal or choroid lesions by laser, glaucoma surgery, and surgical retinal and vitreous procedures. Notably, secondary membranous cataract surgery and patients diagnosed with COVID-19 during a procedure were excluded from the evaluation process.

The rankings were determined by assessing objective, risk-adjusted measures of patient outcomes, including the avoidance of complications, unplanned hospitalizations, and other adverse events. ER visits were not considered as an outcome measure for ophthalmology due to the challenges in determining the timing of such visits post-surgery.

A total of over 6,000 ASCs were initially analyzed, with 1,910 facilities evaluated in ophthalmology. Among these, 230 ASCs were classified as high-performing, accounting for 12% of the total, while 1,440 were rated as average and 240 as “other.” California, Texas, and Florida emerged as the top states with the highest number of high-performing ASCs, with Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York leading in the metro areas.

The report also highlighted that ASCs classified as hospitals were not included in the analysis, as the focus was on freestanding facilities specializing in outpatient surgical procedures. The data for the rankings was compiled from Medicare fee-for-service claims for services rendered between 2021 and 2023, with facilities identified through the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System and the ASC Quality Reporting program.

Overall, the Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers for Ophthalmology demonstrated a 54% lower severity-weighted complication rate compared to all ASCs evaluated for ophthalmology procedures. Patients seeking high-quality ophthalmic care can access the full list of top ASCs online on the US News website.

References:
1. US News & World Report releases second annual best ambulatory surgery centers ratings. US News & World Report. Published March 18, 2025. Accessed March 18, 2025.
2. 2025 Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers. US News & World Report. Accessed March 18, 2025.