---
title: 7 Essential Factors to Consider Before Acquiring an Ambulatory Surgery Center
description: 7 Issues to Consider Before Buying an Ambulatory Surgery Center
image: https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/hubfs/Front%20Exterior-retouched.jpg
---

[Skip to content](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/7-essential-factors-to-consider-before-acquiring-an-ambulatory-surgery-center#main-content)

[![logo-black-rect](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-black-rect.png?width=784&height=282&name=logo-black-rect.png)](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- [Contact us](https://www.hsarchitecture.com/)

[Contact us](https://www.hsarchitecture.com/)

 Jul 24, 2023 10:30:02 PM

# 7 Essential Factors to Consider Before Acquiring an Ambulatory Surgery Center

![Picture of Joseph Sziabowski AIA](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/dbb60f586be4db877570e7be7b2df010) [Joseph Sziabowski AIA](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/author/joseph-sziabowski-aia)

Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/7-essential-factors-to-consider-before-acquiring-an-ambulatory-surgery-center) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/7-essential-factors-to-consider-before-acquiring-an-ambulatory-surgery-center) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/7-essential-factors-to-consider-before-acquiring-an-ambulatory-surgery-center) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/7-essential-factors-to-consider-before-acquiring-an-ambulatory-surgery-center) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/7-essential-factors-to-consider-before-acquiring-an-ambulatory-surgery-center)

If you were to purchase a used automobile, you would look under the hood, test   
drive it and probably have a trusted mechanic thoroughly evaluate the car. If   
you are purchasing a used surgery center, it is critical to give it the same   
kind of scrutiny. Doing so will protect you from pitfalls like failed   
inspections, disruptive shutdowns, loss of revenue, and expensive retrofits.  
   
An architect experienced in surgery center design should review the construction   
drawings and inspect the facility as built. The architect will usually bring in   
engineers as well to verify the adequacy of the mechanical, plumbing and   
electrical systems.  
   
Following is a short list highlighting seven important types of facility issues   
to be considered when purchasing an existing center.  
   
1. Determine whether design regulations have changed since the facility was   
constructed, and if so, whether the facility will be grandfathered under the   
original approvals. Depending on the state, you may have to update the facility   
to meet current regulatory standards, more likely if the purchase is an asset   
purchase than if a stock purchase. Inquiries of regulators should be handled   
discreetly to avoid a possible shutdown if there are serious deficiencies. There   
is a greater likelihood of being required to update if the center ceased   
operation before changing hands. If you will be seeking accreditation, the   
requirements of the accrediting agency must also be taken into account.  
   
2. Even if updating is not mandated, patient safety should be taken into account   
when deciding whether or not to upgrade a facility. Whether or not it has been   
accepted by authorities, if the emergency power system is overloaded and does   
not function properly during a power failure, patient safety could be seriously   
compromised.  
   
3. The facility obviously needs the capacity for your anticipated case volume.   
Will the numbers of pre-op stations, ORs, procedure rooms and post-op beds be   
adequate? There are rules of thumb for all of these, varying by specialty.  
   
4. The ASC must accommodate the specialties you intend to offer. An eye surgery   
facility may not meet the needs of a multi-specialty center. A recovery area for   
orthopedics would need more stations than for cataract surgery; likewise the ORs   
need to be larger. A backup power system designed for local anesthesia would   
probably not be adequate for general anesthesia.  
   
5. If the center is to be split away from an adjacent practice office, all of   
the functions required for a surgery center must be present or able to be   
created. Patient pickup space, waiting room and front office are functions that   
are sometimes shared, and it may not be possible to accommodate these after the   
fact. Shared utilities may need to be sub-metered or divided when the ASC   
becomes a separate business entity.  
   
6. A common trouble spot is the continuity of fire and smoke partitions,   
particularly in concealed locations like above ceilings. These are common   
targets of officials in life safety inspections and often are the source of   
deficiencies, especially in older facilities.  
   
7. The design and condition of the mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems   
should be evaluated by knowledgeable engineers. HVAC systems can be particularly   
problematic with respect to regulatory compliance, infection control, patient   
safety, and physician comfort. We have also too often found that backup power   
systems in older facilities do not even meet code requirements in force at the   
time of construction, let alone current codes.  
   
In addition to design issues, the condition of major building components should   
be evaluated. HVAC equipment, emergency generators, and roofing have finite   
lives and can be expensive to replace. Your architectural and engineering   
consultants will be able to comment on this matter, and may recommend   
inspections by local maintenance contractors.

## Related posts

[![](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HSSC0094.jpg?height=200&name=HSSC0094.jpg)](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/maximizing-performance-6-benefits-of-hvac-commissioning-in-ascs)

## [Maximizing Performance: 6 Benefits of HVAC Commissioning in ASC's](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/maximizing-performance-6-benefits-of-hvac-commissioning-in-ascs)

![Picture of Joseph Sziabowski AIA](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/dbb60f586be4db877570e7be7b2df010) [Joseph Sziabowski AIA](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/author/joseph-sziabowski-aia) 

 Dec 15, 2024 9:30:00 AM

In the highly specialized environment of ambulatory surgery centers, the performance of HVAC...

[Read more](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/maximizing-performance-6-benefits-of-hvac-commissioning-in-ascs)

[![](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IGC.jpg?height=200&name=IGC.jpg)](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/creativity-in-care-design-concepts-for-ascs)

## [Creativity in Care: Design Concepts for ASCs](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/creativity-in-care-design-concepts-for-ascs)

![Picture of Nayanpreet Singh](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Nayanpreet_Singh_730x734.jpg?width=50&name=Nayanpreet_Singh_730x734.jpg) [Nayanpreet Singh](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/author/nayanpreet-singh) 

 Dec 18, 2025 10:09:25 AM

Creativity has a powerful place in healthcare design, transforming functional spaces into...

[Read more](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/creativity-in-care-design-concepts-for-ascs)

[![](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/red%20line.jpg?height=200&name=red%20line.jpg)](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/musings-on-the-red-line-a-curious-boundary-in-the-surgical-suite)

## [Musings on the Red Line: A Curious Boundary in the Surgical Suite](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/musings-on-the-red-line-a-curious-boundary-in-the-surgical-suite)

![Picture of Joseph Sziabowski AIA](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/dbb60f586be4db877570e7be7b2df010) [Joseph Sziabowski AIA](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/author/joseph-sziabowski-aia) 

 Feb 15, 2025 2:47:21 PM

The red line—that stark boundary separating the unrestricted and semi-restricted zones of an...

[Read more](https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/musings-on-the-red-line-a-curious-boundary-in-the-surgical-suite)

[linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/hardaway-sziabowski-architects) [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/hardawaysziabowski/) [Follow us on Facebook](https://twitter.com/HardZ1075)

---

AMBULATORY HEALTHCARE DESIGN LAB                      

Copyright © 2026, Hardaway|Sziabowski Architects

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Joseph Sziabowski AIA",
    "url" : "https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/author/joseph-sziabowski-aia"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2023-07-25T02:30:02.916Z",
  "datePublished" : "2023-07-25T02:30:02.000Z",
  "headline" : "7 Essential Factors to Consider Before Acquiring an Ambulatory Surgery Center",
  "image" : [ "https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/hubfs/Front%20Exterior-retouched.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://www.ambulatoryhealthcaredesignlab.com/ambulatory-healthcare-design-lab/7-essential-factors-to-consider-before-acquiring-an-ambulatory-surgery-center",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject"
    }
  }
}
```