Does competition from ambulatory surgical centers affect hospital surgical output?

▶ The average reduction in hospital outpatient surgical volume associated with ambulatory surgical centers is 2-4%. ▶ Ambulatory surgical center entry only appears to influence a hospital's outpatient surgical volume if the facilities are within a few miles of each other. ▶ The reduction in hospital outpatient surgery is not nearly large enough to offset the new procedures performed by an entering ambulatory surgical center.