Medical care research and review : MCRR
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The growth of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) as a setting for care in the United States raises unique safety concerns. In contrast to hospital-based outpatient departments (HOPDs), ASCs offer care at varying distances from hospital services potentially required to treat complications. ⋯ This change, which resulted from both an increase in the share of procedures performed at ASCs and an increase in the distance between ASCs and EDs, occurred predominantly within procedures that carried an elevated odds of hospital admission relative to the lowest risk procedures. Further research defining the risks associated with these changes in access to emergency care is needed to inform future ASC policy development and regulation.