Becker’s Healthcare -- Spine and Orthopedic Podcast
Dr. Alaa Abd-Elsayed, Medical Director, UW Health Pain Services
29 Nov 2025
This episode recorded live at Becker’s 31st Annual The Business and Operations of ASCs features Dr. Alaa Abd-Elsayed, Medical Director, UW Health Pain Services. He discusses the rapid growth of ASC models, how AI driven tools are improving efficiency and reducing administrative burden, and why joint ventures and collaboration are key to strengthening patient care and financial sustainability.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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Chapter 2: What are the significant trends driving the growth of ASCs?
This is Gracelyn Keller with the Becker's Healthcare Podcast, and we are recording live at the 31st Annual Business and Operations of ASCs. I'm currently joined by Ala Abda-Assayed, who is the Medical Director at U Wisconsin. So thank you so much for joining me today. Let's have you start off by sharing a little bit more about yourself and your work in the ASC space.
Thank you for having me. I'm a pain physician and anesthesiologist at University of Wisconsin, where I work in the inpatient setting and an ambulatory setting clinic to surgical centers and the care for patients both on the hospital grounds and ambulatory surgical centers and also at clinic setting.
Wonderful.
Chapter 3: How is AI transforming the efficiency of ASC operations?
And let's start by talking about the ASC market, because in the U.S., it's projected to reach $60.8 billion by 2030, and it continues to experience strong year-over-year growth. So from your perspective, what are the most significant trends in market forces driving this expansion, and how should ASC leaders be preparing today?
It's a very good question. And I think the expansion in ASCs, as you mentioned, is inevitable. It's happening and it's happening fast. And there are many reasons because it's owned by smaller groups, typically, so they have more control, more autonomy.
can control the finances, which always you want to think of the ins and outs, which is different than being in gigantic health care system, which you probably have less control over those finances.
Chapter 4: What specific AI technologies are improving patient care?
So I think it's a growing model. I think it's a good model. And I think when you develop those models, you always look for efficiencies, which are good for patients as well. Like, again, quick surgeries in and out. You try not to keep them in the hospital, which is good not only financially, but also for the health and wellness of patients just to be home on the same day.
And from AI and robotic surgeries to advanced EHR systems, technology remains both a make or break factor and a critical driver of ASC operations at scale. So how do you see Zebra Tech integration shaping the way ASCs deliver care and manage their business over the next few years?
That's a very good question. And as we speak here in the conference about the different AI platforms, AI will make things very smooth, very quick. We'll... help the shortage of staff that we are encountering nowadays at all grounds in the operating room and outside the operating room, which will allow for more efficiencies and not counting on the, I would say, filling the gaps in staff shortage.
So this integration is very helpful and I think will lead to more efficient healthcare system and ASC operations.
And follow up to that, is there any specific technology or innovation that stands out to you as especially transformative in the space?
I would say it's hard to pick up only one, but the main one that we're all excited about is use AI, for example, for appeals, because that's a very tedious process, very lengthy and require a lot of labor work.
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Chapter 5: How do joint ventures enhance collaboration in ASCs?
So AI in appeals has been very successful in reversing a lot of those appeals, which again leads to our patient be able to get the care they deserve, but using it in scribing, use it in coding. I think these are very good steps that not only will make it efficient, but will make it maybe more accurate.
And then will reduce the back and forth with insurance and will reduce errors in coding and can provide more of a safety quality check for everybody using those technologies.
And with 60% of health systems considering ASC joint ventures and many ASCs already partnering with systems in their communities, what opportunities do you see for collaboration, whether with providers or vendors, to strengthen patient care and operational efficiency?
ASCs became more of like a big ship that required multiple parties to be involved. So those collaborations are very good because the joint ventures allow for a stronger foundation because everybody will have skin in the game. Everybody will work on success of the ASC rather than just being owned by an individual or a small group.
Chapter 6: What role does technology play in the future of ASCs?
So those, I would say, venture joints will lead to just better patient care, more patient volumes, stronger financial. And I will keep talking about the financial strengths because it's very important to maintain any enterprise. So I think this is going to just make it a lot stronger and will attract more patients to this model.
Well, thanks so much for joining me today on the Becker's Healthcare Podcast. Is there anything else we didn't touch on or any final thoughts you'd like to share?
No, thank you. And I appreciate the opportunity always to be here because I always enjoy talking about AI, which is a future of health care. And seeing always this progression in the conference and the focus in AI is very intriguing. So thank you.
Wonderful. Well, again, we are recording live at the 31st Annual Business and Operations of ASCs.
Thank you.
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