Making continued investments into new services lines, technologies and facilities are top priorities for these leaders once the calendar flips into 2026.
From modernizing outdated systems to improve efficiencies to breaking ground on new orthopedic ASCs, organizations already have blueprints for how to make 2026 successful.
These three leaders recently connected with Becker’s to connect on the areas they are looking to upgrade and invest into next year.
Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What is something that you plan to invest in at your organization in 2026?
Erika Noll. COO of Peachtree Orthopedics (Atlanta): In 2026, we’re investing in an upgrade to our outdated phone system. After many months of evaluation, we are implementing a modernized solution that will transform how we connect with patients. This includes traditional phone calls, secure chat messaging and real-time reporting on call volumes, wait times and patient satisfaction — which are metrics we’ve been lacking, or that have been hard to measure. What excites me most is the patient experience improvement. It’s not the flashiest technology investment, but it helps to solve one of our patients’ most frequent frustrations and helps us continue to be competitive in how we provide access to care for our patients.
Janet Carlson, MSN, RN. Vice President of ASC Operations of Advanced Surgical Institute (Louisville, Ky.): In 2026, our organization plans to invest in advanced surgical technologies and expanded service lines to enhance patient care and efficiency. Specifically, we are prioritizing:
- Enhanced image-guided technology to support minimally invasive procedures and improve surgical precision. This will facilitate a system that integrates seamlessly with ASC workflows, reducing turnaround times and improving outcomes.
- Planned expansion of outpatient service lines, including spine, orthopedics and pain management, to meet the growing community demand.
- Facility design and de novo ASC construction focused on patient comfort and operational efficiency, such as modernized recovery suites and digital patient communication and engagement systems.
These investments align with our commitment to delivering high-quality, cost-effective care in the ASC setting while positioning us for long-term growth.
Graham Young, Senior Vice President of Mergers & Acquisitions of U.S. Orthopedic Partners (Alpharetta, Ga.): Next year at USOP we’ll continue to focus on the kind of investments that strengthen access and remove obstacles from the exam room. We’ll open a new ASC in 2026, and we expect to break ground on three more across our platform. We’re pairing that growth with technology that gives clinicians their time back, including upgraded RCM, improved EMR capabilities and AI-supported documentation and coding. The goal is simple and practical: expand capacity, improve performance and allow our physicians’ attention to remain where it belongs — on the patient.
