Orthopedic ASC leaders are rethinking the patient experience in 2025, leaning into technology, nurse navigation and teamwide culture to make care more seamless and supportive.
Benjamin Stein, MD, chairman and CEO of Capital Surgical Solutions, said his centers were designed from the ground up to feel different from a typical ASC.
“I want to make this a differential experience for our patients. I don’t want to be the typical ASC. I want to be technology-forward. I want to create a boutique spa-like experience,” Dr. Stein told Becker’s.
To achieve that, his centers have adopted patient-engagement platforms, such as Ospitek, that provide real-time updates to families during surgery. Wearable technology not only tracks patients throughout their episode of care but also keeps loved ones informed, reducing anxiety in waiting rooms.
“It automatically improves the episode of care, not just for the patient, but really for their loved ones,” Dr. Stein said.
The organization also employs dedicated nurse navigators for joint replacement and spine patients. Rather than balancing navigation with other duties, these nurses focus solely on guiding patients through scheduling, education, surgery and the first month of recovery. Dr. Stein said this approach ensures no patient feels lost in the transition from pre-op to post-op.
Because Capital Surgical Solutions is physician-led, it can also move quickly when adopting or discarding innovations.
“We’re going to be the disruptor for thinkers who lean in to new technologies and new thoughts,” Dr. Stein said. “If we do that, and we dip our toes into something and it’s not good, we can toss it and move on to the next because there’s no red tape.”
As procedures for Medicare patients increasingly move into the outpatient setting, balancing digital and human support has become critical. Dr. Stein believes AI will play a larger role in patient education and engagement, but only as an assistant to clinicians.
“It has to remain an assistive tool and not bypass the importance of human interaction. The real value comes from blending people and technology,” Dr. Stein said.
Looking ahead, he expects more ASCs to adopt standardized, technology-enabled care pathways that guide both patients and care teams with clear touchpoints, while bundled payment models will ease the financial burden for patients.
Surgical technologies such as robotics will also continue to evolve, offering more precision and consistency in orthopedic procedures.
For Dr. Stein, delivering a strong patient experience requires contributions from every member of the ASC team — from schedulers to nurses to PT staff — supported by the right technology.
“Delivering the best patient care and satisfaction requires a true team effort across every component of the ASC, supported by the right technology. It’s the blend of human expertise and technology that makes the difference,” Dr. Stein said.
In his view, this strategy is pushing orthopedics toward an inevitable shift: ASCs becoming the default setting for many procedures.
“They deliver what patients want most — the best experience and the best outcomes,” Dr. Stein said.
