Selection 15 min read
Best EHR for Ambulatory Surgery Centers (2026 Buyer Guide)
ASC economics rely on predictable perioperative flow and block-time utilization. EHR performance in scheduling, documentation, and anesthesia coordination is a core margin lever.
Core ASC requirements
- Case scheduling and block-time management with real-time utilization visibility.
- Pre-op, intra-op, and post-op workflow continuity and documentation traceability.
- Anesthesia coordination workflows and handoff reliability.
- Procedure-level coding, charge capture, and denial root-cause analytics.
- Facility quality reporting and compliance documentation readiness.
Vendor demo scenarios to require
- High-volume surgery day with add-ons, delays, and room turnover pressure.
- Case cancellation/rescheduling with downstream communication and authorization implications.
- Anesthesia and nursing handoff workflow under shift change.
- Claim-denial workflow for missing or inconsistent operative documentation.
Governance controls
- Cross-functional ASC council with clinical, anesthesia, compliance, and RCM owners.
- Weekly case-throughput and denial review during rollout phases.
- Template and preference-card governance with formal change approval.
- Quarterly review of documentation quality and payer policy alignment.
Bottom line
The right ASC EHR setup improves OR utilization and claim quality simultaneously. Choose the platform that proves perioperative stability and documentation integrity in production-like scenarios.
Next Steps
Editorial Standards
Last reviewed:
Methodology
- Mapped ASC operational and reimbursement risk points to measurable EHR criteria.
- Prioritized throughput reliability, perioperative coordination, and denial prevention controls.
- Aligned recommendations with national ASC quality and payment guidance.