What if your small inefficiencies could become your biggest opportunities? In Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), where speed and precision define success, even the smallest friction in perioperative workflows can ripple across the entire day. With surgical lists growing longer and teams stretched thinner, the OR doesn’t just need to run—it needs to flow.
From friction to flow
Every clinician knows the feeling: a case runs long, turnover slows and suddenly, the day’s schedule is at risk. In high-volume ASCs, these ripple effects add up fast. What’s less obvious is how often anesthesia systems not designed for ASC environments can be the overlooked contributor to those slowdowns.
But here’s the opportunity: When anesthesia workflows are designed for speed, consistency and reliability, they set the pace for the OR. Faster induction and emergence, intuitive controls designed for rotating staff and equipment engineered for all-day reliability are intended to support smoother transitions, fewer workflow interruptions and more predictable schedules.
More than 80 percent of all surgeries in the U.S. now take place in outpatient settings1. As ASCs take on more complex cases, anesthesia processes must adapt. Small inefficiencies in induction or emergence can quickly affect schedules and outcomes. Poor planning can also create workflow disruptions when equipment doesn’t fit ASC environments—from layout mismatches to infrastructure demands.2
From shortages to smarter workflows
The gap between provider supply and surgical demand is widening3, with projections of a shortfall of 12,500 anesthesiologists by 2033.4 For lean ASC teams, the question becomes: how do we protect both productivity and provider well-being?
Technology can help. Choosing workflow-friendly systems that prioritize usability and training support can help reduce variability between staff and ease strain on clinicians.2 The end result? The right platform doesn’t add to the workload—it lightens it.
From pressure to performance
Peak surgical days can also feel like a sprint with no finish line. That’s why reliability and responsiveness matter so much. When anesthesia machines are built with advanced engineering and intuitive system design, they can help clinicians in ASCs perform under pressure.
Some ASCs are choosing high-quality systems designed for consistent performance from the inside out to avoid interruptions and resets that contribute to operational friction. High-quality components and thoughtful system design are intended to support consistent performance and reliable operation during cases—keeping cases on track and clinicians focused on patient care. Thoughtful equipment design and technology selection are key to driving efficiency, innovation and reliability in ASC workflows.2 When technology is built to match to the pace and precision of the modern ASC—supporting consistent workflows, predictable performance and fewer interruptions—pressure turns into performance.
The solution in reach
The GE HealthCare Carestation™ 600 Series was designed to help ASC teams move faster and perform with confidence. Its intuitive touchscreen and interface shorten training for rotating staff, so providers can step in seamlessly to access core functions. Machines in the Carestation 600 Series—featuring a compact breathing system for rapid wash-in and wash-out and precision electronic ventilation controls—are designed to support efficient, consistent induction and emergence. Intelligent lighting cues and guided workflows help reduce setup time and interruptions, so teams can stay focused on care rather than equipment. Built-in workflow tools—including guided pre-use checkouts and automated system tests—are designed to help streamline routine setup steps and support smoother case transitions, allowing providers to stay focused on patient care.
References
- SC Data. 2025. ASC-Data Industry Overview, February 2025. ASC Data. https://ascdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ASC-Data-Industry-Overview-February-2025.pdf
- Nandy, S., and R. Jha. 2025. “Medical Equipment Planning in Ambulatory Surgery Centers: Enhancing Efficiency, Innovation, and Patient Care.” Cureus. https://www.cureus.com/articles/358286-medical-equipment-planning-in-ambulatory-surgery-centers-enhancing-efficiency-innovation-and-patient-care
- Joshi, G. P., and T. R. Vetter. 2024. “Ambulatory Anesthesia: Current State and Future Considerations.” Anesthesia & Analgesia. https://doi.org/10.1213/ANE.0000000000007127
- Patel, K., E. C. Sun, et al. 2024. “Closing the Chasm: Understanding and Addressing the Anesthesiologist Shortage.” Anesthesiology. https://journals.lww.com/anesthesiology/fulltext/2024/08000/closing_the_chasm__understanding_and_addressing.14.aspx
